The present invention relates to a non-crosslinked block copolymer foam composition, characterised in that it is in the form of a polymer matrix comprising closed cells containing gas, said matrix comprising: from 90 to 99.9% by weight of said block copolymer; and from 0.01 to 10% by weight of metal carbonate, for the total weight of the foam composition. The present invention also relates to a foamable composition and a method for manufacturing said foam, as well as the use of the foam in sports shoe soles, balloons or balls, gloves, personal protection equipment, rail soles, automobile parts, construction parts, electrical and electronic equipment parts, audio equipment, sound- and/or heat-proofing, and parts used to damp vibrations.

The invention relates to a method for preparing polyester polyols containing monools, and to their use, in particular for preparing polyurethane/polyisocyanurate rigid foams (also referred to hereafter as PUR/PIR rigid foams) with improved fire performance.

An improved process for fabricating expanded thermoplastic polymers (eTP) starting from non-expanded TP is disclosed whereby said process has improved thermal control, uses preferably environmentally friendly foaming gasses, avoids anisotropy and sticking of the eTP during the processing and minimises the duration of the charging step.

A composition for preparing polyisocyanurate and polyurethane foams is provided, comprising A) a first isocyanate-reactive component comprising a bisphenol, B) a second isocyanate-reactive component different from the first isocyanate-reactive component, and C) a polyisocyanate component. A method for preparing the polyisocyanurate and polyurethane foams, and foams prepared thereby are also provided.

The present invention relates to a food container with a reduced amount of elution of hazardous substances. As the food container according to the present invention has a structure in which a foamed layer and a PETG resin layer are laminated, compressive strength is improved and moldability is excellent, so that the food container may be provided in various sizes and shapes. Moreover, the present invention has a harmless effect to a human body due to a remarkably low amount of elution of hazardous substances.

Disclosed are such co-polymers of vinylidene substituted aromatic monomers and unsaturated compounds containing nucleophilic groups chain extended by a copolymer of one or more vinylidene aromatic monomers and one or more unsaturated compounds having pendant electrophilic groups which copolymerize with the one or more vinylidene aromatic monomers. Disclosed are compositions comprising vinylidene substituted aromatic monomers and unsaturated compounds containing nucleophilic groups and a copolymer of one or more vinylidene aromatic monomers and one or more unsaturated compounds having pendant electrophilic groups, which may optionally, contain salts of alkaline earth metals, alkali metals, transition metals, post transition metals or metalloids. Disclosed are methods of preparing such chain-extended and/or branched copolymers.

The present invention relates to a cleaning implement that includes a melamine-formaldehyde foam. The melamine-formaldehyde foam includes from about 0.1 to about 5 weight % of at least one linear polymer with a number average molecular weight M.sub.n in the range from 500 to 10,000 g/mol. Additionally the present invention encompasses processes for making and methods for cleaning hard surfaces with a cleaning implement according to the present invention.

A reaction system for forming a step-growth polymerized sulfur-containing polyester polyol includes at least one sulfur-containing component selected from the group of a sulfur-containing polyol or a sulfur-containing polycarboxylic acid, an amount of the at least one sulfur-containing component being from 1 wt % to 60 wt %, at least one aromatic component selected from the group of an aromatic multi-functional ester, an aromatic multi-functional carboxylic acid, and an aromatic anhydride, an amount of the at least one aromatic component being from 1 wt % to 60 wt %, at least one simple polyol that excludes sulfur and is different from the sulfur containing polyol, an amount of the at least one simple polyol being from 0 wt % to 60 wt %, and at least one polymerization catalyst. The reaction system for forming the sulfur-containing polyester polyol has a sulfur content that is from 2 wt % to 20 wt %.

A foaming composition useful to make an extruded foam is comprised of: a copolymer of a vinylidene aromatic monomer and an unsaturated compound containing nucleophilic groups, a copolymer of vinylidene aromatic monomer and an unsaturated compound having electrophilic groups; and a blowing agent. The foaming composition may be made into a foam by heating the foaming composition to a temperature sufficient to melt and react said copolymers to form a chain extended/branched copolymer and extruding the foaming composition from a higher pressure to a lower pressure to form an extruded foam comprised of the chain extended/branched copolymer. The foam is comprised of a chain extended/branched copolymer that is the reaction product of (i) a copolymer of one or more vinylidene aromatic monomers and one or more unsaturated compounds containing nucleophilic groups, and (ii) a copolymer of one or more vinylidene aromatic monomers and one or more unsaturated compounds having electrophilic groups.

Expandable methyl methacrylate resin particles having a narrow particle size distribution, a good yield, and excellent expandability and formability are provided. The expandable methyl methacrylate resin particles include a base resin containing, as constitutional units, a certain amount of a methyl methacrylate unit and a certain amount of acrylic ester unit, and a blowing agent. The expandable methyl methacrylate resin particles have an average particle diameter of 0.6 mm to 1.0 mm and a particle diameter variation coefficient of not more than 20%.