This invention relates to rigid polyurethane foams which are co-blown with a mixture of a hydrocarbon blowing agent and a halogenated olefin blowing agent. This invention also relates to a process for preparing these rigid polyurethane foams, and to an isocyanate-reactive component containing a polyol blend and the mixture of blowing agents. Phase stable isocyanate-reactive blends are also described.

Cellulose ester compositions for expanded foam applications are provided. Specifically, production of melt processed cellulose esters has historically been limited to standard extrusion, molding and solvent casting methods. A combination of cellulose ester formulation and selected blowing agents have been found to produce articles of good density and good dimensional stability for an expanded foam process using conventional polystyrene processing equipment.

Expandable, blowing agent-containing pellets based on high temperature thermoplastics having a glass transition temperature according to ISO 11357-2-1999 of at least 180° C., wherein the expandable, blowing agent-containing pellets comprise at least one nucleating agent and have a poured density according to DIN ISO 697:1982 in the range from 400 to 900 kg/m.sup.3 and a mass in the range from 1 to 5 mg/pellet, processes for production thereof and foam particles obtainable therefrom having a glass transition temperature according to ISO 11357-2-1999 of at least 180° C., wherein the expanded foam particles comprise at least one nucleating agent and have a poured density according to DIN ISO 697:1982 in the range from 10 to 200 kg/m.sup.3, and particle foams obtainable therefrom and the use thereof for producing components for aviation.

Laminated panels are made in a process whereby a starting foam formulation is processed through a mixhead, passed through a branched distribution system and dispensed through multiple outlets of the distribution system to produce a foam layer on a bottom facing layer. The foam layer is monitored for the presence of surface bubbles. When surface bubbles are observed, the backpressure in the mixhead is increased to reduce or eliminate the surface bubbles. An apparatus for performing the process includes an adjustment means at or upstream of a first branch point in the distribution system to increase or decrease the backpressure in the mixhead.

The invention relates to a thermally insulated conduit pipe, comprising at least one medium pipe, at least one thermal insulation arranged around the medium pipe, and at least one outer jacket arranged around the thermal insulation, wherein the outer jacket possibly comprises a barrier made of plastic, and wherein the thermal insulation comprises a foam, the cell gas of which contains at least 10 vol % HFOs. Such conduit pipe has good insulating behavior, good environmental balance, and is easily producible.

A process is described for producing PU foams, especially rigid PU foams, based on foamable reaction mixtures containing polyisocyanates, compounds having reactive hydrogen atoms, blowing agents, foam stabilizers, and possibly further additives, wherein polymer particles are additionally used, the average particle size of the polymer particles being <100 μm, preferably <70 μm, especially 5 to 50 μm.

A porous polymer has a pore volume of 0.3 to 2.5 cm.sup.3/g and comprises a pore having a first pore diameter and a pore having a second pore diameter. A ratio of pore volume of the pore having a first pore diameter to pore volume of the pore having a second pore diameter is 1 to 10:1. The porous polymer is obtained by self-polymerization or copolymerization of at least one of the phosphorus ligands, and phosphorous content of the porous polymer is 1 to 5 mmol/g. The porous polymer-nickel catalyst made of the porous polymer has a significant increase in water resistance, which may reduce the consumption of phosphorus ligands, eliminating the steps of removing water from raw materials and reaction system water control, which greatly saves process equipment investment. When used in the preparation of adiponitrile from butadiene, it has high catalytic activity, high reaction selectivity, and high linearity.

A foamed polymeric insulation product comprises a polymeric foam formed from a foamable polymer composition comprising: a) a thermoplastic matrix polymer composition, and b) a blowing agent composition. A barrier coating is formed on at least one of the first major surface and the second major surface, the barrier coating being formed from a barrier coating composition comprising a dispersion of at least one polymer comprising at least one polymer selected from polyvinylidene dichloride (PVDC), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyvinyl alcohol, ethylene vinyl alcohol, polyurethane, styrene butadiene (SBR), and combinations or copolymers thereof; and a viscosity modifier.

Disclosed is a process for preparation of a propylene-based polymer composition involving the steps of: (a) mixing a propylene-based polymer and a peroxydicarbonate in a mixing device, wherein the mixing takes place at a temperature of ≤30° C., wherein the peroxydicarbonate is introduced into the mixing process in a dry form; (b) keeping the mixed composition at a temperature of ≤30° C.; (c) feeding the mixed composition into a melt extruder; (d) homogenizing the mixed composition at a temperature where the propylene-based polymer is in solid state during an average residence time of ≥6.0 and ≤30.0 seconds; (e) further homogenizing the mixed composition at a temperature at which the propylene-based polymer is in the molten state; and (f) extruding the homogenized material from a die outlet of the melt extruder followed by cooling and solidification; wherein the steps (a) through (f) are conducted in that order.

Provided are a flame retardant composition for expandable styrene resin with which an extrusion-foamed molded article having excellent flame retardancy and excellent heat resistance can be produced; a styrene-based resin composition; and an extrusion-foamed molded article of the styrene-based resin composition. The flame retardant composition for expandable styrene resin of the present invention comprises at least B1) tetrabromobisphenol A-bis(2,3-dibromo-2-methylpropyl ether), (C) a zinc-modified hydrotalcite, and (D) a phosphoric acid ester-based compound, the component (B1) being contained in an amount of 10 to 98 mass % based on the total amount of the component (B1) and the component (D).