Method for treating foam

Abstract

A method for treating foam is provided. The method includes providing a foam blank having a thickness, disposing an electrolyte within the foam blank, compressing the foam blank such that the thickness of the foam blank is reduced and drying the foam blank. The method may assist with providing thin electrolyte doped foam.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for treating cellulose foam, comprising:
 treating the cellulose foam with an electrolyte;   compressing the cellulose foam; and   drying the cellulose foam while the cellulose foam is compressed.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of treating comprises exposing the cellulose foam to an electrolyte solution. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said step of treating comprises soaking the cellulose foam in the electrolyte solution. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electrolyte comprises a non-deliquescent electrolyte. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electrolyte comprises sodium bicarbonate, sodium chloride or potassium sulfate. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cellulose foam has a first surface and a second surface positioned opposite each other on the cellulose foam, wherein said step of compressing comprises compressing the cellulose foam such that the first and second surfaces of the cellulose foam are spaced apart from each other by less than about three hundredths of an inch. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said step of drying comprises heating the cellulose foam in a hot press such that the first and second surfaces of the cellulose foam are spaced apart from each other by less than about three hundredths of an inch during said step of drying. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the first and second surfaces of the cellulose foam are spaced apart from each other by less than about three hundredths of an inch after said step of drying. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of drying comprises heating the cellulose foam. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the cellulose foam is greater than about three hundredths of an inch before said step of compressing and the thickness of the cellulose foam is less than about three hundredths of an inch after said step of drying. 
     
     
         11 . A method for treating foam, comprising:
 providing a foam blank, the foam blank having a thickness;   disposing an electrolyte within the foam blank;   compressing the foam blank such that the thickness of the foam blank is reduced; and   drying the foam blank during said step of compressing.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the foam blank comprises cellulose foam or synthetic foam. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said step of disposing comprises soaking the foam blank in an electrolyte solution. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the electrolyte comprises a non-deliquescent electrolyte. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the electrolyte comprises sodium bicarbonate, sodium chloride or potassium sulfate. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the thickness of the foam blank is less than about three hundredths of an inch during said step of compressing. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said step of drying comprises heating the foam blank in a hot press. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the thickness of the foam blank is greater than about three hundredths of an inch before said step of compressing and the thickness of the foam blank is less than about three hundredths of an inch after said step of drying.