Abstract: Prepare a polymer foam by extrusion foaming a foamable thermoplastic polymer composition using a blowing agent containing 3 to 5 weight-percent (wt %) carbon dioxide, up to 5 wt % alcohol having 2-3 carbons, up to 0.7 wt % water and up to 2.5 weight-percent iso-butane; wherein the blowing agent comprises at least 0.1 wt % of water and/or alcohol having 2-3 carbons; two to five wt % infrared attenuating agent selected from petcokes and 100-700 nanometers size carbon black; 2.5 to 3.5 wt % brominated flame retardant; and at least 0.1 wt % of epoxy stabilizer wherein the resulting polymeric foam is characterized by having a density in a range of 30 to 37 kilograms per cubic meter, a unimodal cell size distribution, an average cell size of 0.15 to 0.4 millimeters, a thermal conductivity in a range of 28 to 35 milliwatts per meter*Kelvin and that passes the German B2 fire test.

Abstract: Extruded polymer foams are prepared using brominated fatty acids, an ester, amide or ester-amide of a brominated fatty acid, a glyceride of one or more brominated fatty acids, or a polymerized brominated fatty acid as an FR additive. The brominated FR additives unexpectedly are stable at the extrusion temperatures, and provide excellent flame retardancy to the foams.

Abstract: Extruded polymer foams are prepared using brominated fatty acids, an ester, amide or ester-amide of a brominated fatty acid, a glyceride of one or more brominated fatty acids, or a polymerized brominated fatty acid as an FR additive. The brominated FR additives unexpectedly are stable at the extrusion temperatures, and provide excellent flame retardancy to the foams.

Abstract: A polymeric foam article has at least two thermoplastic polymer foams in layered orientation, each of the thermoplastic polymer foams having an adjoining surface that contains a polymer skin, a thickness dimension perpendicular to the adjoining surface, perforations that are less than one millimeter in diameter that penetrate through the adjoining surface to a depth less than the thickness dimension of the foam, where the adjoining surface of one thermoplastic polymer foam is adjacent and adhered to the adjoining surface of another thermoplastic polymer foam with an adhesive thereby affixing the thermoplastic polymer foams to one another.

Abstract: Prepare extruded polymer foam comprising at least 50 weight-percent alkenyl aromatic polymer, a brominated flame retardant providing 0.8 to 1.4 weight percent bromide, 0.05 to 0.5 weight-percent hydrobromic acid scavenger, at least 1.5 weight-percent graphite and less than 0.1 weight-percent C—C and O—O labile organic compounds using a blowing agent composition comprising at least 0.3 weight-parts per 100 weight parts polymer and that consists of blowing agents having an ozone depletion potential of zero and a global warming potential that is less than 1000.

Abstract: A fencing/railing assembly adapted to be positioned between a pair of posts and mounted thereto. The assembly includes a plurality of elongate pickets and one or more rails extending transverse to the pickets. The pickets each have at least one protrusion formed or positioned thereon. The rails have an elongate channel formed on an inside portion thereof for cooperating with the protrusion. The rails further include picket openings formed in an upper portion thereof for receiving pickets therethrough. The picket openings are sized and adapted to be slipped over the pickets and securely held in place by engagement of the protrusions with the channels formed on the inside portion of the rails. The channels and the protrusions form a connection between the pickets and the rails.

Abstract: A polymeric foam article has at least two thermoplastic polymer foams in layered orientation, each of the thermoplastic polymer foams having an adjoining surface that contains a polymer skin, a thickness dimension perpendicular to the adjoining surface, perforations that are less than one millimeter in diameter that penetrate through the adjoining surface to a depth less than the thickness dimension of the foam, where the adjoining surface of one thermoplastic polymer foam is adjacent and adhered to the adjoining surface of another thermoplastic polymer foam with an adhesive thereby affixing the thermoplastic polymer foams to one another.

Abstract: Prepare an alkenyl-aromatic foam having good surface quality, high thermal insulating properties and low density using an extrusion method by expanding a foamable polymer composition of an alkenyl-aromatic polymer composition containing less than 20 weight-percent covalently bonded halogens and having a polydispersity of less than 2.5 and a water solubility greater than 0.09 moles per kilogram and 2.2 moles per kilogram or less at 130 degrees Celsius and 101 kilopascals pressure and 0.8-2 moles per kilogram of a blowing agent containing 0.4 moles per kilogram or more of a chlorine-free fluorinated blowing agents and water at a concentration of at least 0.22 moles per kilogram; wherein moles per kilogram are relative to kilograms of alkenyl-aromatic polymer. The resulting foam has a density of 64 kilograms per cubic meter or less and a thermal conductivity of 32 milliwatts per meter-Kelvin or less after 180 days.

Abstract: A fencing assembly is adapted to be positioned between a pair of posts and mounted to the posts. The fencing assembly includes a plurality of pickets and a plurality of rails extending transverse to the pickets. Optionally, sliding covers are provided for concealing the connection between the pickets and the rails.

Abstract: A fencing/railing assembly adapted to be positioned between a pair of posts and mounted thereto. The assembly includes a plurality of pickets, a plurality of rails extending transverse to the pickets, and one or more pivoting, sliding connectors for connecting a picket to a rail, with the sliding, pivotal connection concealed by the rail. The connector is slidably mounted to the rail and is pivotally connected to the picket. The sliding, pivotal connection allows the pickets to be oriented at greater angles relative to the rails (i.e. it allows the assembly to rack to a greater degree, thereby allowing the fencing/raining to following more-steeply changing terrain or contours). In one embodiment, an elongated connector strip is concealed by the rail and spans multiple pickets. In another embodiment, the assembly includes a plurality of shorter connectors, one for each picket/rail connection.

Abstract: Prepare a closed-cell alkenyl aromatic polymer foam by an extrusion process using a blowing agent composition that contains at least 30 weight-percent of the chlorine-free hydrofluorocarbon blowing agent such that the foam has a density of 48 kilograms per cubic meter or less, contains more than 50 weight-percent styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer based on total polymer weight and at least eight weight-percent of a chlorine-free hydrofluorocarbon blowing agent that has a lower solubility in polystyrene than 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethane (HFC-134).

Abstract: Extruded polymer foams are prepared using brominated fatty acids, an ester, amide or ester-amide of a brominated fatty acid, a glyceride of one or more brominated fatty acids, or a polymerized brominated fatty acid as an FR additive. The brominated FR additives unexpectedly are stable at the extrusion temperatures, and provide excellent flame retardancy to the foams.