Abstract: In a method of producing a plate-like polystyrene resin foam which comprises extruding a molten mixture of a polystyrene resin and a volatile blowing agent from an extruder into a zone kept at a lower pressure than the inside of the extruder, the improvement wherein the volatile blowing agent is a mixture consisting of 50 to 80% by weight of dichlorodifluoromethane and 50 to 20% by weight of ethyl chloride and is present in said molten mixture in a proportion of 8 to 17 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the polystyrene resin.

Abstract: A method for pressurizing pre-foamed particles of a polyolefin resin by maintaining the pre-foamed particles in an atmosphere of a pressurized gas to impart a predetermined internal pressure thereto, which comprises first maintaining the particles under a pressure which does not cause shrinkage to the particles, and then increasing the applied pressure gradually under conditions which do not cause shrinkage to the particles.

Abstract: A process for producing a foamed and molded article of a polypropylene resin, which comprises pressurizing preliminarily-foamed particles of an ethylene/propylene copolymer having a melt index value of from 0.1 to 25, a latent heat of crystallization of not more than 28 cal/g and an ethylene content of from 1 to 30% by weight as a base resin with an inorganic gas or a gaseous mixture of the inorganic gas and a volatile blowing agent thereby to impart an elevated pressure to the inside of said particles, thereafter filling said particles in a mold capable of enclosing the particles but allowing escape of gases therefrom, and then heating said particles to expand them to the configuration of the mold.

Abstract: In a process for producing pre-foamed particles of a polyolefin resin which comprises impregnating a volatile blowing agent into particles of a polyolefin resin while dispersing the resin particles and the blowing agent in a dispersing medium under heat in a closed vessel, opening one end of the vessel and releasing the resin particles and the dispersing medium simultaneously into an atmosphere kept at a lower pressure than the inside pressure of the vessel; the improvement wherein the pressure of the inside of the vessel after opening its one end is maintained at a substantially constant pressure which is at least 0.7 times the vapor pressure of the blowing agent before opening the end of the vessel.

Abstract: In a process for producing a foamed article of a polyolefin resin which comprises filling in a mold pre-foamed particles of a polyolefin resin containing a gaseous mixture consisting of an inorganic gas and a volatile organic blowing agent in their cells and heating them to mold a foamed article; the improvement wherein the pre-foamed particles of the resin are those in which the total pressure of the gaseous mixture is 1.4 to 2.5 kg/cm.sup.2 (abs.), with the partial pressure of the inorganic gas being maintained at 0.4 to 1.1 kg/cm.sup.2 (abs.) and the partial pressure of the volatile blowing agent at 0.8 to 1.6 kg/cm.sup.2 (abs.).

Abstract: In a process for producing a plate-like polystyrene resin foam which comprises extruding a molten mixture consisting of a polystyrene resin and a volatile blowing agent by an extruder into a zone having a lower pressure than the inside of the extruder; the improvement wherein said volatile blowing agent is a mixture consisting of dichlorodifluoromethane, ethyl chloride and methyl chloride in which dichlorodifluoromethane accounts for 50 to 70% by weight of the mixture and the remainder consists of ethyl chloride and methyl chloride and the amount of ethyl chloride is at least 30% by weight based on the total amount of ethyl chloride and methyl chloride; and wherein said volatile blowing agent is present in said molten mixture in a proportion of 8 to 17 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the polystyrene resin component.

Abstract: A foamed polystyrene board useful as a thermal insulating material is produced by melting a polystyrene having a melt index of from 0.5 to 5 under heat in an extruder, mixing the molten mass with a blowing agent composed of methyl chloride and dichlorodifluoromethane, and extruding the resulting foamable molten gel from the extruder. As a novel essential feature, a flowability improver having a melting point higher than 70.degree. C., such as an aromatic sulfonamide, a brominated aromatic compound, a brominated alicyclic compound or a poly(.alpha.-methylstyrene), is mixed with the polystyrene within the extruder to impart superior extrusion formability. The foam has good dimensional stability both at room temperature and higher temperature, high mechanical strength and superior thermal insulation properties.