Abstract: In a process for rapidly producing a substantially uniform, elongated, cellular thermoplastic article comprising rapidly discharging from a vessel a pressurized gel of a solid thermoplastic amorphous polymer and a gaseous solvent in an amount in the range of from about 25-100% by weight of said polymer, said solvent being capable of forming a flowable gel with the polymer when subjected to superatomospheric pressure, the improvement for shaping the article comprising restraining sufficiently the speed of flow of the gel from the vessel through a die to form the desired shaped article with the gel at ambient temperature in said vessel.

Abstract: A process for rapidly producing a substantially uniform, solid, cellular thermoplastic article comprising the steps of: (a) charging a vessel with (1) a solid thermoplastic polymer, (2) a solvent mixture the amount of which in the range of from about 25-50% by weight of said polymer boils at or below 0.degree.C. and to prevent shrinkage the minor amount of which in the range of from about 3-30% by weight of said polymer boils at or near 20.degree.C.

Abstract: Aqueous foamable compositions can be used to suppress coal dust, especially respirable coal dust, i.e., coal dust having particle size less than about 10 microns. These compositions are composed principally of water with a minor amount of an interpolymer of:A. a polymerizable vinyl ester andB. a partial ester compound interpolymerizable therewith selected from the group consisting of partial esters of ethylenically unsaturated aliphatic dicarboxylic acids and anhydrides containing from 4-8 carbon atoms and mixtures thereof; said dicarboxylic acid or anhydride having up to half of its acidic hydrogen atoms replaced by lower alkyl groups of 1-8 carbon atoms and mixtures thereof to bind the coal dust and give body to the foam, and a minor amount of a detergent wetting agent to promote foaming and the wetting of the coal by water.These interpolymers bind the coal dust and reduce or prevent reacrosolation after the foam has collapsed. These interpolymers also serve to give body to the foam, i.e.