The present invention provides expanded beads comprising a crosslinked multi-block copolymer containing an ethylene block and an ethylene-α-olefin copolymer block, having an apparent density of 40 to 300 g/L, a gel fraction of 30 to 70% by weight by a hot xylene extraction method, an average cell diameter (a) of 50 to 180 μm, and an average surface layer thickness (b) of 3 to 27 μm, and the expanded beads are excellent in in-mold moldability, and can produce an expanded beads molded article being excellent in tensile characteristics in a well balanced manner.

The present invention is concerned with expanded beads of a block copolymer of a polyethylene block and an ethylene/α-olefin copolymer block, wherein a xylene insoluble fraction (A) of the expanded beads by a hot xylene extraction method is 10 to 70% by weight, and a ratio (A/B) of the xylene insoluble fraction (A) to a xylene insoluble fraction (B) of the expanded beads by a hot xylene extraction method when divided into two equal parts and measured is 1.0 to 1.1, and is able to provide expanded beads with excellent in-mold moldability and an expanded beads molded article with excellent fusion bondability and restorability.

The present invention is concerned with expanded beads of a block copolymer of a polyethylene block and an ethylene/α-olefin copolymer block, wherein a xylene insoluble fraction (A) of the expanded beads by a hot xylene extraction method is 10 to 70% by weight, and a ratio (A/B) of the xylene insoluble fraction (A) to a xylene insoluble fraction (B) of the expanded beads by a hot xylene extraction method when divided into two equal parts and measured is 1.0 to 1.1, and is able to provide expanded beads with excellent in-mold moldability and an expanded beads molded article with excellent fusion bondability and restorability.

Molded parts for automobile interiors can be made from expanded thermoplastic polyurethane beads. Processes can be used to produce the molded parts from thermoplastic polyurethane.

Molded parts for automobile interiors can be made from expanded thermoplastic polyurethane beads. Processes can be used to produce the molded parts from thermoplastic polyurethane.

The present invention relates to thermoplastic olefin elastomer expanded beads, having an average aspect ratio of 1.10 or less and an average circularity of 0.985 or more. The thermoplastic olefin elastomer expanded beads preferably have a crystal structure such that a melting peak inherent in the thermoplastic olefin elastomer (inherent peak) and one or more melting peaks on a higher temperature side than the inherent peak (high temperature peaks) appear on a DSC curve obtained when heating the expanded beads from 23° C. to 200° C. at a heating rate of 10° C./min.

The present invention relates to thermoplastic olefin elastomer expanded beads, having an average aspect ratio of 1.10 or less and an average circularity of 0.985 or more. The thermoplastic olefin elastomer expanded beads preferably have a crystal structure such that a melting peak inherent in the thermoplastic olefin elastomer (inherent peak) and one or more melting peaks on a higher temperature side than the inherent peak (high temperature peaks) appear on a DSC curve obtained when heating the expanded beads from 23° C. to 200° C. at a heating rate of 10° C./min.

A method for impregnating a polymeric granulate with a physical blowing agent is disclosed. The polymeric granulate can be a typical material such as a polycarbonate that is used in foam injection moulding processes. The physical blowing agent can be carbon dioxide which impregnates that polymeric granulate at a temperature range of 40° to 120° C. and a pressure range of 15 to 55 bar. Preferably, the polymeric granulate is heated in a range of 50° to 90° with a range of 60° to 80° preferred. A pressure range of 25 to 45 bar is preferred with a range of 30 to 40 bar more preferred.

A process can be used for producing (rigid) particle foams from polymer compositions containing at least one polymer having a glass transition temperature according to ISO 11357-2 of at least 180° C. with an underwater pelletization system.

The present invention relates to a polyurethane, in particular a thermoplastic polyurethane, obtainable or obtained by reacting at least the components (i) to (ii): (i) a polyisocyanate composition; (ii) a polyol composition, comprising (ii.1) at least one polyester diol or polyether diol having a number-average molecular weight in the range from 500 to 3000 g/mol, (ii.2) at least one polysiloxane having two terminal isocyanate-reactive functionalities selected from the group consisting of thio group, hydroxyl group and amino group. The invention additionally relates to a process for preparing this polyurethane, to the use thereof, to a molded body comprising the polyurethane. Furthermore, the invention relates to foam beads based on polyurethane, obtained or obtainable from the polyurethane, to a process for producing foam beads and also to bead foams and to the use thereof.