Nova Chemicals Inc.

Jeffory E Russell

Jiansheng Tang

David Allen Cowan

Michael T Williams

Dennis H Piispanen

Christine B Hetzer

John C Kwok

Methods for improving the resistance of fumigant sorption in produce containers made from expandable polystyrene particles in a fumigation process, and related produce containers. An embodiment involves pre-expanding the expandable polystyrene particles to form pre-expanded particles; applying a coating comprised of a chemical selected from the group consisting of mineral oil, polyethylene wax, ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer, and polyethylene glycol to the pre-expanded particles and in amount of 0.05 to 5.0 parts per hundred; and forming the container from the pre-expanded particles. A further embodiment involves applying the chemical coating to the expandable particles; pre-expanding the expandable polystyrene particles to form pre-expanded particles; and forming the containers from the pre-expanded particles. Other methods involve increasing the cell size of the expandable particles used to form the produce container.

Methods for improving the resistance of fumigant sorption in a produce container and a related produce containers

A foam thermoplastic container e.g. cup, bowl molded from expandable thermoplastic particles e.g. expandable polystyrene, has a film made of a thermoplastic resin e.g. solid polystyrene, rubber-modified polystyrene, PET, polyethylene, polypropylene, fused to its inner sidewall surface by heat and pressure to create a barrier to resist the leakage of liquid and food with oil and/or fatty components and to increase the rim strength of the container. The thermoplastic resin film can be fused to the outer surface of the container for printing purposes and/or to create a barrier and/or can be fused to the base surfaces of the container. The molding machine used to form the foam container is used to fuse the film to the container.

Thermoplastic film for a disposable container made of expandable thermoplastic particles

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Sewickley, PA, United States of America

Jeffory E Russell