Abstract: A process for the preparation of thermoplastic auxetic foams comprising the steps of: a) taking conventional thermoplastic foam; b) subjecting said foam to at least one process cycle wherein the foam is biaxially compressed and heated; c) optionally subjecting the foam to at least one process cycle wherein the biaxial compression is removed and the foam mechanically agitated prior to reapplying biaxial compression and heating; d) cooling said foam to a temperature below the softening temperature of said foam; and e) removing said compression and heat.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the use of talc as a chemical foaming agent in perfluoropolymers to form foamable and foamed compositions. For example, in one aspect, a foamable composition is disclosed, which comprises (i) one or more base perfluoropolymers comprising at least 50 percent by weight of the composition, and (ii) talc blended with the one or more base perfluoropolymers, where the talc comprises 3 percent to about 15 percent by weight of the composition. Each of the perfluoropolymers is selected from the group consisting of tetrafluoroethylene/perfluoromethylvinyl ether copolymer (MFA), hexafluoropropylene/tetrafluoroethylene copolymer (FEP) and perfluoroalkoxy (PFA) and any blend thereof, where hydrogen-containing fluoropolymers are absent from the composition. The one or more base perfluoropolymers are melt-processable at one or more elevated processing temperatures of at least about 600° F.

Abstract: Expandable particle composite material suitable for the preparation of expanded materials having a density lower than 40 g/l and a content of closed cells of at least 60%, including heterophase cavities and/or heterophase domains, whose matrix is a synthetic thermoplastic resin having at least 60% by weight of a vinyl aromatic polymer and in which an expanding system is contained, together with a heterogeneously distributed graphite material, having a graphitization degree, calculated by means of the Maire and Mering formula, of at least 0.2.

Abstract: PET foam articles and methods of forming the same are described herein. Processing conditions may be controlled to form PET foam sheets having desirable characteristics.

Abstract: Prepare a polymeric foam article having a thermoplastic polymer matrix defining multiple cells therein, wherein the polymeric foam article has the following characteristics: (a) the thermoplastic polymer matrix contains dispersed within it nano-sized nucleating additive particles that have at least two orthogonal dimensions that are less than 30 nanometers in length; (b) possesses at least one of the following two characteristics: (i) has an effective nucleation site density of at least 3×1014 sites per cubic centimeter of pre-foamed material; and (ii) has an average cell size of 300 nanometers or less; and (c) has a porosity percentage of more than 50 percent by rapidly expanding at a foaming temperature a foamable polymer composition containing the nucleating additive and a blowing agent containing at least one of carbon dioxide, nitrogen and argon.

Abstract: Extruded propylene-based resin foam according to the present invention is formed by extrusion-foaming a propylene-based resin, and the extruded propylene-based resin foam has a closed cell content of less than 40% and an expansion ratio of 10 or more. Since the extruded propylene-based resin foam has an open-cell structure in which a cell-broken state is formed at a desired level and has a high expansion ratio, each cell in the foam has a sound absorption performance, such that the extruded foam is excellent in sound absorption performance.

Abstract: Expandable styrene polymers (EPS) comprising, in each case based on the styrene polymer, a) from 0.05 to 5% by weight of an organic bromine compound whose bromine content is at least 50% by weight, as flame retardant, b) from 0.05 to 2% by weight of a flame retardant synergist, c) from 0.1 to 5% by weight of a metal salt as acid scavenger, and process for their production.

Abstract: An extruded polypropylene type resin foam having a high expansion ratio of at least 15 times and a closed cell ratio of at least 70% and excellent in the heat insulation property, and its production process, are provided. An extruded polypropylene type resin foam, which is produced by extrusion-foaming a polypropylene type resin composition containing a linear polypropylene type resin having a melt tension at 230° C. of from 5 to 30 g, by using a blowing agent containing at least a hydrocarbon type gas, and which has an expansion ratio of at least 15 times and a closed cell ratio of at least 70%.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a branched polyethylene terephthalate-co-isophthalate for use in the manufacture of foamed articles. The branched polyethylene terephthalate-co-isophthalate can be characterized by a composition comprising i) a polyethylene terephthalate-co-isophthalate comprising from about 5 to about 15 weight % of an isophthalic acid, and ii) a branching agent comonomer, wherein the branching agent comonomer is a polyhydric alcohol having functionality of 3 or more and the polyhydric alcohol is present in an amount of from 0.005 to about 0.01 equivalents per mole of total diacids. Other embodiments of the present invention include foamed articles produced from these compositions and processes to produce these compositions and the foamed articles.

Abstract: A process for making an extruded foamable composition is disclosed where the foamable composition includes a partially-crystalline melt processible perfluoropolymer and a foam nucleating package. The process makes a foamed product having uniform foam cell size at high speeds without loss of product quality.

Abstract: Closed-cell extruded foam extruded foam with density in the range from 20 to 150 g/l and with a cell number in the range from 1 to 30 cells per mm is obtainable via (a) heating of a polymer component P, formed from P1) from 80 to 100% by weight (based on P) of one or more styrene-acrylonitrile copolymers (SAN), comprising a1) from 18 to 40% by weight (based on SAN) of copolymerized acrylonitrile, a2) from 60 to 82% by weight (based on SAN) of copolymerized styrene, and a3) from 0 to 22% by weight (based on SAN) of at least one copolymerized monomer from the group consisting of alkyl(meth)acrylates, (meth)acrylic acid, maleic anhydride and maleimides, P2) from 0 to 20% by weight (based on P) of one or more thermoplastic polymers from the group consisting of styrene copolymers, polyolefins, polyacrylates, polycarbonates (PC), polyesters, polyamides, polyether sulfones (PES), polyether ketones (PEK), and polyether sulfides, to form a polymer melt, (b) introduction of from 1 to 12% by weight (based on P) of

Abstract: Alkenyl aromatic polymer foam comprising a polymer matrix containing one or more polymer and defining a plurality of cells having an average cell size wherein: (a) the alkenyl aromatic polymer foam has: —(i) an average cell size that is in a range of 0.02 and 5 millimeters; —(ii) a density of 64 kilograms per cubic meter or less; —(iii) an open cell content less than 30 percent; and —(iv) a cell size variation of 30% or less; and wherein the foam further comprises one or more fluorinated alkene blowing agent at a concentration of 0.03 moles or more and 0.3 moles or less per 100 grams of polymer foam.

Abstract: Expanded styrene polymers which have a density of less than 25 g/l and a thermal conductivity ?, determined at 10° C. in accordance with DIN 52612, of less than 32 mW/m*K, and also a process for producing them.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improved method of cold forming a shaped foam article having a shape with a high degree of draft with improved surface aesthetics, specifically reduced surface cracking and articles made therefrom. The improvement is using a mold with a reduced-slip cavity surface, preferably a textured cavity surface.

Abstract: A process for making an extruded foamable composition is disclosed where the foamable composition includes a partially-crystalline melt processible perfluoropolymer and a foam nucleating package. The process makes a foamed product having uniform foam cell size at high speeds without loss of product quality.

Abstract: Injection molding systems and methods useful for making microcellular foamed materials are provided as well as microcellular articles. Pressure drop rate and shear rate are important features in some embodiments, and the invention provides systems for controlling these parameters in an injection molding system. Another aspect involves an injection molding system including a nucleator that is upstream of a pressurized mold. Another aspect involves an extrusion system with the reciprocating screw for forming a single phase solution of non-nucleated blowing agent and polymeric material. Another aspect involves very thin walled microcellular material and very thin walled polymeric material. Another aspect provides a method for producing high weight reductions in very thin-walled parts with surfaces that have no noticeable differences from non-foamed parts.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a biomass composite composition and a foaming method thereof. The biomass composite composition includes (a) polyester alloy containing biodegradable polyester and petrochemical plastic, (b) reinforcing agent, (c) foaming agent, (d) compatibilizer, (e) lubricant, and (f) impact modifier. The biomass composite composition of the present invention is biodegradable and of heat resistance and melt strength suitable for manufacture of foam products.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a thermal and/or sound insulation system or material with resistance to elevated temperatures (>300° C.) due to a controlled self-ceramifying/self-glassing/self-hardening effect which also leads to low or no combustibility, the process for manufacturing of such system or material and the use of such system or material.

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: The present invention relates to a method for producing a polyolefin porous film, the method including the steps of: (a) melt-kneading a solution containing a polyolefin having a weight average molecular weight of 500,000 or more and a solvent to obtain a kneaded product; (b) extruding and cooling the kneaded product to obtain a gel-like molded product; (c) drawing the gel-like molded product to obtain a drawn sheet; (d) removing the solvent from the drawn sheet, followed by drying to obtain a film in which fine pores are formed; (e) conducting heat treatment, while fixing the film in both directions of a MD and a TD thereof and drawing the film at a draw ratio of exceeding 0% to less than 0.1% in at least one direction of the MD and the TD thereof; and (f) conducting heat treatment while decreasing a width of the film in at least one direction of the MD and the TD of the film.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a polyolefin resin foam which is excellent in flexibility, cushioning property and processability, especially excellent in cutting processability. The present invention relates to a polyolefin resin foam obtained by foaming a polyolefin resin composition using carbon dioxide in a supercritical state, wherein the polyolefin resin composition contains at least: (1) a thermoplastic elastomer composition obtained by subjecting to a dynamically heat treatment a mixture of (A) a rubber, and (B) (B-1) an ?-olefin crystalline thermoplastic resin and/or (B-2) an ?-olefin amorphous thermoplastic resin, each having a melt tension of less than 3.0 cN at a temperature of 210° C. and at a take-up speed of 2.0 m/min, in the presence of (C) a crosslinking agent; (2) a polyolefin resin; and (3) a nucleant agent having an average particle diameter of from 0.1 ?m to less than 2.0 ?m. The polyolefin resin foam has a density, for example, of 0.2 g/cm2 or less.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a production method of a foamed electric wire, whereby a foamed electric wire is obtained via a foamed insulation layer formation step of forming a foamed insulation layer on a conductor, wherein the foamed insulation layer formation step includes: a step of introducing a base resin into an extruding machine, a step of introducing a foaming agent into the extruding machine, and a step of extruding a mixture containing the base resin and the foaming agent from the extruding machine and forming the foamed insulation layer on the conductor, and wherein the resin contained in the mixture has a shear stress of 0.40 to 0.80 Mpa, and the base resin is a propylene-based resin.

Abstract: Prepare an extruded polymeric foam by extruding a foamable polymer composition through a foaming die and allowing the foamable polymer composition to expand into a polymer foam as it travels through and is constrained in its thickness dimension by at least two constraining sections, the first having opposing essentially parallel forming plates and the second constraining section having forming plates spaced further apart than the first constraining section.

Abstract: An ester of a sugar and a brominated fatty acid is a useful FR additive for combustible polymers. The brominated FR additives unexpectedly are stable at the extrusion temperatures, and provide excellent flame retardancy to the combustible polymers.

Abstract: In a flame-retarded foamable styrene-based resin composition comprising a bromine-containing flame retardant, the flame retardant is a mixture of (a) an organic bromine-containing compound having a 2,3-dibromopropyl group or an organic bromine-containing compound having a bromine content of greater than 60 wt % in which all bromine atoms are attached to a benzene ring, and (b) an organic bromine compound having a 2,3-dibromo-2-alkylpropyl group. The composition comprises this mixture in amount from 0.5 to 10 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the styrene-based resin. The composition exhibits high flame retardant and heat stabilizing effects yet allowing recycling.

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 foamed polyester extrusion process and equipment can be used in plants for producing sheets, boards or tubes of foamed polyester, preferably of the type operating continuously which has a thermoregulated frame provided with a feeding inlet of pure and/or recycled polyester material inside the frame. Two co-rotating screws are arranged inside the frame, the co-rotating screws defining, with the internal walls of the frame, a first degassing zone interposed between a feeding zone placed at the feeding inlet and a first tight zone. A second degassing zone is placed downstream from the first degassing zone and is separated from the latter through the first tight zone. A foaming agent inlet zone is placed downstream from the second degassing zone and is separated from the latter through a second tight zone and a pumping end zone of the melted material is placed downstream from the foaming agent inlet zone.

Abstract: Cellular and multi-cellular polystyrene and polystyrenic foams and methods of forming such foams are disclosed. The foams include an expanded polystyrene formed from expansion of an expandable polystyrene including an adsorbent comprising alumina, wherein the multi-cellular polystyrene exhibits a multi-cellular size distribution. The process for forming a foamed article includes providing a formed styrenic polymer and contacting the formed styrenic polymer with a first blowing agent and an adsorbent comprising alumina to form extrusion polystyrene. The process further includes forming the extrusion styrenic polymer into an expanded styrenic polymer and forming the expanded styrenic polymer into a foamed article.

Abstract: Phosphorus-sulfur compounds have flame retardant activity in organic polymer systems. The phosphorus-sulfur compounds can be represented by the structure: wherein X is oxygen or sulfur, T is a covalent bond, oxygen, sulfur or nitrogen, provided that at least one of X and T is sulfur, each X? is independently oxygen or sulfur, each m is independently zero or 1 when X? is oxygen and zero, 1 or 2 when X? is sulfur, n is at least 1 and preferably at least 2, each R is independently an unsubstituted or inertly substituted hydrocarbyl group or the R groups together form an unsubstituted or inertly substituted divalent organic group and A is an organic linking group.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing polyhydroxyalkanoate oligomers and/or polymers of reduced molecular weight, which comprises reacting at least one polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) with at least one carbonate salt at a temperature of from 50° C. to 300° C., preferably from 120° C. to 200° C. The above reaction allows a controlled degradation of the PHA chains which yields oligomers and/or polymers having a controlled molecular weight, which can be modulated in view of the specific application for which the oligomers and/or polymers are intended. Moreover, during the reaction carbon dioxide evolves which produces a foamed material which can be easily processed on an industrial scale.

Abstract: This invention relates to chemical polymer compositions, methods of synthesis, and fabrication methods for devices regarding polymers capable of displaying shape memory behavior (SMPs) and which can first be polymerized to a linear or branched polymeric structure, having thermoplastic properties, subsequently processed into a device through processes typical of polymer melts, solutions, and dispersions and then crossed linked to a shape memory thermoset polymer retaining the processed shape.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the use of talc as a chemical foaming agent in perfluoropolymers to form foamable and foamed compositions. For example, in one aspect, a foamable composition is disclosed, which comprises (i) one or more base perfluoropolymers comprising at least 50 percent by weight of the composition, and (ii) talc blended with the one or more base perfluoropolymers, where the talc comprises 3 percent to about 15 percent by weight of the composition. Each of the perfluoropolymers is selected from the group consisting of tetrafluoroethylene/perfluoromethylvinyl ether copolymer (MFA), hexafluoropropylene/tetrafluoroethylene copolymer (FEP) and perfluoroalkoxy (PFA) and any blend thereof, where hydrogen-containing fluoropolymers are absent from the composition. The one or more base perfluoropolymers are melt-processable at one or more elevated processing temperatures of at least about 600° F.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for extruding a PLA resin using high levels of CO2. Excellent quality, low density foam is produced easily and reproducibly. The foams arc capable of being heat-annealed to induce significant crystallinity, even when an ordinarily amorphous PLA resin is used.

Abstract: A polymer foam with density in the range from 5 to 120 kg/m3, comprising a) a polymer component, comprising at least one styrene polymer, b) from 0.

Abstract: Polymeric foam and polymeric foam products that contain a foamable polymer material, at least one blowing agent, an additive blend of polyethylene oxide and a copolymer of polystyrene and maleic anhydride, and optionally, an infrared attenuating agent, are provided. In exemplary embodiments, the polyethylene oxide is ethoxylated polyethylene oxide. Additionally, in at least one embodiment, the blowing agent includes at least one hydrofluorocarbon blowing agent. The blend of ethoxylated polyethylene oxide and copolymer of polystyrene and maleic anhydride provides a water vapor permeability of 1.1 perm inch or greater in the extruded foam product and increases the average cell size of the foam product without detrimentally affecting physical or thermal properties of the product. Additionally, the additive acts as a cell enlarger, a water vapor permeability enhancer, a plasticizer, and a processing aid. A method of forming an extruded foam product is also provided.

Abstract: To provide a method for easily producing an ethylene/tetrafluoroethylene copolymer porous material having excellent chemical resistance and filtration performance and has a high heat resistance, within a wide range of the porosity, and an ethylene/tetrafluoroethylene copolymer porous material obtained by such a process. A process for producing an ethylene/tetrafluoroethylene copolymer porous material which comprises a step of dissolving an ethylene/tetrafluoroethylene copolymer having repeating units based on ethylene and repeating units based on tetrafluoroethylene at a temperature of at most 300° C. in a solvent which can dissolve the ethylene/tetrafluoroethylene copolymer at a temperature of at most 300° C., to achieve a predetermined concentration to obtain a solution, a step of forming the solution to obtain a formed product, and a step of cooling the formed product to a temperature of at most the phase separation temperature of the solution to solidify the ethylene/tetrafluoroethylene copolymer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions comprising blends of alkenyl aromatic polymers such as styrenic polymers (i.e. PS and HIPS) and bio-based or biodegradable polymers (i.e. PLA, PGA, PHA, PBS, PCL) compatibilized with styrene-based copolymers (i.e. styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS) block copolymers, maleated SEBS, styrene-maleic anhydride (SMA) copolymer, styrene-methyl methacrylate (SMMA) copolymer) or a mixture of two or more styrene-based copolymers such as SEBS and SMA. These novel compositions can be extruded and thermoformed to produce very low density food service and consumer foam articles such as plates, hinged lid containers, trays, bowls, and egg cartons with good mechanical properties.

Abstract: Cushions for dynamic impact applications include anisotropic cellular polymers made in an extrusion, expanded bead or reactive foaming process. The anisotropic behavior represented by CE/CT, CV/CT and CH/CT, wherein CE, CV and CH represent the compressive strength of the cellular polymer in each of three orthogonal directions E, V and H, respectively, as measured by compressing a 25-50 mm thick sample of the cellular polymer at a strain rate of 0.08 s?1 to 25% strain, CT represents the sum of CE, CV and CH, and at least one of CE/CT, CV/CT and CH/CT has a value of at least 0.40, up to about 0.80. The cellular polymer also preferably has density of 1.75 to 2.35 pounds/cubic foot and a compressive stress in the direction of maximum compressive strength of 290-600 kPa at 25% strain when used for headliner countermeasure applications. The cushions are useful in automotive applications such as automotive headliners, door panels, knee bolsters, pillars, headrests, seat backs, load floors or instrument panels.

Abstract: A tobacco smoking device comprises a porous mass of active particles adapted to enhance a tobacco smoke flowing over said active particles and binder particles. The active particles comprises about 1-99% weight of the porous mass, and the binder particles comprises about 1-99% weight of said porous mass. The active particles and said binder particles are bound together at randomly distributed points throughout the porous mass. The active particles have a greater particle size than the binder particles.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the use of talc as a chemical foaming agent in perfluoropolymers to form foamable and foamed compositions. For example, in one aspect, a foamable composition is disclosed, which comprises (i) one or more base perfluoropolymers comprising at least 50 percent by weight of the composition, and (ii) talc blended with the one or more base perfluoropolymers, where the talc comprises 3 percent to about 15 percent by weight of the composition. Each of the perfluoropolymers is selected from the group consisting of tetrafluoroethylene/perfluoromethylvinyl ether copolymer (MFA), hexafluoropropylene/tetrafluoroethylene copolymer (FEP) and perfluoroalkoxy (PFA) and any blend thereof, where hydrogen-containing fluoropolymers are absent from the composition. The one or more base perfluoropolymers are melt-processable at one or more elevated processing temperatures of at least about 600° F.

Abstract: Expanded styrenic polymers contain 1 to 20% by weight of one or more aromatic polyphosphonate compounds corresponding to the following structure I: wherein a and b are each from 0 to 6, with a+b being from 2 to 6, each R is independently hydrogen, unsubstituted or inertly substituted alkyl having up to 6 carbon atoms, —NO2, —NR12, —C?N, —OR1, —C(O)OR1, or —C(O)NR12 (wherein R1 is hydrocarbyl or hydrogen), each R2 is independently hydrogen, alkyl or inertly substituted alkyl, each R3 is a covalent bond or a divalent linking group, and each R4 is independently an alkyl, aryl, inertly substituted alkyl or inertly substituted aryl group. The aromatic polyphosphonate compounds are effective FR additives for the expanded polymers.

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: The present invention relates to an extruded styrenic resin foam and a method for producing the same, wherein a base resin composing the extruded styrenic resin foam is a styrenic resin mixture of a styrene-(meth)acrylic ester copolymer, or a combination of a styrene-(meth)acrylic ester copolymer and polymethyl methacrylate, and a styrenic resin except the styrene-(meth)acrylic ester copolymer, and the styrenic resin mixture contains a (meth)acrylic ester component at a ratio of 4 to 45% by weight with reference to the styrenic resin mixture. The present invention provides an extruded styrenic resin foam having an apparent density of 20 to 60 kg/m3, a thickness of 10 to 150 mm, and a low thermal conductivity, and keeping excellent heat insulation performance over a long period of time and flame retardancy, even when the styrenic resin extruded foam is foamed using a blowing agent having an ozone depleting potential of 0 (zero) and a low global warming potential.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet of polymeric foam comprising chemically cross-linked, closed-cell, foam comprising at least one polyolefin; cork particles dispersed within said polymeric foam wherein said foam has a specific gravity of between 40-250 kg/m3 and is essentially free of visible perforations.

Abstract: Prepare an extruded polymeric foam using a thermoplastic polymer composition of styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer having a copolymerized acrylonitrile comonomer content of 20 weight-percent or less, a mean acrylonitrile comonomer content that exceeds its median acrylonitrile comonomer content and an average copolymerized acrylonitrile comonomer distribution having a breadth at half-height that is greater than 2.5 weight-percent as measured at half peak height of a copolymerized acrylonitrile comonomer distribution curve for the styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer.

Abstract: Polymer foam containing styrene-acrylonitrile and containing one or more infrared attenuating agents achieves surprisingly high dimensional integrity at elevated temperatures.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method of manufacturing flame-retardant polyethylene or polypropylene foam using a derivative of carboxylic acid of phenylphosphinic acid and the flame-retardant polymer foam made thereby. More specifically, this invention concerns a method of manufacturing highly expanded flame-retardant polymer foam prepared by mixing the above mentioned phosphorous flame retardant in a polymer resin and expanding the mixture with a volatile blowing agent or by applying a solution of an organic phosphorous compound to an already-made highly expanded foam and then drying the highly-expanded polymer foam, and the flame-retardant foam prepared thereby.

Abstract: Rigid foam insulating products and processes for making such insulation products are disclosed. The foam products are formed from a polymer, a blowing agent, and nano-graphite. The nano-graphite has a size in at least one dimension less than about 100 nm and, in exemplary embodiments may be an intercalated, expanded nano-graphite. In addition, the nano-graphite may include a plurality of nanosheets having a thickness between about 10 to about 100 nanometers. The nano-graphite acts as a process additive to improve the physical properties of the foam product, such as thermal insulation and compressive strength. In addition, the nano-graphite in the foam controls cell morphology and acts as a nucleating agent in the foaming process. Further, the nano-graphite exhibits overall compound effects on foam properties including improved insulating value (increased R-value) for a given thickness and density and improved ultraviolet (UV) stability.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a multi-layered polylactic acid resin foamed body of a crystalline polylactic acid resin which has good appearance and excellent mechanical strength such as bending strength and compressive strength and which is capable of being imparted with excellent heat resistance, and to provide a multi-layered polylactic acid resin foamed molded article having excellent appearance, heat resistance and mechanical strengh. The multi-layered polylactic acid resien foamed body of the present invention is a laminate having a polylactic acid resin foamed layer and a thermoplastic resin layer provided at least one side of the foamed layer, wherein the foamed layer has a cell shape satisfying specific conditions, wherein the difference (?Hendo:2° C./min??Hexo:2° C./min) between an endothermic calorific value (?Hendo:2° C./min) and an exothermic calorific value (?Hexo:2° C.

Abstract: Expandable vinyl aromatic polymers which comprise: a matrix obtained by polymerizing 50-100% by weight of one or more vinyl aromatic monomers and 0-50% by weight of at least one copolymer izable monomer; 1-10% by weight, calculated with respect to the polymer (a), of an expanding agent englobed in the polymeric matrix; 0.05-25% by weight, calculated with respect to the polymer (a), of a filler comprising coke with a surface area, measured according to ASTM D-3037/89, ranging from 5 to 50 m2/g.