AU655932B2 - Reclaiming of foam off-cuts and/or waste foam - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns a process for reclaiming foam off-cuts and/or waste foam by: (a) mechanically chopping the foam off-cuts and/or waste to a particle size of smaller than or equal to 10 mm; (b) mixing the foam off-cuts and/or waste with a liquid, foaming, one-part prepolymer; (c) removing excess, non-wetting prepolymer where necessary; (d) stirring in water while homogenising the mixture; and (e) foaming to the desired shape.

Description

OPT DATE 02/03/92 AOJP DATE 09/04/92

INTI

APPLN. ID 83033 91 D PCT NUMBER PCT/EP91/0141 BER DIE qAS(PCT) (51) Internationale Patentklassifikation 5 (11) Internationale Veriiffentlichungsnummer: WNO 92/02575 C08J 9/35, 11/04 Al (43) Internationales Veriiffentlichungsdatum: 20. Februar 1992 (20.02.92) (21) Internationales Aktenzeichen: PCT/EP9I/01417 (81) Bestimmungsstaaten: AT (europdisches Patent), AU, BE (europiiisches Patent), CA, CH (europitisches Patent), (22) Internationales Annieldedatum: 28. Juli 1991 (28.07.9 1) DE (europltisches Patent), DK (europilisches Patent), ES (europliisches Patent), FR (europ~iisches Patent), GB (europfiisches Patent), GR (europtlisches Patent), IT (eu- Priorititsdaten: ropilisches Patent), JP, KR, LU (europaisches Patent), P 4025 102.0 8. August 1990 (08.08.90) DE NL (europiiisches Patent), SE (europ~1isches Patcnt), US.

(71) Anmelder (ftir alle Bestimmungssaaten ausser US): APS Verblfcntlicht WELSCH PARTNER GMB3H [DE/DE]; Monnet- Mit internationalein Recherchenhericl,.

strasse 10, D-5 102 W~rselen (DE).

(72) Erfinder; undOr Erlinder/Anmelder (nurfir US) WELSCH, Christian [DE/ 41 DE]; Nauhauserstrasse 1, D-5 102 Wfirselen LAM- 6It.- 3 BERTZ, Ingrid [DE/DE]; Rennebergstrasse 11, D-5000 0 K6ln 41 (DE).

(74) Anwfilte: JONSSON, Hans-Peter usw. ;Deichmannhaus am Hauptbahnhof, D-5000 K651n I (DE).

(54) Title: RECLAIMING OF FOAM OFF-CUTS AND/OR WASTE FOAM (54) Bezeichnung: WIEDERGEWINNUNG VON SCHAUMSTOFFRESTEN UND/ODER SC HA UMSTOFFABFALLEN (57) Abstract The invention concerns a process for reclaiming foam off-cuts and/or waste foam by: mechanically chopping the roam off-cuts and/or waste to a particle size of smaller than or equal to 10 mm; mixing the foam off-cuts and/or waste with a liquid, foaming, one-part prepolymer; removing excess, non-wetting prepolymer where necessary; stirring in water while homogenising the mixture; and foaming to the desired shape.

(57) Zusamnmenfassung Die Erfindung betrifft emn Verfahren zur Wiedergewinnung von Schaumnstoffresten und/oder Schaumnstoffabfltllen durch mechanisches Zerklinern der Schaumstoffreste und/oder Schaumstoffabfdlle auf eine Partikelgr~ae von weniger oder gleich mm, Vermengen der Schaumnstoffreste und/oder Schaumstoffabftie mit einem flitssigen, schaumbildenden Einkomponenten-Prepolymeren, gegebenenfalls Entfernen von iberschflssigem, nicht benetzendem Prepolymeren, Einrtihrdn von Wasser unter Homogenisierung des Gemisches und Aussch~umen in der gewtinschten Form.

Reclaiming of Foam Off-Cuts and/or Waste Foam The invention relates to a process for reclaiming foam off-cuts (foamed plastic residues) and/or waste foam by embedding said off-cuts and/or wastes into a new foamed matrix.

Foamed plastics in the meaning of the present invention are described, for instance, in Ullmanns Enzyklopadie der technischen Chemie, 4th ed., Vol. pp. 415-432. According to this, foamed plastics are twophase systems on the basis of highly polymeric, organic materials as the matrix. A major field of application is in building trade where foamed plastics as such or in sandwich combination with other materials are used for heat and sound insulation or joint sealing. Due to their 15 good stuffing properties and impact load resistance, foamed plastics are also very good packing materials, especially for highly sensitive goods. In addition to so-called "foam slab stocks", non-welded, loose particles are used at a larger scale, for example as loading material for Poroton bricks.

2 Naturally, during production and processing of foamed plastics, more or less large amounts of foam offcuts and/or waste foam arise, the reclaiming of which is problematic. According to Ullmann, loc. cit., p. 425, it has been known to mill for reuse foamed plastic wastes on the basis of expandable polystyrene arising in production plants, blend them with prefoamed beads, and recycle them into the foaming process. However, such reclaiming cannot be employed for all the foam off-cuts and/or waste foam to an equal extent since frequently, the quality of the desired product is impaired by adding these reclaims and/or wastes.

From DE-A 35 30 754, there is known a process for producing polyurethane rigid foamed plastics, in addition to common additives containing from 5 to 75% by weight on the basis of total weight of plastic particles, particularly from recycling material. Mentioned as plastic recycling material are old bags, containers, boxes, and plastic fibers conveniently used in the form of an (flocculent, not yet densified) agglomerate or a "(granular) reclaim.

US-C-314,722 describes a process for reclaiming shredded expanded plastic material for the production of shaped articles wherein open-cell foam floccules are 25 contacted with an aqueous solution of a catalyst. The catalyst is suited to initiate reaction of isocyanate groups with water. Due to absorption of water and catalyst in the shredded material, no significant reaction rate can be observed at room temperature. The reaction 30 is accelerated only upon heating.

ooeoo Thus, object of the present invention is a process for reclaiming foam off-cuts and/or waste foam allowing 3 for simple utilization of said reclaims and/or wastes, particularly at the package material manufacture's. Another object of the present invention is waste avoidance and, in association therewith, saving waste site costs in hitherto frequently conducted disposal.

According to a broad form of the invention there is provided a process for reclaiming foam off-cuts and/or waste foam by mechanical comminution of said foam off-cuts and/or waste foam to a particle size of less than or equal to mixing the foam off-cuts and/or waste foam with a liquid, foam-forming onecomponent prepolymer in a ratio of foam off-cuts and/or waste foam to prepolymers in io the range of iiom 95 to 80 to from 5 to 20% by volume; removing excess of non-wetting prepolymer if present; initiating the polymerisation reaction of the prepolymer by admixing water in a weight ratio of water to prepolymer adjusted in the range of from 0.5 to 2.5:1 with homogenization of the mixture; and 15 foaming in the desired shape.

By virtue of the process according to the invention it is possible to utilize foam offcuts and/or waste foam which, for example, in the manufacture of special packagings were removed as projecting ends. Moreover, the process of the invention allows for suitable reclaiming of both open-cell and closed-cell (cross-linked) foamed plastic material.

An essential feature of the invention is thorough comminution of the foam off-cuts and/or waste foam to a particle size of less than or equal to 10mm. Procedures for mechanical comminution of the particles is known to increase with decreasing particle size, a minimum possible particle size is desired, as hereby better surface bonding 25 between the foam off-cuts and/or waste foam and the liquid, foam-forming onecomponent prepolymer is achieved. Thus, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the foam off-cuts and/or waste foam are cornminuted to a particle size of less than or equal to Less critical is the composition of the foam off-cuts and/or waste foam in the meaning of the present invention. The major representatives of foamed plastics are known from Ullmann's, loc. cit., and comprise, in particular, polystyrene, poly(vinyl [G:\WPUSER\LIBRI(X362:BGC:TCW 4 chloride), polyethylene, urea-formaldehyde resin, phenol-formaldehyde resin, silicone resin, and/or mixtures thereof.

Polystyrene and polyethylene are known to be the most common so that reclaiming of foam off-cuts and/or waste foam of polystyrene and/or polyethylene is particularly preferred in the meaning of the present invention. Using the process of the invention, polyethylene residues and/or polyethylene wastes may be processed to give new products virtually having the same properties as the starting materials. Therefore, saving costs for disposal is associated with a decrease in waste amount.

For instance, mixing of the foam off-cuts and/or waste foam with the liquid, foamforming one-component prepolymer may be effected by stirring the prepolymer into the mechanically comminuted foam off-cuts and/or waste foam. Although temperature is not of special importance in this as well as in subsequent steps, it is nevertheless recommended to perform mixing at room temperature, particularly avoiding heating, in order to prevent premature polymerization reaction. Generally "cold" mechanical 15 comminution is preferred although "hot" mechanical comminution may be used.

I.0 Following mixing the foam off-cuts and/or waste foam with the liquid, foam- 00: forming one-component prepolymer, excess non-wetting prepolymer is removed. This 0.0.

may be effected, for instance, by drainage, wiping or pressing. In this way, employed prepolymer material may be reduced as much as possible so that in the final product, the 20 prepolymer virtually serves as a mere primer for the comminuted particles of foam offcuts and/or waste foam. In case of employing a smaller amount of prepolymer a priori, removal of excess non-wetting prepolymer may be omitted in principal, if sufficiently good adherent bonding between the particles of foam off-cuts and/or waste foam is achieved. For example, this may be effected by powerful stirring of the comminuted 25 particles of foam off-cuts and/or waste foam with the liquid, foam-forming onecomponent prepolymer at room temperature or even lowered temperature, optionally with exclusion of moisture, thus obtaining wetting of the particle surfaces as complete as 0o possible.

[G:\WPUSER\LIBR]00362:BGC:TCW In principal, the volume ratio of foam off-cuts and/or waste foam to prepolymer is not critical. However, within the object of reclaiming foam off-cuts and/or waste foam it is desired to employ an amount of prepolymer as small as possible. However, a minimum amount of prepolymer is required to ensure sufficient adherent bonding between the comminuted particles of foam off-cuts and/or waste foam. Thus, in the meaning of the present invention, a ratio of foam off-cuts and/or waste foam to prepolymer in the range of from 95 to 80 to from 5 to 20% by volume is used. Above a foam off-cuts and/or waste foam level of 95% by volume, sufficient adherent bonding between individual particles is barely ensured. The minimum amount of 20% by volume is determined by the economic efficiency of the process according to the invention. Thus, a ratio of foam off-cuts and/or waste foam to prepolymer of from 95 to 80 to

CCC*

Se** (G:\WPUSERLIBR10362BGC:TCW 6 from 5 to 20% by volume is Prticlrl pr-f-red in the meaning of the present invention. The above-mentioned specifications refer to employed amounts of foam offcuts and/or waste foam and liquid, foam-forming onecomponent prepolymer so that in the final product obtained, volume levels of foam off-cuts and/or waste foam are lower. In production, a charge amount of 95% by volume of foam off-cuts and/or waste foam corresponds to a volume level in the final product of about 80% by volume.

According to the invention, the polymerization reaction of the liquid, foam-forming one-component prepolymer is initiated by admixing water with homogenization of the mixture. Use of foam off-cuts and/or waste foam having a lower specific density than water mostly requires powerful stirring for homogenization since otherwise foamed plastic components swim on top, thus yielding a non-homogenous final product. Of course, due to insolubility of the foam off-cuts and/or waste foam 20 and the one-component prepolymer in water, a heterogenous two-phase system is obtained, the continuity of which being determined predominantly by said admixing of water. Thus, use of the term "homogenization" in the meaning of the present invention does not mean formation of a one-phase reaction system but merely formation of a •i system as continuous as possible.

Due to the reaction of the prepolymer with water, the mixture begins to foam up within a short time.

Usually, the foaming reaction is completed within a few 30 minutes. Thus, it is possible to conduct the foaming reaction in open or closed systems. Such foaming techniques are known to the artisan, for example, addition of further foaming agents, adjusting properties of the 7 product obtained, for instance, by selection and amount of a foaming agent optionally added in addition, the equipment as normally or difficultly inflammable foamed plastic materials.

In a special embodiment of the present invention, a one-component polyurethane system is employed as the liquid, foam-forming one-component prepolymer. Such onecomponent polyurethanes are known for a long time and are commercially available, for instance, under the trademark of "Hypol®". Preferably, the one-component polyurethane systems to be used according to the invention are foam-forming hydrophilic polyurethane prepolymers on the basis of toluylene diisocyanate (TDI). These are known to react with protonic compounds (containing active hydrogen) to give elastomeric foams or coatings without use of catalysts. Furthermore, it is known that other components as well such as abrasives, drugs, detergents, flameproofing agents, absorbents, pigments, ceramics, textiles as well as foamed plastics may be 20 incorporated in such prepolymers. However, the startingpoint of the present invention is to provide a process S S for reclaiming foam off-cuts and/or waste foam such that the amount of prepolymer to be employed is kept as small as possible while the above-mentioned prepolymer addi- 2 5 tives are to determine the properties of the final product in a decisive fashion. Thus, commonly employed amounts of such additives are generally far below those levels which, according to the invention, are comprised by the foam off-cuts and/or waste foam.

30 It is less critical when to employ the additional

S

components in the meaning of the present invention. They may either be added as soon as during comminution of the foam off-cuts and/or waste foam to the prepolymer prior 8 to or during mixing with the foam off-cuts and/or waste foam and to the water prior to or during admixing water.

Thus, a special embodiment of the invention is characterized in that abrasives, flame retardants, pigments, fibers, fiber residues and/or detergents in an amount of from 0.1 to 10% by weight, based on final product, are added to the foam off-cuts and/or waste foam and/or to the prepolymer and/or to the water. In a further preferred embodiment, curd soap is added as the detergent in an amount of 0.5% by weight, based on final product, to the one-component prepolymer. Conveniently, this detergent is added to the water and improves the wetting properties of the prepolymer thereby enhancing bonding between foam off-cuts and/or waste foam and prepolymer.

While the weight ratio of water to prepolymers is less critical, a weight ratio of water to prepolymers in the range of from 0.5 to 2.5 1 is adjusted according to the invention. Preferably, weight ratios of water to prepolymers in the range of from 1 to 1.5 1 are adjusted where the one-component prepolymer is used as a binder and minimum foaming is desired.

Weight ratios of water to polymers in the range of less than or equal to 1 1 may improve foam quality by reduced drying periods and energy costs. Ratios of water to polymers in the range below from 0.5 1 increase the level of closed-cell foam.

A substantial advantage of the present invention is that no organic solvents are employed in the process according to the invention. When using polyethylene as 30 the starting material, compression resistances corresponding to the original products may be achieved by using the process according to the invention. Of course, 9 by blending various foam off-cuts and/or waste foam of different chemical compositions, the characteristics of the desired product may be adjusted as desired.

EXAMPLES

Example 1 200 ml of polystyrene foam having a bulk density of kg/m (PS 15) was comminuted cold-mechanically to a particle size of about 10 mm in edge length. 20 ml of one-component prepolymer (Grace Hypol® one-component polyurethane) wds added to the mass and mixed at room temperature (21 0 C) until all the chopped pieces were wetted at the surface. Subsequently, 40 ml of tap water was added and admixed uniformly until the mass began to show an opaque turbidity. This was transferred to a foam container and allowed to react to completion at open condition. Demolding was carried out after about 3 minutes.

SThe foamed volume was 450 ml, shrinkage after 120 minutes was only 30 ml corresponding to Foaming proceeded uniformly; the mold was fully foamed. The polystyrene particles were tightly bound in the polyurethane matrix.

Example 2 About 1 g of curd soap was finely milled and stirred with 30 ml of one-component prepolymer (Grace Hypol® *25 one-component polyurethane) 10 200 ml of polystyrene foam having a bulk density of kg/m 3 (PS 15) was comminuted cold-mechanically to a particle size of about 5 mm in edge length. The onecomponent prepolymer containing surfactant was added to the milled foam particles and admixed at room temperature until all the chopped pieces were wetted at the surface.

The thus obtained mass was placed on a metal screen, and the excess was allowed to drain off for minutes. The drained excess was about 10 ml.

Subsequently, 40 ml of tap water was added to the mass and admixed uniformly until the mass began to show an opaque turbidity. This was transferred to a foam container and allowed to react to completion at open condition. Demolding was carried out after about 3 minutes.

The foamed volume was 650 ml, shrinkage after 120 minutes was 60 ml corresponding to 9.23%. Foaming proceeded uniformly; the mold was fully foamed. Adherence 20 between one-component prepolymer and polystyrene particles was sufficient, and the polystyrene particles were embedded tightly. In the foam were air bubbles somewhat larger in size, and the material resembled a grit.

Comparative Example 25 200 ml of polyethylene foam (Neopolen® 1710, BASF PE 35) was comminuted cold-mechanically to a particle size of about 20 mm in edge length. To this mass was added 20 ml of one-component prepolymer (Grace Hypol® one-component polyurethane) at room temperature until all the chopped pieces were wetted at the surface.

11 ml of tap water was added and admixed uniformly until the mass began to show an opaque turbidity. This was transferred to a foam container and allowed to react to completion at open condition. Demolding was carried out after about 3 minutes.

The foamed volume was 0.5 1, shrinkage after 120 minutes was 0.04 1 corresponding to Foaming proceeded uniformly; the mold was fully foamed. A density gradient occurred. At the bottom of the mold, a higher 13 proportion of one-component prepolymer than on the top of the mold was observed. Adherence between prepolymer and the foam particles was observed only part.:ly. Foam pieces could be removed readily.

0 0* 1 e

Claims (8)

1. A process for reclaiming foam off-cuts and/or waste foam by mechanical comminution of said foam off-cuts and/or waste foam to a particle size of less than or equal to mixing the foam off-cuts and/or waste foam with a liquid, foam-forming one- component prepolymer in a ratio of foam off-cuts and/or waste foam to prepolymers in the range of from 95 to 80 to from 5 to 20% by volume; removing excess of non-wetting prepolymer if present; initiating the polymerisation reaction of the prepolymer by admixing water in a weight ratio of water to prepolymer adjusted in the range of from 0.5 to 2.5:1 with homogenization of the mixture; and foaming in the desired shape.

2. A process according to claim 1, wherein said foam off-cuts and/or waste foam comprise polystyrene, poly(vinyl chloride), polyethylene, urea-formaldehyde resin, 15 phenol-formaldehyde resin, silicone resin, or a mixture of any two or more thereof. 3 A process according to claim 1, or claim 2, wherein said particle size is less than or equal to

4. A process according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said prepolymer is a one-component polyurethane system. S" 20 5. A process according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the weight ratio of water to prepolymer is adjusted in the range of from 1 to 1.5: 1.

6. A process accrding to any one of claims 1 to 5, which further comprises adding one or more abrasives, flame retardants, pigments, fibers, fiber residues or detergents in amounts of from 0.1 to 10% by weight, based on final product, to one or 25 more of the foam off-cuts, waste foam, prepolymer, or the water.

7. A process according to claim 6, wherein said detergent is curd soap and is added in an amount of 0.5% by weight, based on the final product, to said prepolymer.

8. A process for reclaiming foam off-cuts and/or v aste foam, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Example 1 or 2.

9. Foam off-cuts and/or waste foam reclaimed by the process of any one of claims 1 to 8. Dated 1 November, 1994 APS Welsch Partner GmbH Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON AND FERGUSON [G:\WPUSER\LIBR]00362:BGC:TCW INTERNATIONAL SEARCH REPORT International Application NopCT/Ep 91/01417 I. CLASSIFICATION OF SUBJECT MATTER (if several classification symbols apply, Indicate all) According to International Patent Classification (IPC) or to both National Classification and IPC Int. Cl. C 08 J 9/35, 11/04 II. FIELDS SEARCHED Minimum Documentation Searched 7 Classification System Classification Symbols Int. C15 C 08 J; B 29 B Documentation Searched other than Minimum Documentation to the Extent that such Documents are Included In the Fields Searched s I. DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED TO BE RELEVANT' Category Citation of Document, 11 with indication, where appropriate, of the relevant passages 12 Relevant to Claim No. 13 X GB, A, 2125422 (WM. T. BURNE=T CO. INC.) 1,9 7 March 1984, see claim 7 X US, A, 4438221 (ROLAND N. FRANCALOSSI ET AL.) 1,6,9, March 1984, see claims 6-15 X US, A, 3114722 (S C EINHORN ET AL.) 1 17 December 1963, see column 1, line 11 line claim 1 X Chemical Abstracts, vol. 106, No. 19, 11 May 1987, 1-10 (Columbus, Ohio, US), see page 724, abstract 156816p, JP, A, 61272249 (Recovered scrap-containin polyurethane foam.) 2 December 1986 A i GB, A, 2116572 (KUN-HUANG CHANG) 1-10 28 September 1983, see the whole document Special categories of cited documents: 1o later document published after the International filing date document defining the general state o the art which is not r priority date and not in conflict with the application but considered to be of particular relevance cited to understand the principle or theory underlying the invention earlier document but published on or after the international document of particular relevance: the claimed Invention filing date cannot be considered novel or cannot be considered to document which may throw doubts on priority claim(s) or involve an Inventive step which is cited to establish the publication date of another document of particular relevance; the claimed invention citation or other special reason (as specified) cannot be considered to involve an inventive step when the document referring to an oral disclosure, use, exhibition or document is combined with one or more other such docu- other means ments, such combination being obvious to a person skilled document published prior to the international filing date but in the art. later than the priority date claimed document member of the same patent family IV. CERTIFICATION Date of the Actual Completion of the International Search Date of Mailing of this International Search Report 24 October 1991 (24.10.91) 8 November 1991 (08.11.91) International Searching Authority Signature of Authorized Officer EUROPEAN PATENT OFFICE Form PCT/ISA/210 (second sheet) (January 1985) ANNEX TO THE INTERNATIONAL SEARCH REPORT ON INTERNATIONAL PATENT APPLICATION NO.PCT/EP 91/01417 SA 49785 This annex lists the patent family members relating to the patent documents cited in the above-mentioned international sparcn report. The members are as contained in the European Patent Office EDP file on 27/09/91 The European Patent ollice is in no way liable for theseparticulars which are merely given for the purpose of information. Patent document Publication Patent family Publication cited in search report date member(s) date GB-A- 2125422 07/03/84 CA-A- 1211250 09/09/86 US-A- 4438220 20/03/84 US-A- 4438221 20/03/84 CA-A- 1176116 16/10/84 US-A- 4385131 24/05/83 US-A- 4438220 20/03/84 US-A- 3114722 17/12/63 NONE GB-A- 2116572 28/09/83 NONE For more details about this annex see Official Journal of the European patent Office, No. 12/82 EPO FORM P0479 INTERNATIONALER RECHERICHENBERICHT tnternationales Aklenzeichen PCT/ EP 91 /01417 I KLASSIFIKATION DES ANMELDUNOSGENSTANDS (be' mehreren Klassilikaiionssymboien sino 3ae 3nzugeoen 1 flach der Internationalen Patentktassifikatian Oder nacn der nationalen Klasssilikation und aer [PC C 08 J 9/35, 11/04 11 RECHERC'IIERTE SACHGEBIETE Recherchierter Mindestprulstoff Klassifikationssystem IKlassilikationssymbole Int. C i. C 08 J; B 29 B Rechercnierte nicht zumn Mindestprufstalf gehorende verotfentliChungen. soweit Olese unter die recherchierien Sachgebiete lailen' III EINSCHLAG4GE VEROIFFENTLICHUNGEN 3 Art Keneichnung der VerbofentIichung' .soweit erforderlich unter Angabe der maiigetilichen Teile' Beir. Ansprucri Nr.* X TGB, A, 2125422 (WM. T. BURNETT CO. INC.) 1,9 7 Mrz 984 siheAnspruch 7 X US, A, 4438221 (ROLAND N. FRACALOSSI ET AL.) 1,6,9, Mdrz 1984, siehe Anspri~che 6-15 x US, A, 3114722 (S C EINHORN ET AL.) 1 I 17 Dezemnber 1963, siehe Spalte 1, Zeile 11 Zeile Anspruch 1 Besondere Kategorien van angegebenen Veroffentlichungen 10 ''SieeVr~etihndenc e nentoae n Verolfentlichung, die den aligemeiiien Stand der Technik ptr eotnlcug i aedmnenloae n definieri. aber nicht ats besonders; bedeuts3m anzusehen ist meldedatumn Oder dem Priorititsdatum verollentlicht warden ist und mit der Anmeldung nicht kollidiert. tandern nur Zum ,E fitteres Dokument, das jedoch erst am ader nach ctem interna- Verstindnis des der Erfindung zugrundeliegenden Prinzips tianalen Anmeldedatum veralfentlicht worden iat Oder der ihr zugrundeliegenden Theorie angegeben ist 'L Verotfentlichung, die geeignet ist. einen Priorititsanspruch 'X Veroffentllchung van besanderer fledeutung, die beanspruch- zweifelhaft erscheinen zu lassen, Oder durch die das Verof- te Erlindung kann nicht alt neu Oder auf erlinderischer Tjtig- fentlichungsdatum einer anderen im Recherchenberichi ge- keit beruhend betraChtet werden nannten Verbtfentlichung belegt werden soil Oder die aus eiii- em anderen besonderen Grund angegeben ist (wit ausgefdhrt) Verdfrentlichung van besonderer Bedeutung, die beanspruch- 0 Veoftntlchug, ie ichauf unemunticte ttebarng, te Erfindung kann nicli als as! ertinderiscner T~tigkeit be- Verdfenlicung diesic au eie mndlihe ffebarng, ruttend betrachlet werden. wenn die Verollentlichung mit eine Benutzung, eine Ausstetlung Oder andere MaBnahmen einer ader melireren anderen Veroffentlichungen dieser Kate. bezielit garie in Verbindung gebraclit wird und diese Verbindung fur IF Veroffentlichung, die var dem internationalen Anmeldeda- einen Fachmann natteliegend it tu m aber nach dem beansprucliten Prlarititsdatum veroffent- Verolfenttichung, die Mitglied derselbiei Patentfamilie ist ticht warden ist IV. BESCHEINIGUNG Datum des Abschtusses der internatuonalen Recherche Absendedatum des internatianalen Recherchenibericts

24. Oktober 1991 0 .A 9 Internattonale Recherchenbehorde Unterschrift de evl ctiglen Bediensteten Eurcip~ische Daelananielle van der Haas Europischs Palnla7 Farmblatt PCTIISAJ210 (Blatt 2) (tanuar 198S) Ineratonie Acnegh, PCT/EP 91/01417 III EINSCHLAGIGE VEROFFENTLICHUNGEN _(Fortseizung von Blatt 2) T Kennzeichnung der Verbffentfichung, saweit erforderlich unter Angabe der ma~geblicnen Telle Eeir. :.nsoruch Nr. X Chemical Abstracts, Band 106, Nr. 19, 11 Mai 1987, 1-10 (Columbus, Ohio, US), siehe Seite 724, Zusammenfassung 156816p, JP, A, 61272249 (Recovered scrap-containin polyurethane foam.) 2 Dezember 1986 A GB, A, 2116572 (KUN-HUANG CHANG) 1-10 28 September 1983, siehe Dokument insgesamt Formblatt PCT/ISAI210 (Zusatzbogen) (Januar 1985) ANHANG ZUM INTERNATIONALEN RECHERCHENBERICHT UBER DIE INTERNATIONALE PATENTANMELDUNG NR.PCT/EP 91/01417 SA In diesen Anhang sind die Mitgleder der Patentfamilien der im obengenannten internationalen Recherchenbericht angefuhrl"' Patentdokumente angegeben. Die Angaben fiber die Famitienmitglieder entsprechen dem Stand der Datei des Europiischen Patentamts am 2 7 /0 9 9 1 Diese Angaben dienen nur zur Unterrichtung und ertolgen ohne Gewahr. 49785 Imn Recherchenbericht Datum der Mitglied(er) der Datu m der angefuhrtes Patentdokument Verottentlichung Patentlamilie I Verolientlichung GB-A- 2125422 07/03/84 CA-A- 1211250 09/09/86 US-A- 4438220 20/03/84 US-A- 4438221 20/03/84 CA-A- 1176116 16/10/84 US-A- 4385131 24/05/83 US-A- 4438220 20/03/84 US-A- 3114722 17/12/63 KEINE GB-A- 2116572 28/09/83 KEINE FUr nihere Einzetheiten zu diesen Anhang :siehe Amtsblatt des Europiischen Patentamts, Nr.12/82 EPO FORM P0473