Abstract: Expandable styrene polymers comprising polymeric brominated flame-retardant, wherein the polymeric brominated flame-retardant comprises at least one brominated polybutadiene block having a bromination degree between 33 and 75%, based on the double bonds in the polybutadiene block before bromination, a process for producing such expandable styrene polymers by suspension polymerization and particulate foam moldings made therefrom.

Abstract: Brominated vinylaromatic-diene block copolymers (Br-SBC) comprising a vinylaromatic polymer block S and a brominated diene polymer block BB, wherein before bromination the weight-average molar mass Mw of the block S is greater than or equal to Mw of the block BB, use thereof as flame retardants, and also polymer compositions comprising these for unfoamed and foamed thermoplastic polymers, for example EPS and XPS.

Abstract: Brominated vinylaromatic-diene block copolymers (Br-SBC) comprising a vinylaromatic polymer block S and a brominated diene polymer block BB, wherein before bromination the weight-average molar mass Mw of the block S is greater than or equal to Mw of the block BB, use thereof as flame retardants, and also polymer compositions comprising these for unfoamed and foamed thermoplastic polymers, for example EPS and XPS.

Abstract: Styrene beads, wherein the styrene polymer beads comprise from 0.5 to 5% by weight of one or more high-temperature peroxides, where the high-temperature peroxides have a half-life time of 1 hour in the range from 110 to 160° C., measured in cumene.

Abstract: a) Production of prepolymer beads through a first suspension polymerization reaction using an aqueous suspension comprising styrene monomers and comprising particulate additives, b) isolation of the prepolymer beads, c) optional division of the prepolymer beads into fractions of different particle size and selection of one or more fractions for subsequent stages, d) production of an aqueous suspension of the prepolymer beads and conduct of a second suspension polymerization reaction in the presence of blowing agent and with addition of further monomers.

Abstract: A composition comprising at least one expandable styrene polymer component and at least one cyclohexanecarboxylic ester and also optionally further components can be processed to mechanically robust foam materials.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and an apparatus for pelletizing polymer melts comprising blowing agent in a pelletizing chamber through which a liquid flows, its pressure being above the ambient pressure. In a first step, the polymer melt is injected into the pelletizing chamber, in a second step the polymer melt is cut via a cutting apparatus into individual pellets and, in a third step, the pellets produced in the pelletizing process are discharged with the liquid from the pelletizing chamber and are then isolated from the liquid.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for preparing expandable styrene polymers which comprises the steps of: (a) adding an aqueous phase comprising a suspension stabilizer and an organic phase comprising styrene and an initiator to a reactor, (b) commencing the addition of a blowing agent at a styrene conversion in the range from 40 to 70% and adding the blowing agent over a period ranging from 30 to 60 minutes, (c) adding a stabilizer to stabilize the bead size distribution of the expandable styrene polymer at a styrene conversion in the range from 65 to 99%.

Abstract: A composition comprising at least one expandable styrene polymer component and at least one cyclohexanecarboxylic ester and also optionally further components can be processed to mechanically robust foam materials.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for preparing expandable styrene polymers which comprises the steps of: (a) adding an aqueous phase comprising a suspension stabilizer and an organic phase comprising styrene and an initiator to a reactor, (b) commencing the addition of a blowing agent at a styrene conversion in the range from 40 to 70% and adding the blowing agent over a period ranging from 30 to 60 minutes, (c) adding a stabilizer to stabilize the bead size distribution of the expandable styrene polymer at a styrene conversion in the range from 65 to 99%.

Abstract: Expandable pelletized styrene polymer materials with at least bi- or multimodal molecular weight distribution, to a process for their preparation, and to use for producing moldable-foam moldings.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of expandable styrene polymers having a molecular weight Mw of greater than 170,000 g/mol, which comprises conveying a blowing agent-containing styrene polymer melt having a temperature of at least 120° C. through a die plate with holes whose diameter at the die exit is at most 1.5 mm, and subsequently granulating the extrudate, and expandable styrene polymers (EPS) having a molecular weight Mw of more than 170,000 g/mol with 0.05 to 1.5% by weight of internal water.

Abstract: Expandable or expanded, thermoplastic polymer particles with a coating comprising hydrophobin, in particular proteins of the general structural formula (I) Xn-C1-X1-50-C2-X0-5-C3-X1-100-C4-X1-100-C5-X1-50-C6-X0-5-C7-X1-50-C8-Xm??(I) where X is any of the 20 naturally occurring amino acids, n and m are numbers between 0 and 500, C is cysteine, and their use as antistatics.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and an apparatus for pelletizing polymer melts comprising blowing agent in a pelletizing chamber through which a liquid flows, its pressure being above the ambient pressure. In a first step, the polymer melt is injected into the pelletizing chamber, in a second step the polymer melt is cut via a cutting apparatus into individual pellets and, in a third step, the pellets produced in the pelletizing process are discharged with the liquid from the pelletizing chamber and are then isolated from the liquid.

Abstract: A process for producing expandable styrene polymers (EPS) having improved expandability, wherein from 0.1 to 1% by weight, based on the styrene polymer, of a free-radical former is metered into a styrene polymer melt containing blowing agent at a melt temperature in the range from 150 to 220° C. and the melt is extruded through a die plate with subsequent underwater pelletization.

Abstract: Expandable pelletized styrene polymer materials with at least bi- or multimodal molecular weight distribution, to a process for their preparation, and to use for producing moldable-foam moldings.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing antistatically treated, expandable styrene polymers, in which a styrene polymer melt is admixed with from 0.05 to 6% by weight of an antistatic and a blowing agent, extruded through a die and pelletized.

Abstract: A process for producing flame-resistant, expandable styrene polymers (EPS) or flame-resistant extruded styrene polymer foams (XPS), wherein an organic bromine compound having a bromine content of at least 70% by weight is used as flame retardant and a liquid peroxide, hydroperoxide or a peroxide solution is used as flame retardant synergist.

Abstract: Moldable-foam moldings whose density is in the range from 10 to 100 g/l, obtainable via the fusion of prefoamed foam beads composed of expandable, pelletized thermoplastic polymer materials, comprising from 5 to 100% by weight of a styrene copolymer A), from 0 to 95% by weight of polystyrene B), and from 0 to 95% by weight of a thermoplastic polymer C) other than A) and B), and a process for producing the expandable pelletized thermoplastic polymer materials.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of expandable styrene polymers having a molecular weight Mw of greater than 170,000 g/mol, which comprises conveying a blowing agent-containing styrene polymer melt having a temperature of at least 120° C. through a die plate with holes whose diameter at the die exit is at most 1.5 mm, and subsequently granulating the extrudate, and expandable styrene polymers (EPS) having a molecular weight Mw of more than 170,000 g/mol with 0.05 to 1.5% by weight of internal water.