Abstract: Insecticides, and particularly termiticides, may be dissolved in monomers polymerized to form foamable polymers, such as polystyrene. The resulting monomer and insecticide may then be polymerized in a conventional manner and either impregnated with a blowing agent or expanded using an extrusion process to produce polymeric foam having insecticidal properties. The polymer may also contain a flame retardant. Such polymers and the foam made therefrom may be used in the construction industry, particularly where insect infestation is a concern.

Abstract: Polymeric beads made by a suspension or an emulsion process may be concurrently impregnated with blowing agent, an insecticide and a flame retardant, if required. The resulting bead is then washed and dried and then may be used for making a foam structure such as a sheet. The resulting foam sheet may be used in the construction industry, particularly where there is a concern of insect infestation.

Abstract: The residual level of monomer in a polymer may be reduced by passing a melt of the polymer through a devolatilizer column which contains an array of two or more trays having voids comprising from 15 to 50% of the surface of the tray which are offset so the voids in the upper tray are spaced over the solid areas of the tray below.

Abstract: An anhydride-containing thermoplastic resin such as a styrene maleic anhydride copolymer is processed in a vented extruder in the present of a nitrogenous chemical blowing agent to both imidize at least a portion of the anhydride groups and remove volatile residues such as unreacted styrene monomer from the resin.

Abstract: A heat resistant polymer such as a styrene maleic anhydride copolymer which has been contaminated with a minor amount of a vinyl chloride polymer such as polyvinyl chloride may be stabilized sufficiently by incorporation of calcium carbonate to allow contaminated heat resistant polymer reclaimed in this manner to match the performance of non-contaminated heat resistant polymer. Instrument panels comprising such heat resistant polymers and polyvinyl chloride polymers may thus be readily recycled and reused to form new molded articles exhibiting with little or no deterioration in properties.