Expandable mold kit for tunable-density foam prototyping
This technology is a specialized mold for making foam materials — like the kind used in packaging, insulation, or cushioning — that physically expands as the foam grows instead of confining it to a fixed shape. Two sliding pistons inside a cylindrical housing move outward under spring tension as the foam expands, allowing the foam's own gas pressure to control the final density and structure. Porous plates on each piston face let gases escape evenly during the process, and the operator can tune the end result by adjusting temperature and the spring resistance holding the pistons in place. The key advantage is that the mold accommodates the natural dynamics of foam expansion rather than forcing foam into a rigid cavity, which gives researchers or manufacturers precise control over porosity and mechanical properties.
What you could build
A research-grade or small-batch production mold kit sold to foam material developers, polymer scientists, and specialty manufacturers who need to rapidly prototype foams with tunable properties — such as companies making acoustic panels, medical-grade cushioning, or lightweight structural inserts.
Who in Virginia should care
Virginia-based defense contractors and aerospace suppliers (e.g., those in the Hampton Roads or Northern Virginia corridors) needing lightweight, tunable foam components for insulation or energy absorption applications would be natural early adopters.
Readiness: Lab validated
Concept — described but not yet demonstrated. Lab validated — supported by experimental results in the patent. Prototype likely — the text describes a built, working embodiment.
Readiness is inferred from the patent text, not from a lab visit.
The record
- Inventors
- Erdogan KIRAN
- Granted
- July 5, 2022
- Status
- Granted patent
- Patent number
- 11376769
Ready to talk?
Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties handles licensing for this technology.
Prosim summaries are generated from public patent text and are not legal advice.