Processes for preparing polystyrene-phenolic foam composites and precursor compositions are described. The processes yield composites having advantageous properties particularly useful in insulation and fire resisting applications.

In one embodiment, a method of forming an extruded board includes mixing a resin and a foaming agent, melting the mixed resin and foaming agent to form a uniformly colored extrudate, differentially expanding voids formed from the foaming agent within the uniformly colored extrudate by passing the uniformly colored extrudate through a breaker plate, forming a board with the differentially expanded voids and uniformly colored extrudate, and forming lightened portions on an outermost surface of the formed board.

In one embodiment, a method of forming an extruded board includes mixing a resin and a foaming agent, melting the mixed resin and foaming agent to form a uniformly colored extrudate, differentially expanding voids formed from the foaming agent within the uniformly colored extrudate by passing the uniformly colored extrudate through a breaker plate, forming a board with the differentially expanded voids and uniformly colored extrudate, and forming lightened portions on an outermost surface of the formed board.

A method for making a floor or wall panel has a foamed polymer core. A foamable polymer powder is foamed between two conveyor belts in the forming zone of a steel belt press. The sum of the thicknesses of the two conveyor belts and the total thickness of the layers at the entrance of the steel belt press is less than or equal to the opening of the steel belt press at the entrance of the steel belt press. The sum of the thicknesses of the two conveyor belts and the total thickness of the substrate at the outlet of the steel belt press is equal to the opening of the steel belt press at the outlet of the steel belt press and greater than the sum of the thicknesses of the two conveyor belts and the total thickness of the layers at the entrance of the steel belt press.

A plasticized PVC formulation for foam extrusion including polyvinyl chloride, at least one plasticizer, at least one nucleating agent and a chemical blowing agent, wherein the plasticized PVC formulation is a dry blend containing 0.5 to 5% by weight of one or more nucleating agents and 0.1 to 3% by weight of the chemical blowing agent, wherein the blowing agent is sodium bicarbonate and the nucleating agent is talcum, and a foam extrusion method using said formulation. The extruded plasticized PVC foam is particularly suitable for rock shield pads used for pipeline protection. The foams are lightweight and require less consumption of materials with comparable properties to corresponding solid articles.

A continuously extruded unitary blank (CUBE) has a top, a bottom, two sides and at least one webbing there between parallel to the two sides. The CUBE has a front cut end and a rear cut end which define two open face channels to accommodate the forks of a fork lift and pallet jack. Two spaces are manufactured in the two sides and in the at least one webbing to accept a lateral insertion and a lateral removal of the forks. Chamfers are manufactured in edges of the cutouts to facilitate the insertion and the removal of the forks from the pallet. Chamfers are also manufactured in the front and rear cut ends to facilitate accommodation of the forks. Voids are manufactured in the bottom to allow pallet jack wheels to pass into the pallet and rest on a surface for a lifting of the pallet from the surface.

A continuously extruded unitary blank (CUBE) has a top, a bottom, two sides and at least one webbing there between parallel to the two sides. The CUBE has a front cut end and a rear cut end which define two open face channels to accommodate the forks of a fork lift and pallet jack. Two spaces are manufactured in the two sides and in the at least one webbing to accept a lateral insertion and a lateral removal of the forks. Chamfers are manufactured in edges of the cutouts to facilitate the insertion and the removal of the forks from the pallet. Chamfers are also manufactured in the front and rear cut ends to facilitate accommodation of the forks. Voids are manufactured in the bottom to allow pallet jack wheels to pass into the pallet and rest on a surface for a lifting of the pallet from the surface.

The present invention concerns a process for producing a thermoformable porous web using a mixture of cellulosic fibers and one or more thermoplastic materials, particularly by foam forming said mixture into a composite foam, and applying the foam into one or more layers on a support to obtain a porous pre-form web. The thus produced porous composite web can be further processed by compression molding to give a rigid high-strength composite structure, which is suitable for use in producing, e.g. panels or plates, packages or hygiene products, insulators or filters, or printed intelligence, electronics or microcellulose products.

The present invention concerns a process for producing a thermoformable porous web using a mixture of cellulosic fibers and one or more thermoplastic materials, particularly by foam forming said mixture into a composite foam, and applying the foam into one or more layers on a support to obtain a porous pre-form web. The thus produced porous composite web can be further processed by compression molding to give a rigid high-strength composite structure, which is suitable for use in producing, e.g. panels or plates, packages or hygiene products, insulators or filters, or printed intelligence, electronics or microcellulose products.

A plasticized PVC formulation for foam extrusion including polyvinyl chloride, at least one plasticizer, at least one nucleating agent and a chemical blowing agent, wherein the plasticized PVC formulation is a dry blend containing 0.5 to 5% by weight of one or more nucleating agents and 0.1 to 3% by weight of the chemical blowing agent, wherein the blowing agent is sodium bicarbonate and the nucleating agent is talcum, and a foam extrusion method using said formulation. The extruded plasticized PVC foam is particularly suitable for rock shield pads used for pipeline protection. The foams are lightweight and require less consumption of materials with comparable properties to corresponding solid articles.