Foamed polymeric compositions containing clay nucleating agents are described. The clays are preferably sepiolite, palygorskite/attapulgite, or combinations thereof. Also described are processes for forming the foamed compositions. The resulting products find particular application as insulation and packaging materials.

A polyurethane composition raw material liquid agent filled in a cartridge-like container comprises a polyol or a polyisocyanate, and a filler, wherein the polyurethane composition raw material liquid agent has a viscosity at 25° C. and a rotation speed of 10 rpm of 2300 mPa.Math.s or more. The filler may include a solid flame retardant. The polyurethane composition raw material liquid agent and another polyurethane composition raw material liquid agent are mixed and discharged to form a polyurethane composition.

A flame-retardant rigid polyurethane foam contains a flame retardant, the foam having a ratio of the maximum peak intensity ratio (P1) of the foam after moist heat treatment of the foam for one week at a temperature of 80° C. and a humidity of 85% to the maximum peak intensity ratio (P2) of the foam before this moist heat treatment of 85% or more (P1/P2x100). The P1 and P2 each refer to the ratio of the maximum peak intensity of 1390 to 1430 cm.sup.−1 to the maximum peak intensity of 1500 to 1520 cm.sup.−1 when the infrared absorption spectrum is measured at a position 5 to 10 mm from the surface of the foam, and the average intensity of 1900 to 2000 cm.sup.−1 is adjusted to zero.

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.

A spray foam formulation used to form a spray foam insulation layer in a wall structure is described. The formulation may include the reaction product of a polyisocyanate compound and a polyol compound; a fire retardant chosen from at least one of a non-halogenated fire retardant; and a reactive halogen-containing fire retardant, and a carbohydrate. The spray foam insulation layer has an insulative R value of 3.0 to 7.2 per inch, and a density of between about 0.3 to about 4.5 pcf. Further, spray foam insulation made from the spray foam formulation may have fire retardant characteristics that are equivalent to or better than a similar spray insulation foam insulation using non-reactive halogenated fire retardants such as tris(1-chloro-2-propyl)phosphate (TCPP).

A surfactant and a method of forming the surfactant having the formula (I) where a is an integer from 1 to 10, b is an integer from 0 to 10, R.sub.1 is —CH.sub.3 or —H, n is an integer from 0 to 20, and R.sub.2 is a moiety selected from the group consisting of (II), (III), (IV), (V), (VI), (VII) or (VIII) where m is an integer from 0 to 4. The surfactant can be used in a method for preparing a rigid polyurethane foam.

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This invention relates to the use blends comprising HFO-1336mzz-Z, methyl formate, and optionally, HFC-152a as blowing agents for thermoplastic polymers (e.g., polystyrene).

The present invention provides a polyolefin resin foam sheet having an area density of 5 g/m.sup.2 or more and 400 g/m.sup.2 or less, and having a time (t) required for a weight decrease from 90% by mass to 10% by mass, of 9 minutes or more, as measured by thermogravimetric analysis carried out at a heating rate of 10° C./min and a measurement temperature of 23° C. to 550° C. According to the present invention, a polyolefin resin foam sheet can be provided that has a high fire retardancy while maintaining a lightweight property.

The present invention relates to a method for preparing a rigid polyurethane foam using a non-continuous production process, the rigid polyurethane foam prepared therefrom, and use thereof.

The present invention relates to an expandable polymeric composition comprising: a) a polymeric matrix containing vinyl aromatic polymers and/or copolymers; b) from 0.1% to 20% by weight, calculated on the polymeric matrix (a), of an athermanous agent; c) from 0.01% to 10% by weight, calculated on the polymeric matrix (a), of at least one non-polymeric brominated flame retardant additive; d) from 0.01% to 10% by weight, calculated on the polymeric matrix (a), of at least one brominated polymer containing at least 50% bromine; e) from 0.01% to 5% by weight, calculated on the polymeric matrix (a), of a synergistic flame retardant additive; f) from 1% by weight to 10% by weight of at least one blowing agent.