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 a process for making extruded, closed-cell alkenyl aromatic polymer foam structure having an average cell size of from about 0.3 to about 3.0 millimeters. The process comprises: a) heating an alkenyl aromatic polymer material having greater than 50 percent by weight alkenyl aromatic monomeric units to form a melt polymer material; b) incorporating into the melt polymer material at an elevated pressure a blowing agent comprising at least 50 percent by weight 1,1-difluoroethane (HFC-152a) based upon the total weight of the blowing agent to form a foamable gel; c) cooling the foamable gel to an optimum foaming temperature prior to extrusion through a die; and d) extruding the foamable gel through a die to form the foam structure. Further disclosed is a foamable gel capable of forming an alkenyl aromatic polymer foam structure having an average cell size of from about 0.3 to about 3.0 millimeters.

Abstract: Low density styrene polymer foams having highly desirable physical properties are prepared employing as a blowing agent a mixture of carbon dioxide, lower alcohol and water. The cell size can be effectively controlled by controlling the amount of water in the blowing agent mixture, i.e., small cell or large cell foams can be prepared. A process for preparing such foams is also disclosed.

Abstract: Low density styrene polymer foams having highly desirable physical properties are prepared employing as a blowing agent a mixture of carbon dioxide, lower alcohol and water. The cell size can be effectively controlled by controlling the amount of water in the blowing agent mixture, i.e., small cell or large cell foams can be prepared. A process for preparing such foams is also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for making extruded, closed-cell alkenyl aromatic polymer foam structure having an average cell size of from about 0.3 to about 3.0 millimeters. The process comprises: a) heating an alkenyl aromatic polymer material having greater than 50 percent by weight alkenyl aromatic monomeric units to form a melt polymer material: b) incorporating into the melt polymer material at an elevated pressure a blowing agent comprising at least 50 percent by weight 1,1-difluoroethane (HFC-152a) based upon the total weight of the blowing agent to form a foamable gel: c) cooling the foamable gel to an optimum foaming temperature prior to extrusion through a die: and d) extruding the foamable gel through a die to form the foam structure. Further disclosed is a foamable gel capable of forming an alkenyl aromatic polymer foam structure having an average cell size of from about 0.3 to about 3.0 millimeters.

Abstract: The permeability of subterranean formations, and hence, the mobility of fluids through the formation, can be controlled by introducing a carboxamide polymer and a hypohalite such as sodium hypochlorite to the formation at conditions such that the polymer has been cross-linked, either prior to its introduction or in situ, to form a gel. By this method, the permeability of highly porous zones can selectively be reduced. Therefore, in an enhanced recovery operation wherein a drive fluid is injected into the subterranean formation to force hydrocarbon therefrom, the drive fluid can more uniformly sweep the formation resulting in a more effective recovery process.