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 foamed article is made by infusing the article of thermoplastic elastomer with a supercritical fluid, then removing the article from the supercritical fluid and either (i) immersing the article in a heated fluid or (ii) irradiating the article with infrared or microwave radiation.

A foamed article is made by infusing the article of thermoplastic elastomer with a supercritical fluid, then removing the article from the supercritical fluid and either (i) immersing the article in a heated fluid or (ii) irradiating the article with infrared or microwave radiation.

The invention relates to a method for impregnating a polymer granulate with a predefined mass of a gaseous propellant. According to the invention, the polymer granulate is arranged inside a pressure vessel and a gaseous propellant is introduced into the inside of the pressure vessel.

This disclosure describes micro-, sub-micron, and nano-cellular polymer foams formed from siloxane containing (co)polymers and blends, and systems and methods of formation thereof. The micro, sub-micron, and nano-cellular polymer foam has a density of less than or equal to 300 kg/m.sup.3.

This disclosure describes micro-, sub-micron, and nano-cellular polymer foams formed from siloxane containing (co)polymers and blends, and systems and methods of formation thereof. The micro, sub-micron, and nano-cellular polymer foam has a density of less than or equal to 300 kg/m.sup.3.

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.

The present invention relates to cylindrical expanded thermoplastic elastomer beads provided with through-holes, the expanded thermoplastic elastomer beads including a core layer in an foamed state constituted of a base polymer containing a thermoplastic elastomer and a cover layer covering the core layer and constituted of a thermoplastic polymer, wherein a coefficient of dynamic friction of the thermoplastic polymer is 0.8 or less, and a difference between a melting point (Tmc) of the base polymer and a melting point (Tms) of the thermoplastic polymer is −20° C. or more and 20° C. or less. The present invention also relates to an expanded thermoplastic elastomer beads molded article formed by subjecting expanded thermoplastic elastomer beads provided with through-holes to in-mold molding, the molded article including a core layer in a foamed state and a cover layer covering the core layer, wherein a voidage is 15% or more, a density is 10 kg/m.sup.3 or more and 200 kg/m.sup.3 or less, and the product of a tensile strength (MPa) and a tensile elongation (%) is 5 or more.

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

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