Atlantic Richfield Company

Arco Polymers, Inc.

Adolph V DiGiulio

Jack N Bauer

Alvin R Ingram

Dennis M Hajnik

Bernard H Meyer

Joseph C Kinslow

Harold A Wright

Walter O Pillar

Kenneth D Thom

Copolymer beads made by suspension copolymerization of styrenic monomer with divinylbenzene under conditions such that the products had defined solubility, gel content, molecular weight and bead size characteristics which enabled their use (after impregnation with a blowing agent and pre-expansion) in molding into foamed cups over a much broader range of time and temperature and the resultant cups are stiffer per given weight than cups made from conventional polystyrenes utilized for making foamed cups. These advantages are realized without any sacrifice in cup appearance.

Divinylbenzene in expandable beads for cup molding

Styrenic polymer beads that are useful in forming foamed cups with improved strength and thermal properties are prepared by forming an aqueous suspension of initial styrenic polymer beads and adding thereto an emulsion of a comonomer solution of styrenic monomer and divinylbenzene, which emulsion also contains free-radical-producing catalysts, and the suspension with added monomers is heated to copolymerize the styrenic monomer and divinylbenzene within and on the initial beads and form modified beads.

Process for producing modified styrenic polymer beads

Thermoplastic particles are suspended in water or other suspending fluids with a suspending aid(s) to prevent agglomeration of the beads, pellets or particles. To this suspension is added monomer(s) containing a multifunctional initiator(s). The monomer and initiator(s) are preemulsified in water or other fluid(s) before the addition in order to improve distribution of the monomer(s) and initiator(s) in or on the particles. After or during the addition(s), the suspension temperature is raised to cause polymerization. The procedures may be repeated to increase the coating or penetrated polymer content. New compositions of matter are made by this technique wherein the new compositions are plastic resins either coated or penetrated, or both, with a thermoplastic(s) of very high molecular weight not obtainable by present, commercial polymerization techniques. The compositions are superior to the feed resins because of the enhancement of physical properties brought about by the high molecular weights phase(s). This enhancement would be extended to foams made from these new resins.

Higher molecular weight thermoplastics having multimodal molecular

Producing modified styrenic polymer beads

Process for producing modified styrenic polymer beads for high strength

Thermoplastic particles are suspended in water or other suspending fluids with a suspending aid(s) to prevent agglomeration of the beads, pellets or particles. To this suspension is added monomer(s) containing a multifunctional initiator(s). The monomer and initiator(s) are pre-emulsified in water or other fluid(s) before the addition in order to improve distribution of the monomer(s) and initiator(s) in or on the particles. After or during the addition(s), the suspension temperature is raised to cause polymerization. The procedures may be repeated to increase the coating or penetrated polymer content. New compositions of matter are made by this technique wherein the new compositions are plastic resins either coated or penetrated, or both, with a thermoplastic(s) of very high molecular weight not obtainable by present, commercial polymerization techniques. The compositions are superior to the feed resins because of the enhancement of physical properties brought about by the high molecular weights phase(s). This enhancement would be extended to foams made from these new resins.

High strength foamed articles

Modified styrenic polymer beads

Expandable vinyl aromatic polymers are produced, which exhibit anti-lumping properties and fast-cool properties upon formation of foamed articles therefrom, by polymerizing a vinyl aromatic monomer, in which is dissolved 0.5-4.0 percent, based on the monomer, of a graded diblock rubbery copolymer of 2-50 percent of polymerized vinyl aromatic monomer and 50-98 percent conjugated diene, the polymerization forming vinyl aromatic polymer containing the graded diblock rubbery copolymer, and impregnating the polymer so produced, with a blowing agent.

Anti-lumping and fast-cool vinyl aromatic expandable polymer particles

Expandable vinyl aromatic polymers are produced, which exhibit fast-cool properties upon formation of foamed articles therefrom, by polymerizing a vinyl aromatic monomer, in which is dissolved 1.0-10.0 percent, based on the monomer, of a thermoplastic, branched, block copolymer of 55-95 percent of polymerized vinyl aromatic monomer and 5-45 percent conjugated diene, the polymerization forming vinyl aromatic polymer containing the thermoplastic, branched, block copolymer, and impregnating the polymer so produced, with a blowing agent.

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Wayne, PA, United States of America

Adolph V DiGiulio