Mitsubishi Chemical Basf Company Limited

Yoshinari Itoh

Takanori Suzuki

Kenji Haraguchi

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.

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Mie, Japan

Yoshinari Itoh