Abstract: Disclosed is a method for making polystyrene foam which utilizes one or more atmospheric gases, particularly CO2, as the blowing agent in combination with a polymer processing aid (PPA), typically an ester that is relatively non-volatile at the extrusion temperature range. The blowing agent and the PPA may both be introduced into the molten thermoplastic polystyrene resin or the PPA may be incorporated in the solid source polystyrene resins. The resulting foam will be substantially free of residual blowing agent and dimensionally stable at ambient temperatures.

Abstract: Polymer extruded foams that contain cell size enlarging agents are provided. The inventive composition includes a foamable polymer material, at least one blowing agent, and at least one cell size enlarging agent. The blowing agent utilized in the inventive composition is preferably selected such that the composition has a zero ozone depletion and low global warming potential. Examples include any inorganic blowing agents and/or non-hydrogenated chlorofluorocarbons (non-HCFCs). The foamable polymer material is preferably polystyrene. The cell size enlarging agent may be chosen from ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) and/or ethylene methyl acrylate (EMA). The cell size enlarging agent permits the formation of a foam with large cell sizes that are desirable to achieve a high insulation value and to optimize the physical properties of the foamed product. In addition, the cell size enlarging agent provides an increased cell size to the foamed product without detracting from the physical and thermal properties.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for making polystyrene foam which utilizes one or more atmospheric gases, particularly CO2, as the blowing agent in combination with a polymer processing aid (PPA), typically an ester that is relatively non-volatile at the extrusion temperature range. The blowing agent and the PPA may both be introduced into the molten thermoplastic polystyrene resin or the PPA may be incorporated in the solid source polystyrene resins. The resulting foam will be substantially free of residual blowing agent and dimensionally stable at ambient temperatures.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for making polystyrene foam which utilizes one or more atmospheric gases, particularly CO2, as the blowing agent in combination with a polymer processing aid (PPA), typically an ester that is relatively non-volatile at the extrusion temperature range. The blowing agent and the PPA may both be introduced into the molten thermoplastic polystyrene resin or the PPA may be incorporated in the solid source polystyrene resins. The resulting foam will be substantially free of residual blowing agent and dimensionally stable at ambient temperatures.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for making polystyrene foam which utilizes one or more atmospheric gases, particularly CO2, as the blowing agent in combination with a polymer processing aid (PPA), typically an ester that is relatively non-volatile at the extrusion temperature range. The blowing agent and the PPA may both be introduced into the molten thermoplastic polystyrene resin or the PPA may be incorporated in the solid source polystyrene resins. The resulting foam will be substantially free of residual blowing agent and dimensionally stable at ambient temperatures.

Abstract: This invention relates to foam insulating products, particularly extruded polystyrene foam, with increasing the cell orientation and reducing cell anisotropic ratio, as well as the process method for making the products thereof for improving the insulating properties and for reducing the manufacturing cost of the foam products. Alternatively, foam insulating products having increased cell compressive strength may be made by decreasing the cell orientation and increasing the cell anisotropic ratio.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for making polystyrene foam which utilizes one or more atmospheric gases, particularly CO2, as the blowing agent in combination with a polymer processing aid (PPA), typically an ester that is relatively non-volatile at the extrusion temperature range. The blowing agent and the PPA may both be introduced into the molten thermoplastic polystyrene resin or the PPA may be incorporated in the solid source polystyrene resins. The resulting foam will be substantially free of residual blowing agent and dimensionally stable at ambient temperatures.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for making polystyrene foam which utilizes one or more atmospheric gases, particularly CO2, as the blowing agent in combination with a polymer processing aid (PPA), typically an ester that is relatively non-volatile at the extrusion temperature range. The blowing agent and the PPA may both be introduced into the molten thermoplastic polystyrene resin or the PPA may be incorporated in the solid source polystyrene resins. The resulting foam will be substantially free of residual blowing agent and dimensionally stable at ambient temperatures.

Abstract: Polymeric foam and polymeric foam products that contain a foamable polymer material, at least one blowing agent, a polystyrene/polyethylene oxide copolymer, and optionally, an infrared attenuating agent, are provided. In exemplary embodiments, the blowing agent includes at least one hydrofluorocarbon blowing agent. The maleic anhydride-styrene copolymer grafted with polyethylene oxide provides a water vapor permeability of 1.1 perm inch or greater in the extruded foam product without detrimentally affecting physical or thermal properties of the product. Additionally, the copolymer of maleic anhydride-styrene grafted with polyethylene oxide has a positive affect on the processability of the blowing agent(s) in the composition by both widening the process window and enhancing the solubility of the blowing agent in the polymer melt. Thus, the polystyrene/polyethylene oxide copolymer present in the inventive composition acts as a cell enlarger, a plasticizer, and a processing aid.

Abstract: This invention relates to foam insulating products, particularly extruded polystyrene foam, with increasing the cell orientation and reducing cell anisotropic ratio, as well as the process method for making the products thereof for improving the insulating properties and for reducing the manufacturing cost of the foam products. Alternatively, foam insulating products having increased cell compressive strength may be made by decreasing the cell orientation and increasing the cell anisotropic ratio.

Abstract: Polymeric foam and polymeric foam products that contain a foamable polymer material, at least one blowing agent, a polystyrene/polyethylene oxide copolymer, and optionally, an infrared attenuating agent, are provided. In exemplary embodiments, the blowing agent includes at least one hydrofluorocarbon blowing agent. The maleic anhydride-styrene copolymer grafted with polyethylene oxide provides a water vapor permeability of 1.1 perm inch or greater in the extruded foam product without detrimentally affecting physical or thermal properties of the product. Additionally, the copolymer of maleic anhydride-styrene grafted with polyethylene oxide has a positive affect on the processability of the blowing agent(s) in the composition by both widening the process window and enhancing the solubility of the blowing agent in the polymer melt. Thus, the polystyrene/polyethylene oxide copolymer present in the inventive composition acts as a cell enlarger, a plasticizer, and a processing aid.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for making polystyrene foam which utilizes one or more atmospheric gases, particularly combinations of HFCs and CO2, as the blowing system in combination with a polymer processing aid (PPA), typically an ester that is relatively non-volatile at the extrusion temperature range. The blowing system and the PPA may both be introduced into the molten thermoplastic polystyrene resin or the PPA may be incorporated in the solid source polystyrene resins. The resulting foams will typically exhibit improved dimensional stability at ambient temperatures.

Abstract: Polymeric foam and polymeric foam products that contain a foamable polymer material, at least one blowing agent, a polystyrene/polyethylene oxide copolymer, and optionally, an infrared attenuating agent, are provided. In exemplary embodiments, the blowing agent includes at least one hydrofluorocarbon blowing agent. The maleic anhydride-styrene copolymer grafted with polyethylene oxide provides a water vapor permeability of 1.1 perm inch or greater in the extruded foam product without detrimentally affecting physical or thermal properties of the product. Additionally, the copolymer of maleic anhydride-styrene grafted with polyethylene oxide has a positive affect on the processability of the blowing agent(s) in the composition by both widening the process window and enhancing the solubility of the blowing agent in the polymer melt. Thus, the polystyrene/polyethylene oxide copolymer present in the inventive composition acts as a cell enlarger, a plasticizer, and a processing aid.

Abstract: Polymeric foam and polymeric foam products that contain a foamable polymer material, at least one hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) blowing agent, an infrared attenuating agent such as nanographite, and propylene carbonate, ethylene carbonate, or butylene carbonate as a process additive are provided. In one or more embodiments, the HFC blowing agent is 1,1-difluoroethane (HFC-152a), 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (HFC-134a), or a combination of 1,1-difluoroethane (HFC-152a) and 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (HFC-134a). The propylene carbonate, ethylene carbonate, or butylene carbonate acts as a cell enlarger to increase the average cell size of the foamed product, as a process aid, as a plasticizer, and lowers the die pressure. The inventive foam composition produces extruded foams that have insulation values (R-values) that are equal to or better than conventional extruded, closed cell foams produced with 1-chloro-1,1-difluoroethane (HCFC-142b). In exemplary embodiments, less than 4% of the cells are open cells.

Abstract: Polymeric foam and polymeric foam products that contain a foamable polymer material, nanographite, and 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethane (HFC-134) are provided. Preferably, the foamable polymer material is an alkenyl aromatic polymer material. The foam is free of other conventional blowing agents typically utilized in preparing a foamed product. The nanographite is not chemically or surface modified and is preferably compounded in a polyethylene methyl acrylate copolymer (EMA), which is used both as a medium and a carrier for the nanographite. The nanographite may be compounded in the polymer in an amount up to 60% loading. In addition, the nanographite acts as a nucleating agent, R-value enhancer, infrared attenuating agent, lubricant, UV absorber, and process aid. The inventive foam composition produces extruded foams that have R-values that are equal to or better than conventional extruded foams produced with 1-chloro-1,1-difluoroethane (HCFC-142b).

Abstract: Polymer extruded foams that contain cell size enlarging agents are provided. The inventive composition includes a foamable polymer material, at least one blowing agent, and at least one cell size enlarging agent. The blowing agent utilized in the inventive composition is preferably selected such that the composition has a zero ozone depletion and low global warming potential. Examples include any inorganic blowing agents and/or non-hydrogenated chlorofluorocarbons (non-HCFCs). The foamable polymer material is preferably polystyrene. The cell size enlarging agent may be chosen from ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) and/or ethylene methyl acrylate (EMA). The cell size enlarging agent permits the formation of a foam with large cell sizes that are desirable to achieve a high insulation value and to optimize the physical properties of the foamed product. In addition, the cell size enlarging agent provides an increased cell size to the foamed product without detracting from the physical and thermal properties.

Abstract: This invention relates to foam insulating products, particularly extruded polystyrene foam, containing asphalt as an infrared attuation and process additives for improving the insulating properties and for reducing the manufacturing cost of the foam products.

Abstract: This invention relates to foam insulating products, particularly extruded polystyrene foam, containing asphalt as an infrared attuation and process additives for improving the insulating properties and for reducing the manufacturing cost of the foam products.

Abstract: This invention relates to foam insulating products, particularly extruded polystyrene foam, containing asphalt as an infrared attuation and process additives for improving the insulating properties and for reducing the manufacturing cost of the foam products.

Abstract: This invention relates to foam insulating products, particularly extruded polystyrene foam, with increasing the cell orientation and reducing cell anisotropic ratio, as well as the process method for making the products thereof for improving the insulating properties and for reducing the manufacturing cost of the foam products. Alternatively, foam insulating products having increased cell compressive strength may be made by decreasing the cell orientation and increasing the cell anisotropic ratio.