US 12,459,217 B2
Methods for recovering expanded polymer tooling
Xiaoxi Wang, Mukilteo, WA (US); Gary Ernest Georgeson, Tacoma, WA (US); and Jonathan A. Santiago, Seattle, WA (US)
Assigned to The Boeing Company, Arlington, VA (US)
Filed by The Boeing Company, Arlington, VA (US)
Filed on Nov. 23, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/518,530.
Application 18/518,530 is a division of application No. 16/721,614, filed on Dec. 19, 2019, granted, now 11,872,776.
Prior Publication US 2024/0092041 A1, Mar. 21, 2024
Int. Cl. B29C 70/44 (2006.01); B29C 33/40 (2006.01); B29C 35/02 (2006.01); B29C 44/34 (2006.01); B29C 44/36 (2006.01)
CPC B29C 70/44 (2013.01) [B29C 33/40 (2013.01); B29C 35/02 (2013.01); B29C 44/3442 (2013.01); B29C 44/3461 (2013.01); B29C 44/36 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for recycling expandable tooling, wherein the tooling includes foamable pellets, the method comprising:
expanding the foamable pellets within a constraining container in order to apply pressure to an uncured composite workpiece;
curing the composite workpiece while the pressure is applied to the composite workpiece;
collecting the expanded foamable pellets from the constraining container;
reducing the collected expanded foamable pellets into smaller particles;
treating the reduced foamable pellets to yield an at least partially purified polymer composition, wherein the step of treating the reduced foamable pellets to yield an at least partially purified polymer composition includes: softening or dissolving the reduced foamable pellets with a nonpolar solvent, and subsequently treating the reduced foamable pellets with a polar solvent in order to remove one or more foaming agents from the reduced foamable pellets;
collecting the at least partially purified polymer composition; and
forming recovered-polymer pellets using the at least partially purified polymer composition.