Abstract: In a method of producing a plate-like polystyrene resin foam which comprises extruding a molten mixture of a polystyrene resin and a volatile blowing agent from an extruder into a zone kept at a lower pressure than the inside of the extruder, the improvement wherein the volatile blowing agent is a mixture consisting of 50 to 80% by weight of dichlorodifluoromethane and 50 to 20% by weight of ethyl chloride and is present in said molten mixture in a proportion of 8 to 17 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the polystyrene resin.

Abstract: In a process for producing a plate-like polystyrene resin foam which comprises extruding a molten mixture consisting of a polystyrene resin and a volatile blowing agent by an extruder into a zone having a lower pressure than the inside of the extruder; the improvement wherein said volatile blowing agent is a mixture consisting of dichlorodifluoromethane, ethyl chloride and methyl chloride in which dichlorodifluoromethane accounts for 50 to 70% by weight of the mixture and the remainder consists of ethyl chloride and methyl chloride and the amount of ethyl chloride is at least 30% by weight based on the total amount of ethyl chloride and methyl chloride; and wherein said volatile blowing agent is present in said molten mixture in a proportion of 8 to 17 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the polystyrene resin component.

Abstract: A foamed polystyrene board useful as a thermal insulating material is produced by melting a polystyrene having a melt index of from 0.5 to 5 under heat in an extruder, mixing the molten mass with a blowing agent composed of methyl chloride and dichlorodifluoromethane, and extruding the resulting foamable molten gel from the extruder. As a novel essential feature, a flowability improver having a melting point higher than 70.degree. C., such as an aromatic sulfonamide, a brominated aromatic compound, a brominated alicyclic compound or a poly(.alpha.-methylstyrene), is mixed with the polystyrene within the extruder to impart superior extrusion formability. The foam has good dimensional stability both at room temperature and higher temperature, high mechanical strength and superior thermal insulation properties.

Abstract: In a process for producing an olefinic resin foam which comprises the steps of forming a composition comprising an olefinic resin, a chemical blowing agent and a crosslinking agent into an unfoamed sheet-like or rod-like shaped article and foaming it by heating, the improvement wherein the heat-forming step is carried out in an oxygen-free atmosphere or in an atmosphere containing not more than 10% of oxygen.