Abstract: A pipe insulation system that serves as insulation for a length of pipe contains section of thermoplastic polymer foam that fit circumferentially around a length of pipe, rings of melt barrier material that fit circumferentially around the length of pipe and abut adjacent sections of thermoplastic foam, mesh around the sections of thermoplastic polymer foam and rings of melt barrier material, a metallic covering enclosing the thermoplastic polymer foam, melt barrier material and mesh, and a support band that fits circumferentially around the metallic covering and that holds the pipe insulation system against a length of pipe around which the pipe insulation resides. A ring of melt barrier material is present at the top and bottom of non-horizontal length of pipe and within any 250 centimeter distance along the length of pipe.

Abstract: An article with at least two extruded thermoplastic polymer foam pieces that fit together to form a length of foam having a generally annular cross section, each piece having a concave surface such that the concave surfaces adjoin to form an internal edge defining a hole within the generally annular cross section; wherein each piece has a density less than 36 kilograms per cubic meter, a product of density times average cell size that is less than 17 millimeters*kilogram per cubic meter, and a thermal conductivity of 35 milliwatts per meter*Kelvin or less.

Abstract: A wall insulation system includes a thermoplastic polymer foam board, ribs of melt barrier material extending horizontally across the width of the thermoplastic polymer foam board and a metallic facing bonded to the outside surface of the thermoplastic polymer foam board and covering the outside primary surface of the thermoplastic polymer foam board and any ribs exposed along the outside primary surface of the thermoplastic polymer foam board. A rib of melt barrier material extends across the width of the thermoplastic polymer foam board in any 50 centimeter distance along the height of the foam board.

Abstract: Prepare extruded thermoplastic polymer foam by preparing a foamable polymer mixture containing thermoplastic polymer and blowing agent at a mixing pressure, cooling the foamable polymer mixture and extruding it through a foaming die at a die pressure at least 90 bars lower than the mixing pressure and out through a die opening having cross sectional dimensions of 2.5 millimeter or more and a cross sectional area of at least 700 square millimeters at a flow rate greater than 500 kilograms per hour and allow it to expand into a polymer foam between shaping elements while restraining the extrusion rate with a restraining device so as to form polymer foam having 96 volume percent or less void volume, anisotropic cell size, a thickness of 50 millimeter or greater, compressive and tensile moduli in the thickness dimension greater than 35 mega pascals and an average shear modulus greater than 16 mega pascals.

Abstract: An article with at least two extruded thermoplastic polymer foam pieces that fit together to form a length of foam having a generally annular cross section, each piece having a concave surface such that the concave surfaces adjoin to form an internal edge defining a hole within the generally annular cross section; wherein each piece has a density less than 36 kilograms per cubic meter, a product of density times average cell size that is less than 17 millimeters*kilogram per cubic meter, and a thermal conductivity of 35 milliwatts per meter*Kelvin or less.

Abstract: A pipe insulation system that serves as insulation for a length of pipe contains section of thermoplastic polymer foam that fit circumferentially around a length of pipe, rings of melt barrier material that fit circumferentially around the length of pipe and abut adjacent sections of thermoplastic foam, mesh around the sections of thermoplastic polymer foam and rings of melt barrier material, a metallic covering enclosing the thermoplastic polymer foam, melt barrier material and mesh, and a support band that fits circumferentially around the metallic covering and that holds the pipe insulation system against a length of pipe around which the pipe insulation resides. A ring of melt barrier material is present at the top and bottom of non-horizontal length of pipe and within any 250 centimeter distance along the length of pipe.

Abstract: A wall insulation system includes a thermoplastic polymer foam board, ribs of melt barrier material extending horizontally across the width of the thermoplastic polymer foam board and a metallic facing bonded to the outside surface of the thermoplastic polymer foam board and covering the outside primary surface of the thermoplastic polymer foam board and any ribs exposed along the outside primary surface of the thermoplastic polymer foam board. A rib of melt barrier material extends across the width of the thermoplastic polymer foam board in any 50 centimeter distance along the height of the foam board.

Abstract: Prepare extruded thermoplastic polymer foam by preparing a foamable polymer mixture containing thermoplastic polymer and blowing agent at a mixing pressure, cooling the foamable polymer mixture and extruding it through a foaming die at a die pressure at least 90 bars lower than the mixing pressure and out through a die opening having cross sectional dimensions of 2.5 millimeter or more and a cross sectional area of at least 700 square millimeters at a flow rate greater than 500 kilograms per hour and allow it to expand into a polymer foam between shaping elements while restraining the extrusion rate with a restraining device so as to form polymer foam having 96 volume percent or less void volume, anisotropic cell size, a thickness of 50 millimeter or greater, compressive and tensile moduli in the thickness dimension greater than 35 mega pascals and an average shear modulus greater than 16 mega pascals.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improved method of cold forming a shaped foam article from a foam having a vertical compressive balance equal to or greater than 0.4 and one or more pressing surface and articles thereof. The improvement comprises the use of a stamping press to form the shaped foam article. Preferably, the stamping press is operated by mechanical or hydraulic means. The shaped foam article may be shaped on one or more surfaces.

Abstract: The present invention is a method to manufacture shaped foam composite articles comprising a foam core and one or more skin and shaped foam composite articles made therefrom. Specifically, cold formed shaped foam articles having an upper and lower surface having a skin applied to one or both of the surfaces. Preferably the foam comprises a styrenic polymer foam and the skins may independently be mono-layered or multi-layered. The shaped foam article and the skin may be made from the same or different materials. In the case where there are more than one skin, the skins may comprise the same or different materials.