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

Abstract: A masterbatch composition comprising an aromatic polyester resin, a polyolefin and a polyfunctional compound selected from the dianhydrides of tetracarboxylic aromatic and/or aliphatic acids and the polyepoxidic compounds, wherein the polyester resin and the polyfunctional compounds are omogeneously dispersed as solids in a matrix formed by the polyolefin, as domains of average particle size less than 800?. The masterbatch is prepared by milling polyester resins and polyolefin granules to obtain powders having average particle size of less than 200?, and the powders are therafter homogeneously mixed.

Abstract: The invention relates to caustic resistant membranes formed by solvent casting a blend of one or more polyvinylidene fluoride polymers with one or more acrylic polymers.

Abstract: A crosslinked, closed cell polyolefin foam sheet has exceptional softness, haptics, moldability, thermal stability and shear strength as well as a laminate and uses thereof.

Abstract: The composition and the preparation of a chain-extending concentrate for production of foamed cellular materials of aromatic polyesters is disclosed in this invention. The chain-extending concentrate includes an ethylene-acrylate copolymer, a high-temperature thermoplastic and a multifunctional compound. The preparation process includes two steps: 1) Mixing and melt blending the multifunctional compound and the HT thermoplastic resin into the matrix of the ethylene-acrylate copolymer in an internal mixer and 2) extrusion of the mixture at a temperature below the melting point or reaction temperature of the multifunctional compound.

Abstract: Prepare an alkenyl-aromatic foam having good surface quality, high thermal insulating properties and low density using an extrusion method by expanding a foamable polymer composition of an alkenyl-aromatic polymer composition containing less than 20 weight-percent covalently bonded halogens and having a polydispersity of less than 2.5 and a water solubility greater than 0.09 moles per kilogram and 2.2 moles per kilogram or less at 130 degrees Celsius and 101 kilopascals pressure and 0.8-2 moles per kilogram of a blowing agent containing 0.4 moles per kilogram or more of a chlorine-free fluorinated blowing agents and water at a concentration of at least 0.22 moles per kilogram; wherein moles per kilogram are relative to kilograms of alkenyl-aromatic polymer. The resulting foam has a density of 64 kilograms per cubic meter or less and a thermal conductivity of 32 milliwatts per meter-Kelvin or less after 180 days.

Abstract: The use of at least one polyol (P) chosen from polyester and polyether polyols grafted by chains of at least one of the following: polystyrene, polyacrylonitrile and styrene/acrylonitrile copolymers and from polyester and polyether polyols in which at least one of the following: polystyrene, polyacrylonitrile and styrene/acrylonitrile copolymers is dispersed, as an incorporation into the formulation of the polyol constituent or of the polyol-polyamine constituent of a polyurethane forming the polymer matrix of a hydrolysis-resistant soft cellular material, said polyol or polyols (P) representing at least one part of said polyol constituent or at least one part of the polyol fraction of said polyol-polyamine constituent.

Abstract: The invention relates to a foam ply based on a biodegradable polyester mixture, comprising i) from 70 to 5% by weight, based on the total weight of components i to ii, of at least one polyester based on aliphatic and aromatic dicarboxylic acids and on aliphatic dihydroxy compounds, and ii) from 30 to 95% by weight, based on the total weight of components i to ii, of poly-lactide, and iii) from 0.1 to 5% by weight, based on the total weight of components i to ii, of a copolymer which comprises epoxy groups and is based on styrene, acrylates, and/or methacrylates, and iv) from 0.5 to 15% by weight of additives; and v) from 0 to 50% by weight of inorganic or organic filler, and also to processes for production of the foam ply mentioned, and to the use of the foam plies for the production of moldings and foils, and also to moldings and foils comprising the foam plies mentioned.

Abstract: Disclosed are porous material having hierarchical pore structure and preparation method thereof. A method of synthesizing a nanoporous material having high functionality as a support for bioactive material is combined with a three-dimensional rapid prototyping technique. Thereby, the porous material of the invention has interconnected pores of respective size regions and uneven surface corresponding to each size region, and thus conditions favorable for adhesion, division, proliferation, movement, and differentiation of cells are provided, thereby exhibiting efficient applications in various fields, in addition to bone fillers, restorative materials, and scaffolds.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an open-cell foam, and to a process for producing this open-cell foam by melting a thermoplastic, or a mixture comprising a thermo-plastic, giving a melt, mixing the melt with at least one blowing agent under pressure, and foaming the melt comprising the blowing agent via extrusion into the free atmosphere, the temperature of the melt during the foaming process being greater than the melt temperature at which a closed-cell foam is formed, and/or adding a pulverulent solid, and/or adding a foreign polymer. The present invention further relates to the use of the foam of the invention for sound deadening or for producing materials by sound deadening.

Abstract: A foamed starch-polyester graft copolymer and chemically modified starch-polyester graft copolymer composition comprising a chemically modified starch or chemically modified starch-nanoclay product is described. The composition can be produced continuously in a twin-screw co-rotating extruder in the presence of a blowing agent. The foams are biodegradable.

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: An extruded polymeric foam comprising a styrenic polymer and an olefinic polymer, the olefinic polymer in an amount less than the amount of the styrenic polymer. The styrenic polymer and the olefinic polymer are present as a blend, preferably free of an interpolymer or compatiblizer. The foam has a density below about 36 kg/m3 (as measured by ASTM D1622-03), a vertical compressive strength greater than about 100 kPa (as measured by ASTM D1621-04) and a compressive strength ratio greater than about 0.35.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a polymer composition, its manufacture and use, said composition may comprise greater than about 90 mole % propylene monomer, and having a unique combination of properties, including one or more of the following: a heat of fusion of more than about 108 J/g, a melting point of 165° C. or higher, a Melt Flow Rate so low that it is essentially not measurable and a molecular weight of greater than about 1.5×106. Further disclosed herein are blends or mixtures of the present novel polymer composition and products, such as, for example, microporous film structures and the like comprising same.

Abstract: The present invention relates to high-temperature resistant, rigid, but flexible and low density foamed cellular material comprised of polyester blend consisting of from about 80 to about 98 weight percent of high viscosity polyethylene terephtalat (I.V.=1.0-1.9 dl/g) and from about 2 to about 20, preferably to about 5, weight percent of polycarbonate with average MW higher than 4000 g/mol.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for production of foamed resin sheet which enables satisfactory dispersion of a nucleating agent in a thermoplastic resin and which attains excellent extrusion formability and is excellent in productivity. There is provided a process for production of foamed resin sheet by extruding a thermoplastic resin prepared by incorporating a nucleating agent and a foaming agent consisting of a gas containing at least one of nitrogen and carbon dioxide into a thermoplastic resin, characterized in that the process further comprises incorporating into the thermoplastic resin high molecular weight ester and a wetting agent having a kinematic viscosity coefficient (a kinematic viscosity coefficient at 100° C.; centistokes) of 70 to 2700.

Abstract: The extruded propylene-based resin composite foam (1) according to the present invention is provided by extrusion-foaming a molding material containing a propylene-based resin. The propylene-based resin forming the extruded foam has an olefin-based polymer whose loss tangent (tan ?) is 0.04 to 100 at a temperature of 298 K and a frequency of 10 Hz. The molding material includes a fibrous filler in an amount of more than 0 mass % and 60 mass % or less of the entirety of the molding material. The extruded composite foam (1) includes: first extruded foam (2) whose closed cell content is 40 percent or more and whose expansion ratio is 10 or more; and second extruded foam (3) whose closed cell content is less than 40 percent and whose expansion ratio is 10 or more.

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: A foaming composition includes a polymer having a melting temperature above 250° C., and an organic salt as chemical foaming agent having a decomposition temperature above the melting point of the polymer, where the organic salt is selected from the group of citrate derivatives and tartrate derivatives, or a mixture thereof.

Abstract: A masterbatch composition comprising an aromatic polyester resin, a polyolefin and a polyfunctional compound selected from the dianhydrides of tetracarboxylic aromatic and/or aliphatic acids and the polyepoxidic compounds, wherein the polyester resin and the polyfunctional compounds are omogeneously dispersed as solids in a matrix formed by the polyolefin, as domains of average particle size less than 800?. The masterbatch is prepared by milling polyester resins and polyolefin granules to obtain powders having average particle size of less than 200?, and the powders are therafter homogeneously mixed.

Abstract: Prepare an extruded thermoplastic polymer foam having a thermoplastic polymer composition having defined therein multiple cells, the thermoplastic polymer foam containing at least one thermoplastic polymer, a brominated flame retardant, an epoxy containing organic compound and 180 weight parts or less of water extractable cations using a brominated flame retardant, an innocuous stabilizer and a blowing agent containing water.

Abstract: A process for the production of extruded sheets of expanded polystyrene, which only uses expanding agents with low environmental impact, comprising the steps of: a) heating polystyrene or a mixture composed of polystyrene and at least one component selected from the group consisting flame retardants, coloring agents, plasticizers, heat stabilizers and lubricants at a temperature in the range of 180-2500 C thus obtaining a polymer melt, which is subjected to homogenization; b) adding to the polymer melt a mixture of expanding agents comprising carbon dioxide and water; c) homogenizing the polymer melt including said expanding agents; d) homogeneously cooling the polymer melt to a temperature lower than or equal to 1400 C; e) extruding the cooled polymer melt through a die to obtain an expanded polystyrene sheet.

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

Abstract: A soft, flexible, low-density, open-cell, thermoplastic, absorbent foam formed from a foam polymer formula including a balanced amount of a plasticizing agent and a surfactant in combination with a base resin. Thermoplastic elastomers can be added to the foam polymer formula to improve softness, flexibility, elasticity, and resiliency of the resulting foam. The surfactant may be either a single surfactant or a multi-surfactant system. The foam possesses a number of qualities, such as softness and strength, which render the foam particularly suitable for use in a variety of personal care products, medical products, and the like.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a closure which is made of synthetic material with characteristics similar to or even better than those of cork and which can therefore be used in all applications in which a cork closure is normally used. In particular, the closure according to the present invention is a stopper for containers for wine or liquors. In particular, the present invention relates to a container closure made of an expanded elastomer by means of a thermal moulding method, characterized in that the expanded elastomer can be produced by means of a step of expansion by a supercritical fluid.

Abstract: A non-crosslinked polyolefin foam comprises a plastics component and a blowing agent. The plastics component comprises a first constituent and a second constituent. The first constituent is a Ziegler-Natta catalyzed linear low density polyolefin and the second constituent is a low density polyolefin in one embodiment. The Ziegler-Natta catalyzed linear low density polyolefin has a polydispersity of less than 10 and a melt flow index less than 10 g/10 minutes. The second constituent may be a polypropylene.

Abstract: The present invention provides a foam cushion, a method of making the foam cushion, and a method of using the foam cushion. The foam cushion is formed from: (a) at least one of rubber and a resin; (b) a blowing agent; (c) a polymeric adhesion modifier; (d) a decomposition accelerating agent, and (e) a cross-linking agent.

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: U.S. Pat. No. 6,232,354 issued May 15, 2001 describes an environmentally friendly and commercially practicable process for the production of microcellular polymer foams from amorphous, semi-crystalline and crystalline polymers which involves consolidating the polymer, saturating the polymer with an inert gas at elevated temperature and under elevated pressure, and controllably cooling, i.e. quenching the saturated polymer under a variety of temperature and pressure conditions to produce either a closed or open celled microcellular foam or a high density microcellular foam. It has now been discovered that a process similar to that described in this patent can be used for the production of nanocomposite and molecular-composite foams that exhibit exceptional physical properties.

Abstract: A macrocellular foam is described having improved cell size and Fire-test-response Characteristics, among other features, which is obtained by selecting a particle size less than 1 micron for the flame retardant adjuvant. The inventors found that the amount of fire retardant adjuvant can be increased for a given foam cell size or the foam cell size can be increased for a given amount of fire retardant adjuvant, allowing the production of foams having exceptionally large, well-formed, cells that have excellent Fire-test-response Characteristics. The benefits are especially noteworthy in relation to thermoplastic foams and inorganic flame retardation adjuvants, due to the unexpected reduction in the nucleation effect of the adjuvant. The foams are useful for improving the acoustic performance of products that are required to meet certain Fire-test-response Characteristics.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for making an open celled microcellular foam comprising providing at least one foamable polymer and a crosslinking agent in an extruder, injecting at least one blowing agent into said at least one foamable polymer and said crosslinking agent in said extruder, blending said blowing agent injected into said at least one foamable polymer and said crosslinking agent in said extruder, feeding said blended blowing agent, at least one foamable polymer and said crosslinking agent in said extruder to a die, and depressurizing said blended blowing agent, said at least one foamable polymer and said crosslinking agent.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a novel foamed polymer material for use as a dielectric in electric transmission lines. The foam dielectric of the present invention is obtained from extrusion of a polymer alloy and a supercritical fluid, especially carbon dioxide. Specifically, the foam polymer dielectric is made by: (1) feeding a polymer alloy into an extruder and heating the polymer alloy, (2) feeding a supercritical fluid into the extruder, (3) mixing the polymer alloy and the supercritical fluid, (4) exiting the polymer alloy and the supercritical fluid from the extruder, and (5) passing the polymer alloy and the supercritical fluid through a crosshead. The foam dielectric of the present invention may be used in coaxial transmission lines. In this embodiment, an inner conductor is surrounded by the foam dielectric, which is further surrounded by a second conductor. Stripline and microstripline transmission lines may also be manufactured using the disclosed foam dielectric.

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: 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: An extruded styrene resin foam which is produced by using a blowing agent imposing a reduced load on the environment and has outstandingly excellent thermal insulating property and flame retardant property adapted for construction use.

Abstract: Carbon dioxide in a supercritical state is caused to permeate into a resin composition formed by sufficiently kneading a thermoplastic copolymer having a polysiloxane structure at recurring units. Subsequently, the resin composition is degassed by cooling and/or pressure reduction. As a result of degassing, a resin foam body 1 having a fine and uniform micro-cellular foam structure is obtained. The resin foam body 1 has a cyclic structure in which a resin phase 2 and a pore phase 3 are continuous and intertwined. The resin foam body 1 shows an excellent reflectivity relative to rays of light and is highly nonflammable, while it is very strong and lightweight.

Abstract: A foam, comprising a blend of (a) from 0.1 to 4.9 weight percent ethylene/styrene interpolymer; and (b) from 95.1 to 99.9 weight percent polyethylene homopolymer or copolymer.

Abstract: A foamable polymer composition is described which comprises: a1) a substantially random interpolymer produced from: i) one or more &agr;-olefin monomers; and ii) one or more vinyl or vinylidene aromatic monomers and/or one or more sterically hindered aliphatic or cycloaliphiatic vinyl or vinylidene monomers; and optionally iii) other polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomer(s); or a2) an interpolymer comprising polymerized units of ethylene and vinyl acetate; or a3) a combination of the polymers a1) and a2); and b) a polydiorganosiloxane having a viscosity of at least one million centistoke at 25° C.; and c) a foaming agent. The polydiorganosiloxane is useful for improving the abrasion resistance of foams comprising the substantially random interpolymer a1) and/or the ethylene/vinyl acetate interpolymer a2).

Abstract: A process prepares expandable propylene polymer beads by mixing propylene polymer melt with a volatile organic blowing agent and with a nucleating agent in an extruder, whereupon the extrusion and pelletization of the extruded takes place in a water bath under conditions of temperature and pressure at which practically no foaming of the pellets takes place.

Abstract: Thermoplastic polymer foams having sound deadening properties satisfactory for demanding applications are provided which have mechanical strength, which are economical to manufacture, and which are hydrolytically stable. Methods of preparing these foams are also provided. The foams are useful in sound management, cushion packaging, filtering, and fluid absorption and exhibit one or more of the following properties: 1) average cell size greater than about 2 mm; 2) substantially open-cell structure and 3) relatively large pores connecting the cells. In order that the foam be acoustically active, the foam should possess a substiantially open-cell structure and a relatively low airflow resistivity. Foams with substantially open-cell structure and relatively low airflow resistivity are prepared by mechanically opening a foam having an average cell size greater than about 2 mm. In most cases, such mechanical opening creates relatively large pores connecting the cells.

Abstract: A process for making a macrocellular acoustic foam is disclosed in which a foamable gel made of a blowing agent and a polymeric resin composition is subjected to an extrusion process at a die pressure greater than the prefoaming critical die pressure but less than or equal to four times that of said prefoaming critical die pressure and macrocellular foams obtainable by that process are also disclosed which are made of: A) one or more homopolymers of ethylene, one or more C3-C20 &agr;-olefin polymers, or a combination thereof; B) one or more halogenated flame retardants; C) optionally, one or more polymers other than that of Component A; and D) optionally, one or more flame retardant synergists.

Abstract: A method for producing an at least partially open-celled foam foil on a basis of styrene polymers, nucleating agents, surfactants, physical foaming agents and, if required, further additives, such as foreign polymers and auxiliary materials, comprising a twin-screw extruder with identical parallel screws rotating in the same direction, wherein the twin-screw extruder has a length of at least 25 D (D=screw diameter), in particular 30 to 42 D, with a draw-in and plastification zone of a length of 10 to 15 D, and a mixing zone of a length of 3 to 6 D, and a following cooling zone.

Abstract: An insect resistant foam building material includes calcium borate incorporated therein in sufficient quantity to provide insect resistance. Calcium borate may be incorporated in expanded polystyrene or extruded polystyrene foam materials as part of the foam manufacturing process. The resulting insect resistant calcium borate infused foam material is non-toxic to humans and resistant to leaching out of the protective calcium borate compound from the foam material under high moisture conditions.

Abstract: A flexible thermoplastic article is formed from a blend comprising from about 2 to about 15 weight percent of a styrene-elastomer block copolymer; from about 60 to about 90 weight percent polyolefin; from about 4 to about 15 weight percent plasticizer oil, and optionally from about 0 to about 3 weight percent of at least one additive. The additives are typically present in a concentration of from 0.05 to about 3 weigh percent and can include those additives conventionally used in polyolefin foam compositions, including antioxidants and stabilizers, processing aids, etc. The styrene-elastomer block copolymer is preferably a tri-block copolymer structure which includes styrene end-blocks and a mid-block of a saturated olefin elastomer. A particularly suitable styrene elastomer block copolymer is a styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene (SEBS) block copolymer.

Abstract: A method of preparing a porous fiber, the method including blending a natural polymer having a thermal stability with a synthetic polymer having a thermal stability, wherein the thermal stability of the natural polymer is different from the thermal stability of the synthetic polymer, and wherein the natural polymer and synthetic polymer from immiscible phases; extruding the blended polymers while heating at a predetermined heating rate to the fiber spinning temperature; spinning the fibers while maintaining the temperature; and heating the fibers at a heating rate that maintains the natural polymer in a fiber form and that removes the synthetic polymer, whereby a porous fiber is formed.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to processes for preparing extruded foam products and more particularly to a process for producing such products wherein surface defects are minimized. There has been a movement to replace conventional halo-carbon blowing agents in favor of purportedly more environmentally safe halo-carbon free blowing agents such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen, argon, water, air, nitrogen, and helium. However, these halo-carbon free blowing agents, in particular carbon dioxide, have higher foaming rates and higher volatility leading to greater surface defects in the extruded foam. The present invention employs polyethylene wax to reduce or eliminate the occurrence of surface defects where halo-carbon free blowing agents are employed in an extruded foam manufacture process.

Abstract: Microcellular thermoplastic elastomeric polymeric structures are provided. The articles have an average cell size of less than 100 &mgr;m and a compression set ranging from less than about 30% to less than about 5%, and a rebound value of at least 50%. The articles may be formed from a thermoplastic elastomeric olefin, preferably metallocene-catalyzed polyethylene. The density of the articles ranges from less than 0.5 gm/cm3 to less than 0.3 gm/cm3.

Abstract: An expandable vinyl chloride resin composition that the expansion ratio of a vinyl chloride resin can be greatly increased by the use of thermally decomposable inorganic blowing agents without the use of organic solvent blowing agents, and which comprises 100 parts by weight of a vinyl chloride resin, 0.5 to 30 parts by weight of, as a processing aid, a (meth)acrylic acid ester polymer having a specific viscosity of not less than 0.73 measured at 30° C. with respect to a solution of 0.1 g of the polymer dissolved in 100 ml of chloroform, and not less than 0.3 to less than 2 parts by weight of a thermally decomposable inorganic blowing agent such as sodium bicarbonate.

Abstract: A thermoplastic foam comprises a styrenic polymer and a blowing agent consisting of 100% carbon dioxide. The thermoplastic foam has no visible corrugations and an average cell size of 0.20 mm to 0.35 mm.