The present invention relates to a copolymer having polyamide blocks and having polyether blocks (PEBA) which can be used for the manufacture of an article, preferably a foamed article. The invention also relates to expanded particles prepared from said copolymer and to the manufacture of a foamed article from said expanded particles.

This invention provides a plastic container characterized in that an expanded layer comprising expanded cells having a flat shape with an average major axis of not more than 400 m and an average aspect ratio (L/t) of not less than 6 as viewed in cross section of the container wall along the maximum stretch direction, which are oriented in the stretch direction and are distributed so as to be superimposed on top of each other in the thickness-wise direction, is formed within the container wall. In this container, expanded cells having a flat shape are distributed so as to orient in a given direction and, thus, has light shielding properties and has a pearl-like appearance, that is, has a very high commercial value. Further, since any colorant is not contained, the suitability for recycling is excellent.

The present invention relates to a mold for a multi-layer container. The mold includes a cold-half portion containing a cavity, and a hot-half portion containing a first resin flow path for connecting an interior of a first injection cylinder to the cavity, a second resin flow path for connecting an interior of a second injection cylinder to the cavity, and a junction portion of the first resin flow path and the second resin flow path. The junction portion in the hot-half portion is positioned upstream of a gate portion opened to the cavity included in the cold-half portion, the second resin flow path contains an inhibitor for partially inhibiting a resin flow.

A cup-shaped body having an axis of longitudinal extension and defining a mouth and a longitudinally-extended body which is closed at the opposite end from the mouth; the longitudinally-extended body has a conical or frustum-like extension with a diameter that increases progressively from the opposite end toward the mouth, the cup-shaped body having a height extension measured between the mouth and the opposite end, while the mouth has a circular shape with a diameter.

The cup-shaped body has the following features: the ratio between the height extension and diameter is between 0.35 and 1.65; and the ratio between the diameter, measured in millimeters, and the average taper (Cmedia) between the taper of the external surface of the longitudinally-extended body and the taper of the internal surface of the longitudinally-extended body, diameter/Cmedia, is between 0.5 and 1.