Abstract: According to the present invention, there is a methylcellulose having a methoxy substitution of about 21 to about 42 percent based upon the weight of the cellulose ether and elastic modulus (EM) of EM≧181.3×(v0.2711) wherein “v” is viscosity of a two percent solution of the cellulose ether at 20° C. Further described is a process for making the cellulose ether, a food composition containing it, and a pharmaceutical capsule containing it.

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: There is an evacuated insulation panel comprising a corestock of an open-cell alkenyl aromatic polymer foam and a deformable receptacle. The foam has an open cell content of about 70 percent or more. The foam is situated within the receptacle. The receptacle is hermetically sealed. The open-cells of the foam and the interior of the receptacle are evacuated to an absolute pressure of about 10 torr or less. The foam has indentations therein which extend in two dimensions across a surface of the foam. The receptacle substantially conforms to the shape of the foam, including the indentations within. The panel has one or more surfaces which are substantially non-wrinkled. Further disclosed is a method for making the panel.

Abstract: Disclosed is a compressed, evacuated, open-cell polymer foam, the foam having an open cell content of about 70 percent or more prior to compression, the foam having a thickness of about 40 to about 90 percent of the initial thickness of the foam prior to compression, the foam having an absolute cell gas pressure of about 10 torr or less in its open cells, the foam having a density of about 16 to about 250 kilograms per cubic meter. Further disclosed is an evacuated insulation panel employing the foam.

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: A roofing system (20) for a structure such as a building. The system (20) includes a roof deck (10), a plurality of panels (12) of an extruded alkenyl aromatic polymer foam above and adjacent the deck (10); and a substantially waterproof membrane (14), above and adjacent to the foam. The foam has an open cell content of 30 percent or more. The foam provides excellent mechanical support for the membrane (14), 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 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 a process for making an extruded alkenyl aromatic polymer foam with a thickness of about 1 inch (2.54 cm) or more and having an enhanced cell size. From about 0.2 to about 2.0 percent by weight of a glycerol monoester of a C.sub.8-24 fatty acid is incorporated to increase cell size about 5 percent or more relative to a corresponding foam without the glycerol monoester. The blowing agent is about 50 percent or more of a blowing agent selected from the group consisting of carbon dioxide, 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane, and 1,1,1-trifluoroethane. Further disclosed is an extruded alkenyl aromatic polymer foam obtainable from the process.

Abstract: Disclosed is a closed-cell polymer foam comprising a quantity of titanium dioxidce particulates sufficient to reduce the thermal conductivity of the foam to less than that of a corresponding foam without the titanium dioxide particulates. The titanium dioxide particulates have a wetting aggent applied to a substantial portion of their surfaces. Further disclosed are processes for making the foams.

Abstract: Disclosed is a rigid polymer foam board suitable for use in a foundation insulation system. The foam board has a face defining a plurality of grooves therein which traverse in a crossing, diagonal configuration. The groove configuration facilitates the application of insecticides/termiticides in foundation insulation systems employing rigid foam boards on the exterior of the foundation.

Abstract: Disclosed is a laminated foam insulation board having enhanced strength and resistance to bending and breaking. The board comprises a panel of an insulating plastic foam material and a thermoplastic facer film adhered to opposite surfaces of the panel. The facer films have an ultimate elongation of less than 200 percent in both machine and transverse directions, a yield tensile strength of at least 7,000 pounds per square inch (48,400 kilopascals) in both machine and transverse directions, and a 1 percent secant modulus of at least 200,000 pounds per square inch (1,380 megapascals) in both machine and transverse directions. The degree of adhesion is about 100 grams per inch or more (about 39.4 grams per centimeter or more) between the facer film and the foam panel.

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 foam structure of desirable mechanical strength made with a low molecular weight alkenyl aromatic polymer material and an inorganic blowing agent. The polymer material has an alkenyl aromatic polymer of a weight average molecular weight of 100,000 to 165,000. The foam structure can be made in processes with reduced pressure drop.

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 an extruded, linear, bimodal monovinyl aromatic polymer foam having a weight average molecular weight of from about 100,000 to about 200,000, greater than 5 percent by weight of its polymer chains having a weight average molecular weight of 500,000 to 1,000,000, and less than 5 percent by weight of its polymer chains having a weight average molecular weight of greater than 1,000,000. Use of the polymer enables process pressure drop to be significantly reduced and allows the formation of a foam of lower density and larger cross-section. Further disclosed is a process for making the extruded foam.

Abstract: Disclosed is a rigid, thermoplastic foam board useful in below-grade residential and commercial insulating and drainage applications. The board defines a plurality of oriented channels extending therein along the board. The channel extends into the board through a relatively narrow first opening at the face into a relatively wide first zone. The channel then further extends into the board from the first zone through a relatively narrow second opening into a second zone. The board provides superior water drainage, and protects a below-grade building wall from excessive moisture. Further disclosed is a method for using the foam board in below-grade applications.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for providing accelerated release of a blowing agent from a solid, non-perforated plastic foam. The method relates (a) providing the solid, non-perforated plastic foam having the blowing agent and a permeability modifier therein and (b) perforating the foam at its surface to form a multiplicity of channels extending from the surface into the foam. The channels are in gaseous communication with the environment outside the foam and provide accelerated release of blowing agent.

Abstract: Disclosed is a compatibilized carbon black useful in melt processing of plastic material. The carbon black is coated with a compatibilizing agent which enhances the dispersibility of the carbon black in a melt of the plastic material. Further disclosed are processes for making plastic foam structures with the compatibilized carbon black.