Mitsubishi Chemical Basf Company Limited

Kenji Haraguchi

Takanori Suzuki

Masayuki Tanaka

Mitsuo Furuichi

Yoshinari Itoh

Hiromi Yamanaka

Expandable ABS resin beads containing a volatile blowing agent are disclosed which have an internal-water content of 5% by weight or lower and, when expanded in an expansion ratio of 30, give expanded beads each having a non-expanded surface layer having a thickness of not more than 50 .mu.m. A process for producing the expandable ABS resin beads is also disclosed which comprises dispersing ABS resin beads into an aqueous medium in a closed vessel and impregnating a volatile blowing agent into the ABS resin beads, said aqueous medium containing an electrolyte at least during the impregnation of the volatile blowing agent, with the concentration of the electrolyte in the aqueous medium being from 0.01 to 2 mol/l. The expandable resin beads are capable of giving an expanded molded article excellent in chemical resistance and toughness and especially in surface appearance and heat resistance.

Expandable ABS resin beads and process for producing the same

Expandable rubber-modified styrene resin beads, expanded rubber-modified styrene resin beads, and expanded molded rubber-modified styrene resin articles are described. The expandable beads comprise a rubber-modified styrene resin comprising a styrene resin having dispersed therein 8 to 15% by weight of conjugated diene rubber particles having a 1,4-cis structure in a proportion of not less than 70% and an average particle size of 1.5 to 3.0 .mu.m, the rubber-modified styrene resin having a mineral oil content of not more than 3.0% by weight, and the expandable rubber-modified styrene resin beads containing 1 to 15% by weight of a volatile blowing agent. The expanded molded article has excellent appearance, impact resistance and softness.

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Mie, Japan

Kenji Haraguchi