Abstract: Prepare an alkenyl-aromatic foam having good surface quality, high thermal insulating properties and low density using an extrusion method by expanding a foamable polymer composition of an alkenyl-aromatic polymer composition containing less than 20 weight-percent covalently bonded halogens and having a polydispersity of less than 2.5 and a water solubility greater than 0.09 moles per kilogram and 2.2 moles per kilogram or less at 130 degrees Celsius and 101 kilopascals pressure and 0.8-2 moles per kilogram of a blowing agent containing 0.4 moles per kilogram or more of a chlorine-free fluorinated blowing agents and water at a concentration of at least 0.22 moles per kilogram; wherein moles per kilogram are relative to kilograms of alkenyl-aromatic polymer. The resulting foam has a density of 64 kilograms per cubic meter or less and a thermal conductivity of 32 milliwatts per meter-Kelvin or less after 180 days.

Abstract: Prepare an extruded polymeric polymer foam containing one or more thermoplastic alkenyl-aromatic polymer and one or more filler, the one or more thermoplastic alkenyl-aromatic polymer accounting for 70 weight-percent or more of all polymer components in the polymer foam, containing less than 20 weight-percent covalently bound halogen based on halogenated polymer weight and having a water solubility at 130 degrees Celsius and 101 kilopascals that is greater than 0.09 moles per kilogram of polymer and having a plurality of cells defined therein wherein the polymer foam is closed-celled, 0.5 wt % or more filler, an average cell size of 0.15 millimeters or more, a density of less than 64 kilograms per cubic meter and a unimodal cell size distribution using a blowing agent containing water at a concentration up to the water solubility of the one or more thermoplastic alkenyl-aromatic polymer.

Abstract: Foamed polymeric materials exhibiting improved heat resistant properties and improved mechanical properties, as compared with known foamed styrene polymer materials, are obtained by expanding a polymer blend including a syndiotactic styrene polymer and an amount of an amorphous polymeric material which will impart enhanced heat resistant properties to the blend.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a multilayer foamed flooring and wall product. The inventive product is a resilient cushion foam flooring and wall product that is free of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), plasticizers and heavy metal stabilizer. The product is made of a multilayer top layer which is integrated with a latex or polyolefin polymer foam back layer. The product has particular utility in the heterogeneous flooring market and can be prepared using ordinary PVC melt processing equipment.

Abstract: Foamed polymeric materials exhibiting improved heat resistant properties and improved mechanical properties, as compared with known foamed styrene polymer materials, are obtained by expanding a polymer blend including a syndiotactic styrene polymer and an amount of an amorphous polymeric material which will impart enhanced heat resistant properties to the blend.

Abstract: Disclosed is an extruded, open-cell microcellular alkenyl aromatic polymer foam useful in insulating applications. The foam has an open cell content of about 70 percent or more. The foam has an average cell size of about 70 micrometers or less. The foam is particularly useful in evacuated or vacuum insulation panels. Further disclosed is a process for making the open-cell foam. Further disclosed is a fabricated foam article.

Abstract: Disclosed is an extruded, open-cell microcellular alkenyl aromatic polymer foam useful in insulating applications. The foam has an open cell content of about 70 percent or more. The foam has an average cell size of about 70 micrometers or less. The foam is particularly useful in evacuated or vacuum insulation panels. Further disclosed is a process for making the open-cell foam. Further disclosed is a fabricated foam article.

Abstract: Disclosed is an extruded, open-cell alkenyl aromatic polymer foam useful in insulating applications. The foam has an open cell content of 30 percent or more. The foam further has in minor dimension and cross section of greater than 6.5 millimeters. The foams has a high heat distortion temperature, and is particularly useful in roofing applications. Further disclosed is a process for making the open-cell foam.

Abstract: Disclosed is an extruded, open-cell microcellular alkenyl aromatic polymer foam useful in insulating applications. The foam has an open cell content of about 70 percent or more. The foam has an average cell size of about 70 micrometers or less. The foam is particularly useful in evacuated or vacuum insulation panels. Further disclosed is a process for making the open-cell foam. Further disclosed is a fabricated foam article.

Abstract: Disclosed is an extruded, open-cell alkenyl aromatic polymer foam useful in insulating applications. The foam has an open cell content of about 30 to about 80 percent. The foam further has in minor dimension and cross-section of greater than 0.25 inches. The foam has a high heat distortion temperature, and is particularly useful in roofing applications. Further disclosed is a process for making the open-cell foam.

Abstract: Disclosed is an evacuated and unevacuated microcellular foam containing an infrared attenuating agent (IAA). The evacuated foam has an average cell size of about 70 micrometers or less. The unevacuated foam has an average cell size of 1.0 micrometers or less. The IAA provide a greater proportional reduction in foam thermal conductivity in these foams than in foams of larger cell size. Further disclosed is a method of using the foams.

Abstract: Disclosed is an extruded, open-cell microcellular alkenyl aromatic polymer foam useful in insulating applications. The foam has an open cell content of about 70 percent or more. The foam has an average cell size of about 70 micrometers or less. The foam is particularly useful in evacuated or vacuum insulation panels. Further disclosed is a process for making the open-cell foam.

Abstract: Disclosed is a roofing system for a structure such as a building. The system comprises a roof deck; a plurality of panels of an extruded alkenyl aromatic polymer foam above and adjacent the deck; and a substantially waterproof membrane above and adjacent to the foam. The foam has from about 30 to about 80 percent open cell content. The foam provides excellent mechanical support for the membrane, and is water resistant. The foam further has a high heat distortion temperature, and is substantially free of distortion at high service temperatures encountered in roofing systems. Further disclosed is a recovery roofing system employing the above foam. Further disclosed are processes for constructing a new roofing system and a recovery roofing system.

Abstract: Disclosed is an extruded, open-cell alkenyl aromatic polymer foam useful in insulating applications. The foam has an open cell content of about 30 to about 80 percent. The foam further has in minor dimension and cross-section of greater than 0.25 inches. The foam has a high heat distortion temperature, and is particularly useful in roofing applications. Further disclosed is a process for making the open-cell foam.

Abstract: Disclosed is an extruded, open-cell alkenyl aromatic polymer foam useful in insulating applications. The foam has an open cell content of about 30 to about 80 percent. The foam further has in minor dimension and cross-section of greater than 0.25 inches. The foam has a high heat distortion temperature, and is particularly useful in roofing applications. Further disclosed is a process for making the open-cell foam.

Abstract: Disclosed is a coextruded, fire-resistant, composite structure of adjacent, alternating first and second layers wherein the first layer comprises a thermoplastic foam and second layer a thermoplastic material with such second layers containing a quantity of a brominated fire retardant sufficient to enhance the flame retardancy of the composite structure. Incorporation of the fire retardant into the thermoplastic material layers allows a fire-resistant foam structure to be made using water as a blowing agent for the first layers while avoiding serious corrosion problems encountered when incorporating both brominated fire retardants and water in the same foam structure. Further disclosed are processes for making the above described composite structure. Further disclosed is a composite flow melt expandable into the above-described composite structure.