The invention relates to an expandable bead comprising a) a polyolefin selected from polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) and mixtures thereof and b) thermoplastic microspheres encapsulating a blowing agent.

In foamable polystyrene resin particles that are obtained by granulating a polystyrene resin containing a flame retardant and a foaming agent, the flame retardant has a bromine atom in a molecule, contains less than 70% by mass of bromine, has a benzene ring in a molecule, and has a 5% by mass decomposition temperature in a range of from 200° C. to 300° C. the flame retardant is the sole source of bromine in the foamable polystyrene resin particles, a ratio (B:A) between (A) a by mass of the flame retardant contained in the total foamable polystyrene resin particles and (B) a % by mass of the flame retardant contained in the surface of the resin particles is in a range of from 0.8:1 to 1.2:1, and the amount of the flame retardant added is in a range of from 0.5% by mass to 5.0% by mass, based on 100 parts by mass of the resin fraction in the foamable polystyrene resin particles.

An expandable composite resin bead containing an organic physical blowing agent and a base resin composed of a composite resin obtained by polymerizing a styrene monomer in a polypropylene resin. The styrene monomer is polymerized in an amount of more than 400 parts by mass and not more than 1900 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the polypropylene resin. The composite resin contains xylene solubles to be obtained through xylene solvent Soxhlet extraction of the expandable composite resin bead, the xylene solubles contain acetone solubles to be obtained through dissolution of the xylene solubles into acetone, and the acetone solubles have an absorbance ratio A (D.sub.698/D.sub.1376) of an absorbance D.sub.698 to an absorbance D.sub.1376 that are respectively measured at a wavenumber of 698 cm.sup.−1 and 1376 cm.sup.−1 as infrared absorption spectra of the acetone solubles within a range of from 8.5 to 23.

An expandable composite resin bead containing an organic physical blowing agent and a base resin composed of a composite resin obtained by polymerizing a styrene monomer in a polypropylene resin. The styrene monomer is polymerized in an amount of more than 400 parts by mass and not more than 1900 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the polypropylene resin. The composite resin contains xylene solubles to be obtained through xylene solvent Soxhlet extraction of the expandable composite resin bead, the xylene solubles contain acetone solubles to be obtained through dissolution of the xylene solubles into acetone, and the acetone solubles have an absorbance ratio A (D.sub.698/D.sub.1376) of an absorbance D.sub.698 to an absorbance D.sub.1376 that are respectively measured at a wavenumber of 698 cm.sup.−1 and 1376 cm.sup.−1 as infrared absorption spectra of the acetone solubles within a range of from 8.5 to 23.

A method of expanding expandable polymeric microspheres including contacting an aqueous slurry including unexpanded, expandable polymeric microspheres with heat in-situ during manufacture of a cementitious composition or article, wherein the aqueous slurry optionally further includes an admixture therefor. A method of manufacturing a cementitious composition or article includes: (i) contacting an aqueous slurry of unexpanded, expandable polymeric microspheres with heat proximate to and/or during said manufacturing of the cementitious composition to create expanded polymeric microspheres; (ii) pre-wetting the expanded polymeric microspheres; and (iii) mixing the pre-wetted, expanded polymeric microspheres with cement and water to form the cementitious composition, wherein the aqueous slurry optionally further comprises an admixture therefor.

A method of expanding expandable polymeric microspheres including contacting an aqueous slurry including unexpanded, expandable polymeric microspheres with heat in-situ during manufacture of a cementitious composition or article, wherein the aqueous slurry optionally further includes an admixture therefor. A method of manufacturing a cementitious composition or article includes: (i) contacting an aqueous slurry of unexpanded, expandable polymeric microspheres with heat proximate to and/or during said manufacturing of the cementitious composition to create expanded polymeric microspheres; (ii) pre-wetting the expanded polymeric microspheres; and (iii) mixing the pre-wetted, expanded polymeric microspheres with cement and water to form the cementitious composition, wherein the aqueous slurry optionally further comprises an admixture therefor.

A method of expanding expandable polymeric microspheres including contacting an aqueous slurry including unexpanded, expandable polymeric microspheres with heat in-situ during manufacture of a construction material. A method of manufacturing a construction material includes: (i) contacting an aqueous slurry of unexpanded, expandable polymeric microspheres with heat proximate to and/or during said manufacturing of the construction material to create expanded polymeric microspheres; (ii) optionally pre-wetting the expanded polymeric microspheres; and (iii) mixing the expanded polymeric microspheres with the construction material.

The invention refers to a method for producing expanded polymer pellets, which comprises the following steps: melting a polymer comprising a polyamide; adding at least one blowing agent; expanding the melt through at least one die for producing an expanded polymer; and pelletizing the expanded polymer. The invention further concerns polymer pellets produced with the method as well as their use, e.g. for the production of cushioning elements for sports apparel, such as for producing soles or parts of soles of sports shoes. A further aspect of the invention concerns a method for the manufacture of molded components, comprising loading pellets of an expanded polymer material into a mold, and connecting the pellets by providing heat energy, wherein the expanded polymer material of the pellets or beads comprises a chain extender. The molded components may be used in broad ranges of application.

A process can be used for recycling foams based on thermoplastic polyurethane.

A process can be used for recycling foams based on thermoplastic polyurethane.