Polyolefin Foams

N.J. Mills
(Metallurgy and Materials, University of Birmingham)

ISBN 1-85957-434-3
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Item 1
Source of
Macromolecules
original article
33, No.6, 21st March 2000, p.2171-83
Title EFFECT OF THERMAL HISTORY ON THE RHEOLOGICAL
BEHAVIOR OF THERMOPLASTIC POLYURETHANES
Authors and
Pil Joong Yoon; Chang Dae Han affiliation
Akron,University
The effect of thermal history on the rheological behaviour of ester- and
ether-based commercial thermoplastic PUs (Estane 5701, 5707 and 5714
from B.F.Goodrich) was investigated. It was found that the injection
moulding temp. used for specimen preparation had a marked effect on the
variations of dynamic storage and loss moduli of specimens with time
observed during isothermal annealing. Analysis of FTIR spectra indicated
that variations in hydrogen bonding with time during isothermal annealing Abstract
very much resembled variations of dynamic storage modulus with time
during isothermal annealing. Isochronal dynamic temp. sweep experiments
indicated that the thermoplastic PUs exhibited a hysteresis effect in the
heating and cooling processes. It was concluded that the microphase
separation transition or order-disorder transition in thermoplastic PUs could
not be determined from the isochronal dynamic temp. sweep experiment.
The plots of log dynamic storage modulus versus log loss modulus varied
with temp. over the entire range of temps. (110-190C) investigated. 57 refs. Companies or
GOODRICH B.F. organisations
Location USA mentioned
Accession no.771897

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 Polyolefin Foams

N.J. Mills
(Metallurgy and Materials, University of Birmingham)

ISBN 1-85957-434-3
 Polyolefin Foams

Contents

1 Introduction .............................................................................................................................................. 3
2 Polymers ................................................................................................................................................... 4
2.1 Polyethylenes .................................................................................................................................. 4
2.1.1 Blends ................................................................................................................................. 4
2.2 Ethylene Styrene ‘Interpolymers’ ................................................................................................... 4
2.3 EPDM ............................................................................................................................................. 5
2.4 Polypropylenes ................................................................................................................................ 6
3 Processing ................................................................................................................................................. 6
3.1 Melt Rheology Suitable for Foaming ............................................................................................. 6
3.2 Foam Expansion ............................................................................................................................. 7
3.2.1 Control of Cell Size and Cell Stability ............................................................................... 7
3.2.2 Control of Density .............................................................................................................. 8
3.3 Post-Extrusion Shrinkage ............................................................................................................... 9
3.4 Rotomoulding ............................................................................................................................... 10
3.5 Microcellular Foams ..................................................................................................................... 10
3.6 Oriented PP Foams – Strandfoam ..................................................................................................11
4 Mechanical Properties ........................................................................................................................... 12
4.1 Initial Response in Compression .................................................................................................. 12
4.2 Bulk Modulus ............................................................................................................................... 13
4.3 Compressive Collapse .................................................................................................................. 13
4.4 High Strain Compressive Response ............................................................................................. 13
4.5 Heat Transfer from Gas to Polymer During High Strain Compression ....................................... 14
4.6 Creep Response and Air Loss from Cells ..................................................................................... 15
4.7 Recovery After Creep ................................................................................................................... 17
4.8 Fatigue ........................................................................................................................................... 18
4.9 Cushion Curves for Impact Response .......................................................................................... 18
4.10 Impact Response in Shear or Shear Plus Compression ................................................................ 18
4.11 Recovery After Impact .................................................................................................................. 19
4.12 Multiple Impacts ........................................................................................................................... 19
5 Thermal Properties ................................................................................................................................ 19
5.1 Dynamic Mechanical Thermal Analysis (DMTA) ....................................................................... 19
5.2 Thermal Expansion ....................................................................................................................... 20

1
 Polyolefin Foams

5.3 Thermal Conductivity ................................................................................................................... 20

6 Applications ............................................................................................................................................ 21
6.1 Packaging Against Impact Damage .............................................................................................. 21
6.2 EVA in Running Shoe Midsoles ................................................................................................... 21
6.3 Body Armour ................................................................................................................................ 22
6.4 Helmets ......................................................................................................................................... 23
6.5 Soccer Shin Protectors .................................................................................................................. 23
6.6 Automotive ................................................................................................................................... 23
7 Market Growth ...................................................................................................................................... 24
Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................................................ 24
Additional References ................................................................................................................................... 24
Acronyms and Abbreviations ....................................................................................................................... 26
Abstracts from the Polymer Library Database .......................................................................................... 27
Subject Index ................................................................................................................................................119
Company Index............................................................................................................................................ 135

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2
 Polyolefin Foams

1 Introduction solid foam. He emphasised that a range of new foams

could be made using random or graft PE copolymers.
Extruded foams could be made with fine cells in sheet
Olefins or ‘alkenes’ are defined as unsaturated aliphatic
and tube form, and as could insulation on wire. He
hydrocarbons. Ethylene and propylene are the main
showed the effects of gel content on the foam density.
monomers for polyolefin foams, but dienes such as
Part II describes the shape of the compressive stress
polyisoprene should also be included. The copolymers
strain graph, with the initial elastic region, plateau
of ethylene and propylene (PP) will be included, but
region, and an upturn at high strains. To explain the
not polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which is usually treated
graph, he used Skochdopole’s (a.5) model (Figure 2)
as a separate polymer class. The majority of these foams
of the cell air and the polymer structure acting in
have densities <100 kg m-3, and their microstructure
parallel. He presented graphs showing how the foam
consists of closed, polygonal cells with thin faces
flexural modulus depends on a power of the foam
(Figure 1a). The review will not consider structural
density. Both Figure 2 and the power law variation
foam injection mouldings of PP, which have solid skins
were taken up by Gibson and Ashby 20 years later.
and cores of density in the range 400 to 700 kg m-3,
Part III emphasises the orientation of the cell faces,
and have distinct production methods and properties
and notes that faces shrivel on a hot stage microscope.
(456). The microstructure of these foams consists of
isolated gas bubbles, often elongated by the flow of
thermoplastic. However, elastomeric and microcellular
foams of relative density in the range 0.3 to 0.5, which
also have isolated spherical bubbles (Figure 1b), will
be included. The relative density of a foam is defined
as the foam density divided by the polymer density. It
is the inverse of the ‘expansion ratio’.

Benning’s three papers in the late 1960s (a.2-a.4)

reviewed the development of closed-cell polyolefin
foams, and their mechanical properties. Some of his
predictions on materials development turned out to be
Figure 2
true. In Part I he explains that non-crosslinked
polyethylene (PE) foams have inferior creep properties Model (redrawn from a.5) of the cell air and the
to crosslinked foams; this appeared to be the tensile polymer structure acting in parallel in a compressed
creep of the melt, rather than compressive creep of the closed-cell foam

(a) (b)

Figure 1
Foam microstructures: (a) SEM of closed, polygonal cells in LDPE foam of density 18 kg m-3 after 60 hours in
vacuum (a.1); (b) optical micrograph of isolated spherical bubbles in Astrene foam of density 790 kg m-3, width
of photo 3.5 mm

3
 Polyolefin Foams
Much of the research in the last decade confirms and
extends this research. The papers provide detailed
technology or science, rather than reviewing the bigger
picture. This review will concentrate on 12 main areas,
allowing space for detailed discussion. It emphasises
mechanical and physical properties and modelling, areas
which have not been recently reviewed. Blowing agent
chemistry and processes are reviewed in (303, a.6).
The review first considers processing, which highlights
the polymer properties necessary for successful foam
production. The polymer section then explains the
molecular structures that produce these properties,
before considering novel polymers used for foams. The
properties sections emphasise mechanical and thermal
properties, while the applications section shows how
these properties are used.
2 Polymers
2.1 Polyethylenes
The traditional division was into HDPE and LDPE
polyethylenes, made by low and high pressure
processes, respectively. Low density polyethylene,
made by the high pressure ICI method, has a wide
molecular weight distribution and contains long chain
branches; the latter give the melt a high elasticity, hence
a high tensile strength. Linear low density polyethylene
can be produced by using Ziegler Natta catalyst systems
at low pressures; it has a narrower molecular weight
distribution than LDPE. The more recent metallocene
single site catalysts (a.7) allow the production of
ethylene copolymers with larger amounts of octene than
with Ziegler catalysts. This allows densities lower than
that of conventional LDPE (910 kg m-3) to be made.
LDPE made using metallocene catalysts has a narrow
molecular weight distribution (MW/MN = 2), so may
have a much lower level of melt elasticity.
Eaves (92) distinguished between polyolefin
plastomers (POP) with density >910 kg m -3 and
polyolefin (POE) elastomers with densities <910 kg
m-3. The density of a polyethylene at 20 °C is a linear
function of the crystallinity, with limiting values of
854 kg m-3 for zero crystallinity and 1000 kg m-3 for
100% crystallinity. The polyolefin elastomer foams
compete with EVA copolymer foams. Metallocene
chemistry also allows the production of copolymers
with a larger comonomer content in the high molecular
weight part than in the low molecular weight part; this
4
can be achieved in a single reactor by combining two
metallocene catalysts. Metallocene polyethylenes
crystallise differently to Ziegler-Natta polyethylene;
due to the more uniform microstructure and narrower
molecular weight distribution, the crystalline lamellae
are uniformly thin, and have slightly lower melting
points than Ziegler PE. The different crystalline
morphology affects the mechanical properties. In the
USA, 3 firms (Dow, ExxonMobil and Nova Chemical)
use the metallocene catalysis route for production of PE.
EVA copolymers are made with a range of VA content,
usually between 15 and 22%, which means that the
overall crystallinity is about 20%, lower than the 40 to
50% for LDPE. The crystalline regions in EVA have a
melting temperature of about 70 °C, compared with
about 110 °C in metallocene LDPE.
2.1.1 Blends
The effect of blending LDPE with EVA or a styrene-
isoprene block copolymer was investigated (178). The
properties (thermal expansion coefficient, Young’s
modulus, thermal conductivity) of the foamed blends
usually lie between the limits of the foamed constituents,
although the relationship between property and blend
content is not always linear. The reasons must lie in the
microstructure; most polymer pairs are immiscible, but
some such as PS/polyphenylene oxide (PPO) are
miscible. For the immiscible blends, the majority phase
tends to be continuous, but the form of the minor phase
can vary. Blends of EVA and metallocene catalysed
ethylene-octene copolymer have different
morphologies depending on the EVA content (5). With
25% EVA, the EVA phase appears as fine spherical
inclusions in the LDPE matrix. The results of these
experiments on polymer films will apply to foams made
from the same polymers.
Blends of LDPE with ethylene styrene interpolymers
(ESI, see Section 3.2) also have a complex
microstructure. The semi-crystalline LDPE is
immiscible with the amorphous ESI, which has a glass
transition temperature (T g ) just above room
temperature. Consequently there are rigid crystalline
regions and rubbery amorphous LDPE, mixed on a
0.1 µm scale, together with regions of leathery ESI on
a 5 to 10 µm scale (71).
2.2 Ethylene Styrene ‘Interpolymers’
Ethylene styrene ‘interpolymers’ (ESI) were produced
by Dow with the use of single site metallocene
 Polyolefin Foams

catalysts. The term ‘interpolymer’ implies a random
copolymer. They differ markedly from the other
polyolefins in that they can be amorphous and glassy
at room temperature. They are relatively expensive;
consequently there has been interest in blending these
materials with cheaper LDPE or EVA. Dow originally
produced these materials, and there was a joint venture
Select to produce ESI foams. The polymer was sold to
the Rogers Corporation, and production subsequently
ceased.
The ESI domains in ESI/LDPE blends are 0.1 to 2.8 µm
in length (71). As the ESI (S series with 70% styrene)
used was amorphous, the use of ESI reduced the overall
crystallinity of the blend. However, with 25% ESI, the
compressive stress at 25% compression of the foam is
unchanged. For ESI, the processing window is wider,
and the cell structure is slightly finer than for the
equivalent LDPE foam.
The styrene content affects the crystallinity of ESI
(131); for >50% styrene the copolymers are amorphous.
As the styrene content is increased from 50 to 70%
styrene the Tg increases from –15 °C to 20 °C. Low
density foams were made (8) from a blend of 50% of
various ESI polymers, 33% of EVA and 17% of
azodicarbonamide blowing agent. Thermal analysis
showed that the blends, with an ESI having
approximately 70% styrene, had a Tg in the range 22
to 30 °C. Dynamic mechanical thermal analysis
(DMTA) traces (see Section 5.1) show that these blends
soften over the temperature range 20 to 40 °C, so have
high damping in this range. The relative densities of
these foams were approximately 0.04; tensile tests show
that at 20 °C they have yield stresses in the range 1.5
to 2.5 MPa. Although these values are high, at a slightly
higher temperature the foam will be much softer.
If up to 40% of ESI is blended with LDPE then foamed,
the foam properties are closer to those of LDPE foams.
Ankrah and co-workers (33) showed that the ESI/LDPE
blends have slightly lower initial compressive yield
strengths than the LDPE alone, allowing for the density
of the foam. The temperature dependence of the yield
stress is similar to that of LDPE foam (Figure 3).
Although the yield stress is higher than EVA foam of
the same density, the compression set values are lower.
The ESI/LDPE foams have improved impact
properties, compared with EVA foams of similar
density. Analysis of creep tests shows that air diffuses
from the cells at a similar rate to EVA foams of a greater
density.
2.3 EPDM
The majority of these systems are crosslinked, so are
thermosets. The term thermoplastic vulcanisates (TPV)
is also used (a.8). Copolymers are made from ethylene,
propylene and a small fraction of unsaturated diene,
so allowing the crosslinking of the foam. For
applications such as mouse mats, the foam density is

Figure 3
Variation of initial compressive yield stress of ESI/LDPE foams with temperature, compared with an EVA and a
LDPE foam, all corrected to a density of 47 kg m-3 (33)

5
 Polyolefin Foams
quite high, and it is loaded with carbon black to prevent
static build up. The optimisation of EPDM processing
is complex (168, 169), since the blowing agent
decomposition and the crosslinking reactions may
influence each other. High-activity zinc oxide is used
to accelerate the crosslinking reaction, necessary for
the production of weatherstrips.
2.4 Polypropylenes
Two technologies exist for making high melt strength PP.
It appears that the majority of such polymers have
undergone post-polymerisation treatments in which
branches are grafted to the main chain. It is also possible
to make branched PP directly in the polymerisation reactor.
The Dow PP ‘Inspire’ (72) is based on the ‘Insite’
polymerisation technology, but no details are given on
either the catalysts or the resulting molecular architecture.
Degradation is a possibility for PE and PP foam, since
these materials have a high surface area and PP in
particular is easily oxidised. The chemical resistance
of polyolefin foams should be good, given the good
resistance of the solid polymers to acids, alkalis, and
solvents. There is far less published on the fire
resistance of polyolefin foams than on polyurethanes.
Nevertheless there are fire retardant grades (426). The
products of combustion are likely not to be toxic.
Inflammable blowing agents are a fire risk when they
diffuse from the foam during storage (233).
3 Processing
Park’s review (303) covers the processes used in 1991,
and the blowing agents then available, mainly
chlorofluorocarbons (CFC). Eaves and Witten (224)
subsequently described the Zotefoams process in which
nitrogen is dissolved into crosslinked polyolefin sheets
in a high pressure autoclave, then expanded into foams
in two stages. Recent research has concentrated on the
refinement of existing processes, and the development
of rotomoulding and microcellular foam processes.
These two processes may not become significant; papers
tend to appear just after a process is commercialised, or
when its development is abandoned.
3.1 Melt Rheology Suitable for Foaming
When low density foams are produced, the polymer
melt must undergo high biaxial extension in order to
6
form the thin cell faces. Its flow properties, or
‘rheology’ must suit the process. Melts of high
molecular weight polymers are highly viscous, and
there is an elastic contribution to their deformation.
The melt must sustain high tensile stresses without cell
face fracture; if it occurs, neighbouring cells will join,
and repeated fracture will lead to very large cells, then
foam collapses. Once the foam has formed, its geometry
must remain stable while the thermoplastic cools and
solidifies, and in subsequent storage. This means that
the diffusion rate of the gas through the cell faces must
be low. As diffusion from foams can be very slow, there
may be changes in the product dimensions for a long
period after initial manufacture.
Crosslinked PE is stable during foaming. Crosslinked
metallocene linear low density PE (LLDPE) (100) was
characterised in terms of melt moduli (C; Equation (4)
of Section 2.2): the foam relative density increased as
the gel fraction increased. The melt extensional
response of the same polymer without crosslinking was
unsuitable for foaming (66). However, the addition of
3% of a lightly crosslinked version of the same polymer
allowed stable foams to be made. Silane crosslinking
of metallocene PE (146) has lower capital cost than
conventional peroxide or radiation crosslinking.
However the process was unfeasible for PE foams until
branched metallocene PE was available. The foams can
have densities down to 16 kg m-3. It is also possible to
make open cell foams based on low crystallinity PE
copolymers that can compete with polyurethane and
PVC open cell foams. The polymer gel content,
measured using solvent extraction, is used to
characterise the degree of crosslinking of polyolefins.
There is a theoretical relationship between these
quantities if the crosslinking is assumed to occur at
random points. For most foam processes the polymer
must flow, yet have a high melt elasticity, so the gel
content should not be too high. Papers that cover this
aspect are available for ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA)
copolymers (16) (285) (304) (308), LDPE/EVA blends
(285) (308) and low density PE (LDPE) (308). As the
gel content increases, so does the elastic modulus of
the melt, so by the theory in Section 2.2, the density of
the foam will also increase. An increased gel content
will increase the tensile strength of the molten polymer,
so making the foaming process more stable.
One way to characterise thermoplastic melts is by using
a ‘Rheotens’ machine (31) which subjects an extruded
strand of melt to tensile elongation at a fixed velocity
while measuring the tensile force. The typical response
(melt tensile force versus draw velocity) for branched
PP extends to twice as high a draw velocity, with six
times the force, than that for linear PP. Alternatively a
 Polyolefin Foams
Rheometrics extensional viscometer gives graphs of
extensional viscosity growth function versus time for
the tensile extension of a polymer melt rod (230) (401).
The graphs for branched PP show an upturn at high times
while those for conventional linear PP show a downturn.
These differences are reflected in the foam structures
produced: a low density foam with polyhedral cells for
the high melt strength (HMS) PP, compared with a high
density foam with near spherical bubbles for the
conventional PP. The effect of butane level and melt
temperature on the foam density (which can be as low
as 15 kg m-3) was explored (31). The homopolymer foam
is rather stiff and brittle, but blends made with a PP block
copolymer have reduced modulus and increased
toughness; however there is a maximum copolymer
content for the production of low density foam.
3.2 Foam Expansion
One challenge has been to use blowing agents that do
not harm the environment, and allow the production
of closed-cell, small cell size foam. CFC used in the
past, such as CFC11 (CCl3F), had several advantages:
the heat of fusion of the liquids aided the temperature
control of the foams, the low diffusivity of the gases
meant that stable cell structures were easy to achieve
and the gases are non-flammable. In the last decade
the technology of using pentane and butane has been
developed. These have the disadvantages of being gases
at room temperature, being flammable, and having a
high diffusivity through molten polyolefins.
The efficiency of azodicarbonamide and sodium
bicarbonate blowing agents for PE foams was
considered (253). These systems, which generate CO2
gas, are more suitable for compression moulding of
foams. Blends of the blowing agents have a reduced
exotherm, so are more suitable for polymer systems
that are temperature sensitive, such as ethylene
copolymers.
When a high melt strength PP was foamed using butane
(26), the maximum expansion ratio was a function of the
extrudate temperature. It increased with increasing
temperature while the expansion was limited by
crystallisation, then decreased at higher temperatures due
to the loss of butane from the extrudate. Direct
observations of the extrudate showed how die swell was
followed by foaming. Several strategies were used to
achieve ultra-low density PP foams (68); branched PP
prevents cell coalescence by preventing face fracture,
lowering the melt temperature reduced the gas loss during
expansion, and optimisation of the die design avoided
too rapid crystallisation. Hydrocerol, a mixture of sodium
bicarbonate and citric acid which decomposes to liberate
CO2 and a mixture of other products, can be used as a
blowing agent (275). The CO2 acted as a blowing agent
in combination with iso-butane. Optimisation of the
extruder screw speed and the hydrocerol concentration
controlled the nucleation density, hence the foam density
and mean cell size. Branched PP had a slightly larger cell
size than linear PP when CO2 was used as the foaming
agent, but there were a significant number of open cells
in the foamed linear PP (273).
3.2.1 Control of Cell Size and Cell Stability
Cell nucleation is achieved by the use of nucleating
agents. Calcium carbonate particles of diameter 3 to
17 µm were used (2) to nucleate LDPE foams and
achieve foam densities in the range of 500 to 800 kg m-3.
Talc is a more effective nucleating agent for PP foams
than calcium carbonate (2), probably due to its platelet
geometry; the concentration of nuclei appeared to
increase almost exponentially with the concentration
of talc, with the smallest particle size 0.8 µm talc being
most effective. Low density foams of high density PE
(HDPE) can be extruded with fine cells, using CO2 as
a blowing agent (204). The melt temperature was
reduced to the lowest possible value of 121 °C at the
die, to avoid cell coalescence and achieve high
expansion ratios. In related research (142), a blend of
LDPE and LLDPE, blown with CO2 was extruded at
220 °C. It was necessary to cool the extrudate surface
to temperatures as low as 0 °C to stabilise the foam.
Gendron and Vachon (36), reviewing Park’s research
(274) on PP foam, defined a foamability factor F from
the tan δ of the PE melt (at 190 °C and 1 Hz), the
average cell diameter D and the foam density ρ as:
F = ρ∆(tan δ)0.75 ≤ 1.8 (1)
Tan δ is defined as the ratio E´/E´´ of the in-phase to
the out-of-phase components of the complex Young’s
modulus of the melt; a sinusoidally varying shear strain
is applied to the melt, and the sinusoidally varying shear
stress leads in phase by the angle δ radians. The
condition in Equation (1) is for production of closed
cell foam. The optimum processing window has limits
on both melt viscosity and melt elasticity (Figure 4).
The figure shows how the crosslinking of a polymer,
of initially moderate molecular weight, to just below
the gel point, produces the optimum structure.
The LDPE blown film process is successful with a
thermoplastic, since the cooling of the melt bubble is
extremely fast (a few seconds), so there is little time
7
 Polyolefin Foams

Figure 4
Influence of melt viscosity and tan δ, measured at a frequency of 10 Hz, on the stability of a LDPE foam
(redrawn from (36)). For linear polymers of different molecular weights, crosslinking moves the properties in the
direction of the large arrow

for the viscous extensional flow of the melt. However,

due to the low thermal diffusivity of foams, it takes in
the order of 20 minutes for the PE in a foam to cool
from the melt to the solid state. During this time, the
melt bubbles must remain stable. The typical gel
content in the 30 to 70% range causes the low-shear-
rate viscosity to be extremely high. However, if the
gelation were taken further, the tensile stresses in the
expanded foam would be too high (see below for the
melt expansion theory).

If tan δ is high, so are the tensile stresses when the

foam face polymer is subjected to biaxial extension.
The foam faces may fracture if the tensile stress exceeds
a critical level. The consequence of such fractures is
the growth of abnormally large cells, with more than
the usual 14 or 15 faces (Figure 5).
Figure 5
Abnormally large cells, with >20 faces, formed by
cell face collapse in EVA foam of density 150 kg m-3,
with a background of normal cells (a.9)

3.2.2 Control of Density

faces, all with the same edge length. They found the
In general the foam density reduces as the amount of biaxial tensile stress σf in the molten cell faces to be:
blowing agent is increased, with a lower limit set by
foam stability. It is possible to model the factors which 3 pr
σf = (2)
affect the final density; Mahapatro and co-workers 2R
(206) used a regular Kelvin foam model to analyse the
expansion of PE foams. The foam has uniform sized where R is the foam relative density, and pr the relative
cells, each with eight hexagonal faces and four square pressure in the cells. The concentration of blowing agent

8
 Polyolefin Foams
determines the molar concentration of gas. The mean
biaxial extension ratio λf in the faces is given by:
1.703
λf = (3)
3 R
For the biaxial extension of partly crosslinked PE melt,
the tensile stress is given by:
(
σ f = C λ2f − λ−f4 ) (4)
where C is a melt modulus. The solution, for a particular
formulation and process conditions, lies at the intersection
of two graphs of face stress versus foam density, one
representing Equations (3) and (4) and the other Equation
(2) and a relationship between the gas pressure and
volume. The rubber-like stresses in lightly crosslinked
LDPE foams are of the order of 100 kPa, the biaxial draw
ratio is of the order of 4, and the foam density is only
slightly reduced from the free-expansion value.
3.3 Post-Extrusion Shrinkage
The Zotefoams process (224), using crosslinked PE and
nitrogen as the expanding gas, provides the best control
of cell diameter. The block is cut into sheets when cold,
giving full control of the sheet thickness. If the foam is
not crosslinked, the post-extrusion shrinkage is worse,
due to the nature of the blowing agents used. The
diffusion rate of CFC (used in the past) out of PE foams
was much lower than the diffusion rate of air into the
foam, so the product dimensions were stable. However,
pentane or iso-butane escapes faster from the foam than
air enters, so there is a risk of collapse of the foam
dimensions. Yang and co-workers (a.10) modelled the
diffusion of gas from LDPE foam of density 22 kg m-3,
with diffusivities of 1.73 x 10-6 m2 h-1 and 0.26 x
10-6 m2 h-1 for air and isobutane, respectively. For LDPE
alone there was a 40% shrinkage of thickness soon after
extrusion and a gradual thickness increase that was
incomplete after one year. However, the addition of
glycerol monostearate lead to a sheet with a stable
thickness after five days of storage. If the LDPE was
blended with an unspecified ethylene-styrene
interpolymer (ESI), this roughly halved the thickness
changes, but did not alter their time scale. The effect of
the ESI was attributed to the increase in polymer Young’s
modulus. In a further paper (a.11) they explored the
effects of foam density, cell size, and polymer modulus
on the rate of diffusion induced dimensional changes
for LDPE foams blown with isobutene.
Ageing modifiers (stearamides, mono-glycerides) are
used (147) for extruded LDPE foam, blown with
isobutene. Shrinkage of the length of extrudate occurred
over a period of about a month. Some of these modifiers
have anti-static properties, important when a flammable
gas is used as the blowing agent. A distilled mono-
glyceride was the most effective at stabilising the
dimensions. Bouma and co-workers (255) considered
a range of alkane blowing agents. Nauta (a.6) provides
details of the science. Table 1 gives the permeabilities
of LDPE films measured in units of Barrer =
10-10 cm3(STP)·cm/(cm2·s·cm Hg). Films were used
rather than foam, since it is impossible to accurately
know the geometry of the polymer in the latter.
However the orientation of the polymer crystals in the
film may differ from those in foam faces.
The permeability of n-butane is five times greater than
that of air through LDPE film without the additive, but
only one-third of the value when the stearyl stearamide
is added. A film of this occurs on the surface of the
LDPE film. It is assumed, that in LDPE foams, the
stearyl stearamide has had time to migrate to the cell
faces surfaces, where it acts as a barrier to butene. Heat
treatment of the LDPE film (1 hour at 83 °C) reduces
the diffusivity of the PE to butene, but not to air. It
hardly changes the solubility of butene in the PE.
Volume changes, due to the diffusion of the gases from
a 5 mm thick foam sheet of density 28 kg m-3, with
cell diameter 0.45 mm and face thickness 4 µm, was
measured: results are shown in Figure 6 (a.6).
Modelling of the process could reproduce the
experimental data. The volume contraction due to the
loss of butene occurs in less than 1 hour, while the
volume expansion due to air ingress is not complete
after 3 days, for this thin slice of foam. When PE is
extruded as 75 mm or thicker planks, the processes
become slower. Assuming that Fick’s law applies to
the diffusion, the time, for a certain % gas loss,
Table 1 Permeabilities and diffusion
coefficients for LDPE films
Permeability Diffusion
(Barrer) coefficient at
30 °C, heat
treated
(10-6 mm2 s-1)
Permeating LDPE LDPE + LDPE LDPE +
gas 2% SS 2% SS
Air 1.0 0.6 72 54
n-butane 5.3 0.2 4.8 1.9
SS: stearyl stearamide
9
 Polyolefin Foams

Figure 6
Volume changes due to diffusion of butene from, and air into, a 5 mm thick foam sheet of density 28 kg m-3 , with
and without stearyl stearamide additive (redrawn from a.6)

increases with the square of the thickness of the foam
sheet.
When the crystallinity of polyethylenes is increased,
the gas permeability through the film decreases. The
factors involved are the tortuosity of the gas path
through the amorphous phase, and the effect of the
crystals in restricting the mobility of the amorphous
polymer chains (chain immobilisation factor). The
logarithm of the permeability of nitrogen, argon and
carbon dioxide decreased almost linearly with increased
crystallinity of PE, with the ratio of the gas values
remaining almost constant for a particular PE.
near the inner surface. Consequently the polymer needs
to be stabilised. Rotomoulded PE parts have a low
sound transfer, high bending stiffness and good thermal
insulation (87). If 2 to 3 mm diameter pellets were used
in place of the usual 0.2 to 0.4 mm powder for the
process, there were severe thickness variations in the
product. Compared with fully-dense rotomoulded parts,
the use of foam improved the impact strength, but
reduced the tensile strength, and increased the cycle
time.
3.5 Microcellular Foams

The microcellular foaming process was developed by

3.4 Rotomoulding
The rheology (or molecular weight distribution; MWD)
of PE needed for rotomoulding is different than that
for foam extrusion, and the final structure is closer to
that of ‘structural foam’ injection moulding, with
isolated bubbles. The rotomoulding of a 32 mm
diameter cylinder from LLDPE was investigated (198).
EVA was added so that the low viscosity melt would
form a solid skin, and sodium bicarbonate was used as
a blowing agent. The foam expansion was only by a
factor of eight, and the mould was nearly filled with
the foamed polymer. Significant cell coarsening
occurred in the 20 minutes during which the polymer
was heating. A density variation was typically found
(160) through 10 mm thick moulded parts, which
affects the mechanical properties. The oxidative
degradation during the 40 minute cycle is most severe
Suh (a.12), who defined microcellular foams as having
a cell diameter <30 µm. The original aims were reduce
the density of bulk polymers without sacrificing the
toughness. If the bubble size were smaller than the size
of existing flaws in the polymer, the toughness would
not be compromised. A reduction in density allowed
either a reduction in the mass of a product, or an
increase in thickness, hence bending stiffness, at a
constant mass.
This was originally a very slow batch process, because
of the need to dissolve gaseous CO2 in solid glassy
polymers such as polycarbonate and polystyrene. The
low diffusivity meant that the time taken was many
hours. The foam was formed when there was a phase
change from the glassy to the melt state. In recent
developments of the process, supercritical CO2 (for
temperatures >31 °C, and pressures >7.2 MPa) is

10
 Polyolefin Foams
introduced into molten polymers in the screw of an
extruder, consequently there is no longer a polymer
phase change on foaming. Because of the shear mixing
of the extruder, the diffusion distance in the polymer/CO2
mixture can be of the order of 0.1 mm. Consequently
the dissolution time can be reduced to the order of
seconds. In the foaming stage, pressure release on
passing through a die must be rapid. Suh compares the
effect of two nozzles, for the same flow rate of 2 x
10-7 m3 s-1. The pressure drop through the die causes
the foaming process, in which some bubbles nucleate
before others (Table 2). If the bubble nucleation time
is much smaller than the time for gas to diffuse to a
growing bubble, further bubbles will nucleate rather
than existing bubbles grow. If there is gas diffusion to
a bubble, this depletes the surrounding melt of gas and
prevents nucleating in this region. The high pressure
release rate is necessary for fine bubbles. There is
however an influence of the polymer. Suh shows that
PE can be saturated with CO2 at 54 °C at a pressure of
3.4 MPa. When such a PE was foamed in the melt at
150 °C, the cell diameter could be as low as 0.1 µm,
whereas if the semicrystalline PE was foamed at 20 °C
the cell diameter was 1.5 µm.
Table 2 Die dimensions and residence time for
microcellular foam extrusion
Radius, Length, Residence Pressure drop
mm mm time, s rate, GPa s-1
0.60 87 0.51 0.076
0.23 13 0.011 3.5
The small cell size only has limited effects on
properties, but can have advantages for further
processing. If foamed sheet is to be thermoformed, it
must have a cell diameter much less than the sheet
thickness to avoid failure.
The Young’s modulus and compressive strength are
hardly affected by the cell size. Properties such as
thermal conductivity are functions of cell size, due to
the influence on radiation heat transfer. These foams
have been commercialised by Trexel, both for the
extrusion of sheet, and for injection moulding (63). PP
foam sheet, of density in the range 0.57 to 0.75 g/cm3
and cell size <0.1 mm, allowed thermoforming without
excessive cell growth. The product offers 20 to 25%
material savings for the same bending stiffness.
Extruded profiles (a.8) of ethylene-propylene-diene
monomer (EPDM) rubber are used for automotive
weather seals.
Some microcellular mouldings (56) are similar to
‘structural foam’ mouldings, in having a solid skin
about 1 mm thick, and a foamed core. However, the
spherical cells in structural foam tend to be 0.2 mm to
1 mm in diameter. The structural foam injection
moulding process has the great advantage of injecting
a gas/polymer melt mixture of much lower viscosity
than a polymer melt alone. The consequent ten-fold
reduction in the injection pressures, lead to lower cost
moulds (cast aluminium in place of hardened steel) and
a lower cost process. Structural foam mouldings have
been highly successful for large moulding (TV set
cabinets, bed frames, etc.), in contrast with the limited
commercialisation of microcellular foams.
The mechanics of the mouldings can be treated by
sandwich beam theory (13), which explains the higher
bending stiffness to mass ratio, compared with
conventional injection mouldings. These foams allow
tests of cell nucleation theories, especially the role of
foam shear (6). An LDPE melt with nano-scale CaCO3
as a nucleating agent, was extruded through a slit die.
A high screw rotation speed, which made the shear
energy of the melt greater than the surface free energy
of a bubble, increased the cell density markedly.
Calcium carbonate nucleating agents were also used
with ethylene-octene copolymers (128). The products
had relative densities in the range 0.4 to 0.7, and the
relative modulus and tensile strength were proportional
to the relative density.
3.6 Oriented PP Foams – Strandfoam
Dow Strandfoam is a PP foam with oriented elongated
cells, as in wood, aluminium or paper honeycomb. A
high melt strength PP is extruded using a multiple
orifice die, having 722 holes of diameter 1 mm (116).
The blowing agent must be highly soluble in the melt,
yet have a low permeability at room temperature. A
60/40 mixture of a hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC)
(having a much lower permeability in PP than air) and
ethylene chloride (much higher permeability) was
optimal in achieving dimensional stability of the
extruded plank. To obtain foams with >80% closed
cells, low foam densities and small cell sizes (typically
20 kg m-3 density and 0.9 mm cell diameter) were
required. After extrusion the bundle of extrudates are
fused together, by low-friction plates which press on
the extrudate sides, consolidating them into an
hexagonal array. The anisotropic material produced
competes with paper or metal honeycomb. Slices, cut
across the extrudate, have the strong direction normal
to the slice surface, which is optimal for the cores of
sandwich structures. The latter rely on high modulus
11
 Polyolefin Foams
skins to provide the bending stiffness; the role of the
core is to keep the skins at constant separation, which
means that they must have a high compressive strength
normal to the sheet, and a high shear modulus to prevent
easy shear of the sandwich structure.
Strandfoam cannot be produced with a varying cell axis
direction. This means that it is unsuitable for curved
products such as helmet liners, for which the high yield
stress direction must vary in the product. In automobiles
it is used for occupant protection; complex shapes can
be sawn from block, cut by abrasive wires, or
thermoformed.
4 Mechanical Properties
Foam mechanical properties are often explained using
Gibson and Ashby’s (a.13) approach. Their over-
simplified microstructural models based on two-
dimensional honeycomb structures, are almost
analogies; the model geometry bears little relation to
that of polyolefin foams. They give power law
relationships between properties such as the Young’s
modulus of the foam, EF, the relative density of the
foam, R, and the corresponding polymer property. They
characterise polyethylene foam as elastomeric, stating
that the compressive response has three regions: initial
elastic, a plateau region due to elastic buckling, and a
densification region at high strains. However PE (or
PP) foam is neither elastomeric, nor does it have a
plateau region in compression. The initial compressive
response will be considered first. As all polyolefin
foams are viscoelastic (see Section 4.6 on creep), as
are the polymers from which they are made, and the
response is non-linear with strain, the concept of a
Young’s modulus is an approximation. Although it is
convenient to use such a concept, it must be treated as
both time and strain dependent.
4.1 Initial Response in Compression
For closed cell foams Gibson and Ashby predict three
contributions to the Young’s modulus of the foam:
1− 2ν
EF = C1 RE2 EP + C2 RF EP + p0 (5)
1− R
which come from the bending of cell edges, the
stretching of cell faces and the compression of the cell
gas. p0 is the atmospheric pressure, ν is Poisson’s ratio,
R is the relative density, RE and RF are the volume
12
fractions of polymer in the edges and faces,
respectively, while EP is the Young’s modulus of the
polymer. The constants C1 and C2 in the equation are found
by fitting the equation to experimental data (presented as
log – log graphs, as done by Benning (a.2-a.4)). C1 turns
out to be approximately 1.0 for open cell foams; this
value is then repeatedly used in equations, suggesting
to some readers that it is a prediction of the Gibson-
Ashby model. This approach suggests that polyolefin
foams are linear elastic materials, with Young’s moduli
that are independent of time and temperature. Clutton
and Rice (383) used Equation (5) to fit the data for the
Young’s modulus of LDPE and EVA foams and
deduced that there is a 13% fraction of the polymer in
the cell faces! This false deduction is at variance with
observations of the microstructure.
Micromechanics theories for closed cell foams are less
well advanced for than those for open cell foams. The
elastic moduli of the closed-cell Kelvin foam were
obtained by Finite Element Analysis (FEA) by Kraynik
and co-workers (a.14), and the high strain compressive
response predicted by Mills and Zhu (a.15). The
Young’s moduli predicted by the Kraynik model, which
assumes the cell faces remain flat, lie above the
experimental data (Figure 7), while those predicted
by the Mills and Zhu model, which assumes that in-
plane compressive stresses will buckle faces, lie
beneath the data. The experimental data is closer to
the Mills and Zhu model at low densities, but closer to
the Kraynik theory at high foam densities.
Polyolefin foams are easier to model than polyurethane
(PU) foams, since the polymer mechanical properties
does not change with foam density. An increase in water
content decreases the density of PU foams, but
increases the hard block content of the PU, hence
increasing its Young’s modulus. However, the
microstructure of semi-crystalline PE and PP in foams
is not spherulitic, as in bulk mouldings. Rodriguez-
Perez and co-workers (20) showed that the cell faces
in PE foams contain oriented crystals. Consequently,
their properties are anisotropic. Mechanical data for
PE or PP injection mouldings should not be used for
modelling foam properties. Ideally the mechanical
properties of the PE/PP in the cell faces should be
measured. However, as such data is not available, it is
possible to use data for blown PE film, since this is
also biaxially stretched, and the ‘texture’ of the
crystalline orientation is known to be similar to that in
foam faces.
Simone and Gibson (a.16) predicted the effect of
wrinkled cell faces (in aluminium closed cell foams),
on the Young’s modulus, by FEA of a modified Kelvin
 Polyolefin Foams
Figure 7
Young’s modulus for LDPE foams versus relative density, compared with predictions for the Kelvin foam (a.15)
foam. This showed that the Young’s modulus could be
reduced by a factor of 10 from the flat face version.
4.2 Bulk Modulus
The faces in low density LDPE foams are partly
buckled or wrinkled, as a result of processing (a.17).
This affects both the bulk modulus and the Young’s
modulus. The foam bulk modulus KF is predicted, using
the Kelvin closed cell foam model, to be:
2E R
KF = + pa (6)
9( 1 − ν )
where the 2nd term on the right-hand side is the
contribution from the cell air. However the
experimental values are a factor of four lower, due to
the cell face wrinkling.
4.3 Compressive Collapse
Gibson and Ashby (a.13) propose separate models for
elastic collapse by cell edge buckling and plastic
collapse by stretching of cell faces. The latter model
gave a scaling relationship between the (initial) collapse
stress σ*pl and the relative densities:
σ *pl = C5YRe1.5 + C6 YR f (7)
where C5 and C6 are empirical constants, Y is the
polymer tensile yield stress, and Re, Rf are the volume
fractions of cell edges and faces. A fit of Equation (7)
to scattered data, for PS, PVC and rigid PU foam yield
stresses versus relative density, lead to the tentative
conclusion that C5 = 0.3 and C6 = 0, implying that the
cell faces have no effect on the collapse stress.
In reality, the microstructure of LDPE foams remains very
similar as the density increases from 18 to 100 kg m-3,
the main changes being in the cell face thickness. The
fraction of polymer in the cell faces is greater than 70%,
and the initial compressive yield stress of LDPE varies
approximately with the 1.5th power of the density
(a.15). This does not mean that the model behind
Equation (7) is appropriate.
4.4 High Strain Compressive Response
When a closed cell foam is uniaxially compressed, it
can be assumed that the compressive stress is a sum of
the stresses taken by the polymer structure and that
taken by the cell gas. For a foam with zero lateral
expansion when uniaxially compressed, and isothermal
gas compression, the latter contribution σG is given by
(295):
pa ε
σG = (8)
1− ε − R
13
 Polyolefin Foams
where pa is atmospheric pressure (the gas pressure in
the undeformed foam cells, if the foam has been stored
at atmospheric pressure for some time), ε is the applied
compressive strain, and R the foam relative density.
The variable ε/(1-ε-R) will be referred to as the gas
volumetric strain. If the polymer contribution σ0 is a
constant value, plus a contribution proportional to the
gas volumetric strain, the total stress is:
p0 ε
σ = σ0 + (9)
1− ε − R
p0 is now the ‘effective gas pressure’ in the cells. σ0
can be evaluated by fitting a graph of stress against the
gas volumetric strain, and extrapolating to zero strain
(295). Clutton and Rice (383) did this and found that
the value of p0 often did not equal 101.3 kPa (standard
atmospheric pressure). The loading response has two
regions: the initial ‘elastic’ one, and a post-yield region
where the hardening is dominated by the cell gas
compression. There is no division of the post-yield
region into a plateau and a densification region. The
post-yield data for Instron loading of expanded
polystyrene (EPP) foam of density 43 kg m -3 in
Figure 8 (254) can be fitted by σ0 = 200 kPa, p0 =
159 kPa. As the unloading response is separate from
the loading response, these foams cannot be considered
as ‘elastomeric’.
Mills and Zhu (a.15) used a Kelvin foam model, in
which face tensions restrain the bending of cell edges
Figure 8
Compressive stress versus gas volumetric strain curve, for EPP foam of density 43 kg m-3 (254). The loading
curve is fitted with Equation (9)
14
that are oblique to the compressive stress axis. The cell
faces are assumed to wrinkle if they are subjected to
compressive in-plane stresses, hence they cannot
support such stresses. The model predicts the
compressive collapse stress of a LDPE foam of relative
density of 0.025 to be about 30 kPa; this value declines
slightly at compressive strains >30%. However, the
majority of the stress at 50% strain is taken by the
compressed cell air. Consequently the predicted
compressive stress-strain graph is close to the
experimental one measured under impact conditions.
Predictions for stiffer foams, such as polystyrene, are
less accurate. As the model relies on at least 40% of
the polymer being in the cell edges, its results are
extrapolated to foams with about 10% of the polymer
in the cell edges. The model predicts that cell faces
will yield in tension when the foam compressive strain
is >10%. Techniques such as X-ray computerised
tomography are needed to explore the wrinkling and
stretching of cell faces in the interior of the foam, to
confirm the deformation mechanisms in the model.
4.5 Heat Transfer from Gas to Polymer During
High Strain Compression
Mills and Gilchrist (270) analysed the heat transfer that
occurs when closed cell foams are subjected to impact,
to predict the effect on the uniaxial compression stress-
strain curve. Transient heat conduction from the hot
compressed gas to the cell walls occurs on the 10 ms
 Polyolefin Foams
timescale of an impact. If the heat transfer is only by
conduction in the gas, the predicted air temperature rise
and the effect of cell size are too great, hence there must
be heat transfer by gas flow in the deformed cells. For
compression tests on a one minute timescale, isothermal
conditions prevail for all cell sizes. As gas heating
becomes significant, the strain hardening rate increases.
The hysteresis (difference between the loading and
unloading stress-strain curves) due to heat transfer is
predicted to be a maximum for cells of a certain diameter.
Poisson’s ratio, measured at high compressive strains,
was found to be near-zero for polystyrene and
polypropylene bead foams, but about 0.2 for LDPE foam.
The larger the Poisson’s ratio, the less is the gas
compression contribution to strain hardening. Figure 9
shows, when a low density LDPE foam (with zero initial
yield stress) of cell diameter 1.0 mm is impact
compressed to 81% strain, the predicted air temperature
rises by a maximum of 93 °C but the polymer rises by a
maximum of 8 °C. If these foams are subjected to an
extreme impact, such as when they bottom out between
a hemispherical striker and a flat support table, the
temperature rise will be higher, resulting in PE melting
and cell fracture – a hole occurs in the protective product
surrounded by PE that has melted.
4.6 Creep Response and Air Loss from Cells
When products are stored in warehouses for long
periods, the foam packaging must not creep by more
than about 10%, or the impact protection will
Figure 9
Predicted temperature rises in the air and polymer, compared with the compressive stress level, when a LDPE
foam with cell diameter 1.0 mm is impact compressed to 81% strain (270)
deteriorate. The creep compliance J(t) is defined as the
creep strain e(t) divided by the constant applied stress.
For EVA and LDPE foams, the creep compliance
function, for low stresses, could be described by:
J (t ) = J 0 t n (10)
where J0 and n are constants. As a similar relationship
applied for the creep of the solid polymer, the foam
creep is controlled by the polymer viscoelasticity for
this region.
At strains >10%, when the polymer structure has begun
to collapse, gas loss, by diffusion through the cell faces
of closed cell foams, may contribute to the creep. The
effect of this on the creep of LDPE and EVA foams
was determined (266). The foam diffusivity for air was
predicted from the polymer permeability P and the
foam density ρ using:
6 P pa
DF = (11)
φρ
where pa is atmospheric pressure and φ the fraction of
polymer in the cell faces. Consequently, the lower the
foam density, the higher is its diffusivity. As the initial
yield stress of the foam falls with approximately the
1.5th power of density, low density foams largely
depend on their cell air for their compressive resistance.
The combination, of this and the high foam diffusivity
for air, means that they are poor at resisting creep when
15
 Polyolefin Foams

stored for long periods under load. Low density foams block half thickness = 8 mm,
made from low crystallinity polymers such as EVA cell pressure (p0) = 100 kPa,
(which have high permeabilities), will have particularly initial yield stress = 120 kPa,
high permeabilities. These foams will have high creep yield strain = 0.1,
rates if the stresses cause creep strains >10%. The foam
1 s compliance = 600 x 10-9 Pa-1,
was assumed to have a yield stress σy, with a time
dependence given by: compliance slope (n) = 0.06,
relative density = 0.26,
fraction of polymer in cell faces (φ) = 1.0,
εY t− n
σY = (12) Poisson’s ratio = 0.07, and
J0 F
foam diffusivity = 100 p m2s-1.

The creep stress was assumed to be shared between
the polymer structure yield stress and the cell gas
pressure. A finite difference model was used to model
the gas loss rate, and thereby predict the creep curves.
In this model the gas diffusion direction was assumed
to be perpendicular to the line of action of the
compressive stress, as the strain is uniform through the
thickness, but the gas pressure varies from the side to
the centre of the foam block. In a later variant of the
model, the diffusion direction was taken to be parallel
to the compressive stress axis. Figure 10 compares
experimental creep curves with those predicted for an
EVA foam of density 270 kg m-3 used in running shoes
(90), using the parameters:
The predicted creep curves, and the slope increase after
105 s are matched. However, the separation of the
predicted curves, for 50 kPa increments of creep stress,
is too large for the range 100 to 200 kPa, when the
creep strains are in the range 10% to 40%. The polymer
structure contribution to the creep stress probably is
not constant for 0.7 > ε > 0.1, as assumed in the model.
The predicted creep rate slows when the strain exceeds
70%, not 65% as in the experiments. Hence the effect
of cell face touching at high strains, may be slightly
different from that assumed. Although there is
significant gas loss when high compressive stresses are
applied continuously for several hours, these conditions
do apply to running, where the stress peaks last

Figure 10
Creep curves for EVA foam of density 275 kg m-3, and the modelling predictions (parameters in text) at the
compressive stress levels in kPa shown (254)

16
 Polyolefin Foams

0.1 second. Consequently gas loss is not a cause of with a density of 152 kg m-3. This and the measured
fatigue deterioration of EVA foam in running shoes. 480 x 10-12 m2 s-1 value for PE foam of density 20 kg
m-3 (Section 2.3) shows that the estimated values in
The isochronous stress-strain curves for the creep of Table 3 are of the correct order of magnitude.
PP bead foams (254) were analysed to determine the
effective cell gas pressure p0 and initial yield stress σ0
as a function of time under load (Figure 11). p0 falls 4.7 Recovery After Creep
below atmospheric pressure after 100 second, and
majority of the cell air is lost between 100 and 10,000 s.
After a foam has been subjected to creep loading, the
Air loss is more rapid than in extruded PP foams,
recovery when the stress is removed is a slow process
because of the small bead size and the open channels
(254) (266). For LDPE, EVA and PP foams, subjected
at the bead boundaries. σ0 reduces rapidly at short yield
to creep for 106 seconds, it appears that 100% recovery
times <1 second, due to proximity of the glass
from the high creep strains will eventually occur, but
transition, and continues to fall at long times.
that this will take longer than 106 seconds; the fraction
of the creep strain that remained had reduced to <10%.
Table 3 shows values for the foam permeability to air, There is no parallel between the shape of the creep
deduced from creep experiments. Verdejo (a.9) curve and that of the creep recovery graph, suggesting
measured a value of 70 x 10-12 m2 s-1 for EVA foam that the deformation mechanisms occur in a different
order. Thus there is no parallel with the creep and
recovery of solid polymers, where linear viscoelastic
Table 3 Diffusivity of foams for air, estimated theory may apply. If a significant percentage of the
from creep analysis cell air has diffused out of the foam during creep, the
overall recovery will be slow; there will be a weak
Polymer Density Estimated Reference
viscoelastic recovery, hindered by the slow re-entry of
diffusivity
air to the foam. If there were permanent plastic
10-12 m2 s-1
deformation of any of the foam structure (such as the
EVA 35 1000 (295) formation of folded ‘hinges’ in cell faces), there would
be a residual strain after ‘infinite’ creep recovery time.
EVA 270 100 (90) After high strain compressive creep in EVA foam of
LDPE 24 250 to 500 (295) density 275 kg m-3 the strain recovered to 15% after
106.5 seconds, but the recovery rate had slowed, so some
LDPE 70 250 (295) permanent deformation was possible (90).

Figure 11
Variation of cell gas pressure and initial yield stress for PP foam of density 20 kg m-3, versus logarithm of the
time under load (254)

17
 Polyolefin Foams
Although, in principle it is now possible to study
deformation of internal cells in foams using CT
microtomography, no such research has been reported.
4.8 Fatigue
Fatigue loading may occur to packaging in transit.
However the frequency and amplitude of vibration is
unlikely to be constant. Fatigue tests on PE foams (166)
using a saw tooth displacement versus time profile,
revealed the effects expected for viscoelastic polymers.
Increasing the test speed caused the compressive stress
to increase. An increase in the foam temperature
occurred as a result of the dissipation of energy per
cycle. The increase in temperature partly compensated
for the increase in testing speed. The maximum stress
in the fatigue loading cycle decreased by 20 to 30%
from the initial value (whether this was the result of
the temperature increase or changes to the polymer
structure, was not revealed).
For the EVA foam midsoles of running shoes, the
durability for repeated impact appears to improve with
increased density. However the polymer contribution
to the impact response reduces after simulated (and
real) use (a.18), since wrinkles and some holes appear
in the cell walls. Consequently these applications
require high density foams.
4.9 Cushion Curves for Impact Response
The initial design of foam packaging often uses
‘cushion curves’, which summarise the results of a large
set of impact drop tests, in which the foam dimensions,
drop mass and drop height are varied. However, the
cushion curves can be derived from a single
instrumented compressive impact test (325). For LDPE
foams there is a minor amount of viscoelastic response
in the impact stress strain curve, so the loading part
thereof (for impacts with a range of energies) almost
follows a mastercurve. This provides a good method
of checking the cushion curves for a range of foam
thicknesses and drop heights. The approach has been
confirmed by Burgess (320) among others. The ordinate
of the cushion curve is the static stress σs, the
compressive stress experienced by the foam when the
product is stored:
mg
σS = (13)
A
18
where A is the foam cross-sectional area. For a given
drop height h, the kinetic energy of the packaged
product of mass m, at the moment of impact, is mgh.
When the object has momentarily stopped, energy mgh
has been input into a foam block(s) of initial volume
At. Therefore the energy density U (J m-3) input into
the foam is:
σm
( ) ∫σ
mgh
U σm ≡ dε = (14)
At
0
The integral U( σm) represents the area under the
engineering stress-strain master curve up to the
maximum stress σm. The static stress is a function of
the energy density function U(σm):
U( σ M )
t
σs = (15)
h
The maximum product acceleration G, which occurs
when the foam compressive stress has its maximum
value σm, is given by:
h σM
G= g (16)
t U( σ M )
The parameters σs and G of the cushion curve can be
calculated from the energy density function U(σm),
using Equations (13) and (14). These equations only
contain the ratio t/h of the foam dimensions, so the
resulting cushion curves can be labelled with the
reduced foam thickness = t/h.
4.10 Impact Response in Shear or Shear Plus
Compression
PP bead foams were subjected to oblique impacts (167),
in which the material was compressed and sheared. This
strain combination could occur when a cycle helmet
hit a road surface. The results were compared with
simple shear tests at low strain rates and to uniaxial
compressive tests at impact strain rates. The observed
shear hardening was greatest when there was no
imposed density increase and practically zero when the
angle of impact was less than 15 degrees. The shear
hardening appeared to be a unique function of the main
tensile extension ratio and was a polymer contribution,
whereas the volumetric hardening was due to the
isothermal compression of the cell gas. Foam material
models for FEA needed to be reformulated to consider
the physics of the hardening mechanisms, so their
 Polyolefin Foams
predictions were reliable for foam impacts in which
shear occurred.
4.11 Recovery After Impact
The recovery behaviour of three HDPE closed cell
foams was investigated (400) after they had been
subjected to a high strain compressive impact. Cell
deformation on the surface of the foam was observed
during compression and recovery in a scanning electron
microscope (SEM). Recovery occurs by the viscoelastic
straightening of the buckled faces but it is incomplete
due to some plastic deformation in the structure, so the
faces remain slightly buckled. Some of the observed
inhomogeneity of the cell deformation is due to the
removal of cell faces in the sectioning for examination.
There is little difference in the recovery dynamics as a
result of changing the foam density.
When Zotefoam HDPE materials of density 98 kg m-3
were subjected to a single major compressive impact
(419), after recovery at 50 °C for 1 hour, the
performance, defined as the energy density absorbed
before the compressive stress reached 2.5 MPa was
back to 75% of the initial value. Further severe impacts
caused a further deterioration of the performance of
the recovered foam. Peak compressive strains of 80 to
90% caused some permanent buckling of the cell walls
of HDPE foams. The recovery is much slower than the
0.1 second impact time, so is not a conventional linear
viscoelastic response. It must be driven by the
compressed air in internal cells in the gas, with some
contribution from viscoelasticity of the polymer.
Recovery of dimensions had slowed to a very low rate
after 106 seconds at 20 °C or after 105 seconds at 50 °C.
4.12 Multiple Impacts
Some foam products are subjected to up to 10 major
impacts in their lives, therefore a foam may need to be
selected so that the performance is still adequate.
Products, subjected to hundreds of thousands of impacts
as in running shoe midsoles, were dealt with under
fatigue. It appears that the higher density HDPE (419)
and PP foams loose a significant amount of their
protection after several impacts, but nevertheless it may
be possible to use sufficient foam thickness to provide
the required protection. If low density EVA foams are
used, the impact energy densities are much lower, as
the majority of the resistance is from compressing the
cell gas. Ankrah and co-workers (33) performed
multiple impacts on LDPE/ESI blend foams, and found
a minor deterioration in the impact response with
impact number. If the foam was allowed 24 hours for
recovery, the impact response was nearly fully restored.
The biaxially oriented cell faces recover over a period
of days from high compressive deformation of the
foam. The dispersed leathery ESI responds roughly in
a similar way to the LDPE.
5 Thermal Properties
5.1 Dynamic Mechanical Thermal Analysis
(DMTA)
This commercially available technique, used to
characterise (55) foams, applies a sinusoidally varying
compressive strain to a block of foam. Rodriguez-Perez
and co-workers (94) (132) (259) and Ankrah and co-
workers (33) used DMTA on PE and copolymer foams.
They show that the Young’s modulus of the foam
decreases significantly as the temperature increases.
This parallels the response of bulk polymer, and is an
important factor in the selection of foams. This steady
decrease, on a graph of log modulus versus temperature,
is typical of semi-crystalline polymers in the
temperature range between the Tg of the amorphous
phase and the melting temperature of the crystalline
phase. Consequently all PE and PP foams have strongly
temperature-dependent mechanical properties in the
range 0 to 60 °C. This contrasts with foamed glassy
polymers such as EPS. DMTA is a rapid technique for
finding the temperature sensitivity of the foam;
however more detailed mechanical tests may be needed
to fully characterise the foam. An ethylene-octene
copolymer with 25% octane (Engage 8150) has very
low crystallinity; DMTA (55) shows that the main
thermal transition is the Tg for the non-crystalline chain
segments of –20 °C. The storage modulus values show
that the polymer is effectively glassy at lower
temperatures, and rubbery at higher temperatures.
Tan δ quantifies the fraction of the input energy lost
per cycle of deformation. The peaks in the graph of tan
δ versus temperature can be assigned to various
processes in the polymer; in PE the α relaxation process
at about 50 °C is thought to occur in the crystalline
lamellae, while the β relaxation process at about –10 °C
is due to the movement of chain branch point. Each
peak in tan δ is associated with a region in which the
storage Young’s modulus decreases more rapidly with
increasing temperature.
19
 Polyolefin Foams
Rodriguez-Perez and co-workers (132) studied Aleolit
and Alveolen LDPE foams made by Sekisui: these have
oriented cells as a result of the stretching that occurs
in the foam extrusion process. They found that the value
of tan δ, at a given temperature (say 70 °C) and strain
amplitude, decreased as the foam density increased,
but were unable to explain the mechanism for this
decrease. They suggest that the gas pressure inside the
cells might have some influence on the DMTA
response. It is possible that there are wrinkled cell faces
in the lower density foams at ambient temperatures,
and that the gas expansion on heating leads to the
flattening of the faces, changing the response.
Figure 12 shows the temperature variation of the in-
phase Young’s modulus E´ of an EVA foam (Verdejo,
unpublished). E´ falls as the amorphous phase goes
through a glass transition close to –10 °C, then again
as the crystalline phase melts at 80 °C. The peaks in
tan δ at these temperatures are labelled α and β.
5.2 Thermal Expansion
A Kelvin foam model with planar cell faces was used
(a.17) to predict the thermal expansion coefficient of
LDPE foams as a function of density. The expansion
of the heated gas is resisted by biaxial elastic stresses
in the cell faces. However SEM shows that the cell
faces are slightly wrinkled or buckled as a result of
processing. This decreases the bulk modulus of the
Figure 12
DMTA graph of storage Young’s modulus and damping (tan δ) versus temperature, for EVA foam of density
150 kg m-3 (a.9)
20
foam, and lowers its resistance to the expanding cell
gas. Therefore the thermal expansion coefficient is
higher than that predicted by the model. If the
experimental bulk modulus is used, the predicted
thermal expansion coefficient is closer to the
experimental value.
5.3 Thermal Conductivity
PE foams are used in some thermal insulation
applications (403) although they have higher thermal
conductivities than low density PU foams, which have
the majority of bulk insulation market. Crosslinked PE
foams have a higher maximum user temperature than
EPS, which has a Tg of about 90 °C. Rodriguez Perez
and co-workers have studied the thermal conductivity
of HDPE, LDPE and EVA foams (39) (61) (143) (151)
(178) (238). Models are proposed that relate the thermal
conductivity to proportion of polymer and gas in the
foam, and polymer and air thermal conductivity. There
are contributions to the thermal conductivity from
conduction in the gas, conduction through the polymer
and from radiation. The thermal conductivity decreases
as the foam density decreases, because the conductivity
of the polymer is higher than that of air. The thin cell
faces are partially transparency to infra-red radiation.
The radiation contribution, hence the thermal
conductivity of the foam, can be reduced by using a
small amount of black pigment in the PE. The radiation
contribution also becomes smaller as the cell size
 Polyolefin Foams
decreases, since there are more interfaces to absorb and
re-radiate thermal energy (143). Black pigmented PE
foam has a lower thermal conductivity than
unpigmented foam since black cell faces absorb a
greater proportion of the radiant energy in the infra-
red spectrum, rather than partially transmitting it.
6 Applications
Polyolefins have a spectrum of mechanical properties,
ranging from almost-rigid EPP mouldings for helmets and
factory containers to rubbery high density EPDM foams
for mouse mats and grips on hand tools. Rather than list
all these areas, five specific areas are described in detail.
6.1 Packaging Against Impact Damage
The design of packaging is described in many places,
including (295). Dow has a Millennium programme
for designing packaging (a.19) with data for PE foams.
The programme will estimate, from the tolerable gram
level of the product, and its mass and size, suitable
dimensions for the foam blocks. PE packaging tends
to be hot wire cut from sheet and assembled into
complex shapes using hot melt adhesives such as EVA.
There have been more efforts to use blends such as
Nova Chemicals' Arcel (an ethylene styrene
interpolymer in bead form) to create a more durable
foam than EPS. EPP can be moulded into complex
shapes, with the steam bonding of the beads (291).
These packaging foams compete with polyolefin film
products such as Jiffy foam (bubblewrap) and
macrobubbles made by heat sealing 150 mm lengths
of tubular LDPE film. As it is difficult or costly to
recycle such foam products, in some countries there is
a move towards biodegradable starch foams and
moulded paperboard.
Efforts to model the deformation of EPP foam by FEA
have been hampered by the lack of a sufficient range
of data. Mills and Masso-Moreu (a.20) showed that
simple pyramid methods, initially proposed by Stupak,
are successful for the ribs on EPP mouldings. The ribs
(Figure 13(a)) in the calculation taper from a base
width of 100 mm to a top width in the range 15 to
70 mm, over a height H = 75 mm, with a length 75 mm.
In the model the steps are to:
1. Divide the rib into 50 equal thickness layers of
equal thickness, ∆y
2. Compute the cross-sectional area of each layer Ai
3. Increment the force applied to the rib by ∆F to Fj
4. Since the layers are loaded in series, the same force
Fj acts on each layer. Hence the stress on layer i is:
Fj
σi = (17)
Ai
5. Invert Equation (9) to compute the vertical
compressive strain εi in the layer:
σ − σ0
εi = ( 1 − R) (18)
σ i − σ 0 − p0
6. The total deflection x is sum of the layer deflections
x= ∑ ε ∆y
i
i
(19)
7. Plot Fj versus xj then repeat from step 3.
Figure 13(b) shows the predicted force-deflection
relationship, compared with the experimental impact
data. For this simple product shape, the simple method
is as good as FEA. However the errors are greater for
3-dimensional truncated pyramids, and the method
cannot consider more complex shapes. FEA shows that
the stresses are not constant across a layer of the rib;
however a number of errors, caused by the
approximations, must cancel. The author’s FEA
(unpublished) shows that only the directly impacted
portions of complex mouldings are under significant
stress, so above approximate approach is justified.
6.2 EVA in Running Shoe Midsoles
EVA foam dominates the sport shoe midsole market
(61) (73) (155) (179) (267). The author’s chapter in
Sports Materials (a.21) gives more details. The reasons
for the selection of EVA foams are related to the
durability of the foam and its ability to cushion tens of
thousands of impacts, in which the compressive stress
reaches about 500 kPa, and the compressive strain can
be 60%. The reasons for the use of the relatively high
densities, in the range 150 to 250 kg m-3 are related to
the long-term performance. Nevertheless the EVA
densities are lower than those of PU foams for the same
application, giving a significant weight advantage. In
the industry the foam may be selected by use of a
21
 Polyolefin Foams

Figure 13(a)
The shape of a packaging foam rib

Figure 13(b)
Comparison of experimental and predicted force versus crush distance for ribs, of EPP foam of density
43 kg m-3, having varying top half widths in mm (a.20)

compression set test, which has been found to relate to
the multi-impact response. Research (a.18) suggests
that there is no air loss from the foam, but a gradual
deterioration in the cell walls after repeated bending.
Dubois (76) described the use of crosslinked blends of
PE and ESI in shoes. In blends with EVA, there is an
improvement in the 23 °C compression set value;
alternatively a softer foam with greater resiliency can
be obtained with the same compression set compared
with EVA.
6.3 Body Armour
Equestrian chest protectors (a.22) are designed for
impact energies of about 50 J, however the large-radius,
spherical anvil used is not a biofidelic model of the
chest. At least 20 mm of foam, of initial yield stress
about 0.5 MPa, are needed to meet the BETA standard
from 1995. LDPE foams were used at that stage of
density around 70 kg m-3 and were segmented into
approximately 50 by 50 mm blocks, sewn to a garment,
to allow the body to change shape (261). With the

22
 Polyolefin Foams
change to higher impact energies in BS EN 13158:
2000 tests (a.23), the segmented LDPE foams have
been replaced by curved slabs of foamed PVC/vinyl
rubber blends, which are denser and have a greater
compressive resistance. Other types of sports
protection, such as cricketer’s leg pads, still use PE
and EVA foams. Even the ballistic armour used by
police forces and armies, requires the use of foam
backing. Otherwise, when the ceramic slab or Kevlar
fibre pack, stops the bullet/fragment, there is a blunt
impact on the chest.
6.4 Helmets
The load spreading efficiency of EPP foam, used in
some bicycle helmets, is better than that of polystyrene
foam, because it does not crack around indentations
(a.24). Load spreading, for a blow on a convex object,
will lessen the risk of skull fracture, and bring more of
the helmet foam into play in an impact. The design of
a helmet for a particular impact velocity, to keep the
linear acceleration of the head below a level (circa
200 g) where brain injury is likely, requires the use of
a foam of a specified compressive yield stress (a.25).
For a given level of compressive yield stress, the
density required of EPP foam is greater than that of
EPS, since the yield stress of PP is lower than that of
PS. EPS is notoriously prone to crack, since it has a
very low tensile strength, and there are flaws where
beads have not completely fused together – a network
of channels at the bead boundaries are necessary to
keep the cycle time reasonable. The fact that EPP
recovers better from an impact means that EPP is
preferred to EPS for multi-impact helmets (279) (301).
Helmets for sports such as canoeing or cricket tend to
have less severe impact requirements than for bicycle
helmets, so may use smaller amounts of LDPE or EVA
foam. As ventilation is important, there may be large
holes in the foam and in the helmet shell.
Rugby headgear uses LDPE foam. The International
Rugby Board rules state that the LDPE foam density
does not exceed 45 kg m-3, and its thickness does not
exceed 12 mm. The aim seems to be to prevent the
headgear being used as an aggressive weapon towards
other players. Consequently there is limited protection,
if there is a head-to head clash with another player.
6.5 Soccer Shin Protectors
The construction of football shin guards (a.26) is a
curved outer shell over layer(s) of EVA foam. The
density of the EVA foam was 45 kg m-3 or less, to
prevent discomfort when worn against the leg muscle.
They were evaluated against a kick from a studded boot.
The shells need to have a high bending stiffness, to
spread the highly localised load from a stud. However
many shells had only a low bending stiffness, which
meant that the soft EVA foam bottomed out, causing
very high pressures on the leg, which would probably
cause bruising.
Both FEA and experimental impacts were used with
high-speed photography to show that the shells could
buckle locally under a stud impact. The best guards
use complex shaped shells to increase the transverse
bending stiffness.
6.6 Automotive
Headliners in cars (22) (38) (64) may use PP
Strandfoam, which has the advantage over EPP of
having a near-constant compressive yield stress over
the strain range from 10% to 70%, rather than a stress
that can rise by a factor of two over that range. All
vehicles manufactured after September 2002 must meet
FMVSS 201U (a.27) in which a free-flying headform
impacts upper interior components such as the roof rail
at 6.7 m s-1, in this test, carried out at 23 °C, the Head
Injury Criterion (HIC) must not exceed 1000. The HIC
is an average of the headform linear acceleration raised
to the 2.5th power. Given the limited space for
protective foam in the roof area, Strandfoam allows
the use of thinner padding than EPS to meet the
specification. However, one disadvantage of PP foam
is its greater temperature sensitivity than the rival
polyurethane foam products. Since the operational
temperature range for cars is from –40 to 120 °C this
places a severe constraint on the choice of a suitable
system. If tests were introduced over a range of
temperatures, EPP would probably be replaced by other
materials.
EPP foam inserts for bumpers (fenders) are a major
application area (91) (98) (161) (279) (302) (362) (366)
(386) (398) (424). Unlike EPS, EPP has the multi-
impact performance required, can fit inside the hollow
bumper beam, and has a low mass. ABAQUS FEA has
been used (a.28) to design such inserts. A range of cross-
sectional shapes were considered in an attempt to
achieve a near uniform crushing load of about 3 kN
over a deflection of 50 mm. Those with triangular cut
outs were found to be best.
23
 Polyolefin Foams
7 Market Growth
Harden’s (27) market survey of the growth of polyolefin
foams production and sales shows that 114 x 106 kg of
PE was used to make PE foam in 2001. The growth
rate for the next 6 years was predicted as 5-6% per
year, due to recovery in the US economy and to
penetration of the automotive sector. In North America,
50% of the demand was for uncrosslinked foam, 24%
for crosslinked PE foams, 15% for EPP, 6% for PP
foams, 3% for EVA foams and 2% for polyethylene
bead (EPE) foam. As protective packaging is the largest
PE foam use sector, PE foam competes with a number
of other packaging materials. Substitution of bead foam
products (EPP, EPE, ARCEL copolymer) by extruded
non-crosslinked PE foams, produced by the
metallocene process was expected on the grounds of
reduced costs. Compared with EPS foams the
polyolefin foams have a lower yield stress for a given
density. Compared with PU foams, the upper use
temperature of polyolefin foams tends to be lower. For
both these reasons, these foams are likely to coexist.
Acknowledgements
I gratefully acknowledge the contributions of my co-
worker Adam Gilchrist and PhD students, in particular
Raquel Verdejo and Yago Masso-Moreu.
Additional References
a.1 Y. Masso-Moreu and N.J. Mills, Rapid
hydrostatic testing of rigid polymer foams,
Polymer Testing, 2004, accepted.
a.2 C.J. Benning, Journal of Cellular Plastics,
1967, 3, 62.
a.3 C.J. Benning, Journal of Cellular Plastics,
1967, 3, 125.
a.4 C.J. Benning, Journal of Cellular Plastics,
1967, 3, 174.
a.5 R.E. Skochdopole and L.C. Rubens, Journal
of Cellular Plastics, 1965, 1, 91.
a.6. A. Nauta, Stabilisation of Low Density, Closed
Cell Polyethylene Foam, University of Twente,
Netherlands, 2000 (www.ub.utwente.nl/
webdocs/ct/1/t000001c.pdf). [Ph.D. Thesis]
24
a.7 M.O. Kristen, Metallocenes, Emerging
Technology – New and Advanced Materials,
on www.sun.ac.za/unesco/polyED2000/
conf1999/lectures1999/kristen.pdf.
a.8 K. Blizard, J. Anderson and A. Schroder in
Proceedings of Automotive Elastomers
Conference, Dearborn, MI, USA, 2003.
a.9 R. Verdejo, Gas Loss and Durability of EVA
Foams Used in Running Shoes, University of
Birmingham, UK, 2003. [Ph.D. Thesis]
a.10 C.-T. Yang, K.L. Lee and S.-T. Lee, Journal of
Cellular Plastics, 2002, 38, 113.
a.11 C.-T. Yang and S.-T. Lee, Journal of Cellular
Plastics, 2003, 39, 59.
a.12 N.P. Suh in Microcellular Plastics, Ed., J.L.
Stevenson, Carl Hanser, Munich, Germany,
1996, Chapter 3.
a.13 L.J. Gibson and M.F. Ashby, Cellular Solids,
2nd Edition, Cambridge University Press,
1998.
a.14 A.M. Kraynik, MK Neilsen, D.A. Reinelt and
W.E. Warren in Foams and Emulsions, Eds.,
J.F. Sadok and N. Rivier, Kluwer, 1999, p.259-
286.
a.15 N.J. Mills and H. Zhu, Journal of Mechanics
and Physics of Solids, 1999, 47, 669.
a.16 A.E. Simone and L.J. Gibson, Acta Materialia,
1998, 46, 3929.
a.17 O. Almanza, Y. Masso-Moreu, N.J. Mills, M.A.
Rodríguez-Pérez, Thermal expansion
coefficient of polyethylene foams – theory and
experiments, Journal of Polymer Science and
Physics, 2004, accepted.
a.18 R. Verdejo and N.J. Mills, Simulating the effect
of long distance running on shoe midsole foam,
Polymer Testing, 2004, accepted.
a.19 Dow ‘Ethacalc Millennium’ program,
w w w. d o w. c o m / p e r ff o a m / i n f o / d e s i g n /
auth.htm.
a.20 Y. Masso-Moreu and N.J. Mills in Proceedings
of the 13th APRI Conference on Packaging,
WorldPak 2002, CRC Press, Ed., D. Twede,
p.797-815.
a.21 N.J. Mills in Sport Materials, Ed., M.J. Jenkins,
Woodhead, Cambridge, UK, 2003, Chapter 4,
p.65-99.
 Polyolefin Foams

a.22 N.J. Mills and S. Ankrah in Proceedings of

Designing Equipment for Body Protection: I
Mech E Conference, London, UK, 2002 Paper
No. 1.

a.23 BSEN 13158, Protective Clothing – Protective

Jackets, Body and Shoulder Protectors for
Horse Riders – Requirements and Test
Methods, 2000.

a.24 A. Gilchrist and N.J. Mills, Accident Analysis

and Prevention, 1996, 28, 525.

a.25 N.J. Mills in Sport Materials, Ed., M.J. Jenkins,

Woodhead, Cambridge, UK, 2003, Chapter 2,
p.9-46.

a.26 S. Ankrah and N.J. Mills, Performance of

football shin guards for direct stud impacts,
Sports Engineering, 2004, accepted.

a.27 FMVSS 201 U, Occupant Protection in

Interior Impact, 1998.

a.28 G. Frederick, G.A. Kaepp, C.M. Kudelko, P.J.

Schuster, F. Domas, U.G. Haardt and W. Lenz,
SAE Transactions, 1995, 104, Section 5, 394.

25
 Polyolefin Foams

Acronyms and Abbreviations

BETA British Equestrian Trade Association

CFC chlorofluorocarbon
DMTA dynamic mechanical thermal analysis
EPDM ethylene propylene diene monomer
EPE polyethylene bead
EPP expanded polystyrene
ESI ethylene-styrene interpolymer
EVA ethylene vinyl acetate
FEA finite element analysis
HCFC hydrochlorofluorocarbon
HDPE high-density polyethylene
HIC head injury criterion
HMS high melt strength
LDPE low-density polyethylene
LLDPE linear low-density polyethylene
MWD molecular weight distribution
PE polyethylene
POE polyolefin
POP polyolefin plastomers
PP polypropylene
PPO polyphenylene oxide
PU polyurethane
PVC polyvinyl chloride
SEM scanning electron microscope
SS steryl steramide
STP standard temperature and pressure
Tg glass transition temperature
TPV thermoplastic vulcanisates

26
 References and Abstracts
Abstracts from the Polymer Library Database
Item 1
Blowing Agents and Foaming Processes 2003.
Proceedings of a conference held Munich, Germany,
19th-20th May 2003.
Shawbury, Rapra Technology Ltd., 2003, Paper 20,
p.203-7, 29 cm, 012
DENSITY AND OPEN CELL EFFECTS ON PE
FOAM MODULUS
Kolli M; Lee S-T
Sealed Air Corp.
(Rapra Technology Ltd.)
Compressive modulus of various PE foam boards, in
different densities and open cell content, are measured
and compared with different models. Contributory
elements to compressive resistance are investigated.
Agreement between test results and modelling improves
significantly while only considering the struts strength
parallel to compressive force. 7 refs.
USA
Accession no.895010
Item 2
Blowing Agents and Foaming Processes 2003.
Proceedings of a conference held Munich, Germany,
19th-20th May 2003.
Shawbury, Rapra Technology Ltd., 2003, Paper 17,
p.169-78, 29 cm, 012
EFFECT OF NUCLEATING AGENTS ON
POLYPROPYLENE FOAM MORPHOLOGY
Rodrigue D; Gosselin R
Laval,Universite; CERSIM
(Rapra Technology Ltd.)
Calcium carbonate and talc of different particle sizes are
used to determine the effect of concentration and
nucleating agent type on the morphology of high density
PP foam produced by extrusion. As expected, increasing
the particle concentration and/or decreasing particle size
improves the structure of the foams: higher cell density
and lower cell sizes. Furthermore, it is found that talc is
more effective than calcium carbonate at keeping all other
parameters constant. This indicates the importance and
selection complexity of nucleating agent type and
characteristics for design purposes. 19 refs.
CANADA
Accession no.895007
Item 3
Blowing Agents and Foaming Processes 2003.
Proceedings of a conference held Munich, Germany,
19th-20th May 2003.
Shawbury, Rapra Technology Ltd., 2003, Paper 14,
p.147-53, 29 cm, 012
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
FOAM EXTRUSION OF POLYPROPYLENE
FOAMS - NEW DEVELOPMENTS AND
APPPLICATIONS
Kropp I D
Polymer-Tec GmbH
(Rapra Technology Ltd.)
In the food packaging and the automotive industry a strong
tendency to use thermoplastic foams can be seen.
Especially in the automotive industry, more sophisticated
safety and convenience technology is installed which is
why other automotive parts have to become lighter in
weight. Up-and-coming environmental issues concerning
the recycling of a car after its use lead to the increased
utilisation of standard polymers such as PP. Consequently
PP foams, in combination with decorative films and
textiles, will have a bright future. Some applications and
new tendencies in the automotive area, as well as in the
food packaging area, are described.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY;
WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.895004
Item 4
Offshore
63, No.7, July 2003, p.84-5
MULTI-LAYER POLYPROPYLENE SYSTEM
IMPROVES THERMAL PERFORMANCE AND
DURABILITY
Borealis Business Unit Pipe has responded to the growing
need in deepwater for foam structure and stiffness in pipe
coatings with its multilayer PP system. Borealis has
developed a new generation of PP materials that balance
stiffness, toughness and thermal performance. In the five-
layer system, the steel pipe is coated with epoxy, adhesive,
PP, foam and mechanical/outer protection. The multilayer
system has already been proven in water depths to 1,000m.
For deeper water depths to 2,000m, the company looked
to using two types of foam, creating an optimised
multilayer structure. In that design, the steel pipe is coated
with epoxy, adhesive, solid PP, less aerated foam that can
withstand higher temperatures, more solid PP, foam with
more air for lower temperatures, and outer protection.
BOREALIS
EUROPEAN UNION; SCANDINAVIA; SWEDEN; WESTERN
EUROPE
Accession no.894288
Item 5
Advances in Polymer Technology
22, No.3, Fall 2003, p.209-17
BINARY BLENDS OF EVA AND
METALLOCENE-CATALYZED ETHYLENE-
ALPHA-OLEFIN COPOLYMERS AND THEIR
27
 References and Abstracts
FILM PROPERTIES
Kontopoulou M; Huang L C; Lee J A
Kingston,Queen’s University
Blends of ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer with
metallocene-catalysed elastomeric ethylene-alpha-olefin
copolymer were investigated and were found to be
immiscible in the melt and solid state but mechanically
compatible. The morphology (SEM), thermal (DSC),
rheological (viscosity), mechanical (including tensile,
shear thinning and elastic behaviour) and optical
properties of EVA-rich and ethylene-alpha-olefin
copolymer-rich blends were studied and the results are
discussed in terms of processibility in film applications.
24 refs.
CANADA
Accession no.894238
Item 6
Polymer Testing
22, No.6, 2003, p.705-9
STUDY OF SHEAR NUCLEATION THEORY IN
CONTINUOUS MICROCELLULAR FOAM
EXTRUSION
Guo M C; Peng Y C
South China,University of Technology
A theoretical analysis based on shear energy was carried
out with the aim of illustrating the mechanism of shear
nucleation through a slit channel die in continuous
microcellular foam extrusion. The shear energies for
different positions and for different experimental
conditions were calculated to demonstrate the various
contributions to the surface free energy required for
bubble nucleation. 14 refs.
CHINA
Accession no.893140
Item 7
Journal of Cellular Plastics
39, No.2, March 2003, p.117-32
EFFECT OF VISCOSITY ON LOW DENSITY
FOAMING OF POLY(ETHYLENE-CO-OCTENE)
RESINS
Gendron R; Vachon C
Canada,National Research Council
Foaming of low density ethylene-octene copolymer resins
by injection moulding is the result of various reactions
occurring during the process. This includes simultaneous
decomposition of the chemical blowing agent and
crosslinking of the polymer matrix during curing in the
mould, followed by foaming after mould opening.
Dynamic rheology, as well as elongational viscosity, are
investigated for compounds prepared from resins with
different melt indices and various crosslinking agent
levels, and these results are linked to the morphology and
density of the corresponding foams. Rheological
28
requirements are finally defined quantitatively for this
set of conditions. 9 refs.
CANADA
Accession no.892799
Item 8
Polymer Composites
24, No.3, June 2003, p.304-13
TAILORING VISCOELASTIC AND
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF THE FOAMED
BLENDS OF EVA AND VARIOUS ETHYLENE-
STYRENE INTERPOLYMERS
Liu I-C; Tsiang R C-C
Taiwan,National Chung Cheng University
Foams were prepared from blends of EVA and ethylene-
styrene interpolymers having styrene contents ranging from
30 to 73 wt.% and Tgs ranging from -2 to 33C, in the presence
of various amounts of dicumyl peroxide and their viscoelastic
and mechanical properties investigated. The effects of styrene
content and peroxide concentration on the morphology,
degree of crosslinking and expansion ratio of the foams were
assessed as was the influence of the type of ethylene-styrene
interpolymer on the Tg of the foams. It was found that the
Tg of the blends could be tailored by selection of the
appropriate interpolymer. 19 refs.
TAIWAN
Accession no.892124
Item 9
Rubber World
228, No.2, May 2003, p.31-2
EPDMS FOR AUTOMOTIVE SPONGE
PRODUCTS
Tredinnick D W
Crompton/Uniroyal Chemical
This article is concerned with the selection of EPDM
polymers for producing continuous cured sponge
extrusions for automotive type applications. The first part
of the discussion will address identifying the key polymer
properties that are necessary to select the polymer type
for a given application. This is then contrasted with the
polymer selection process according to a new technology.
This new technology represents a new generation of
EPDM that provides optimised performance
characteristics accomplished by controlled compositional
distribution. This technology involves both the catalyst
system and manufacturing process.
USA
Accession no.889649
Item 10
Journal of Applied Polymer Science
88, No.14, 28th June 2003, p3139-50
FOAM EXTRUSION OF HIGH DENSITY
POLYETHYLENE/WOOD-FLOUR
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
 References and Abstracts
COMPOSITES USING CHEMICAL FOAMING
AGENTS
Qingxiu Li; Matuana L M
Michigan,Technological University; Michigan,State
University
The effects of different types and forms of foaming agents
with, and without, coupling agents on the cell morphology
of extrusion foamed high density polyethylene (HDPE)
and HDPE/woodflour composites were examined using
density measurements and scanning electron microscopy.
Effect of foaming agent type was found to be minimal,
but the use of coupling agents in composite foams was
found necessary to achieve high void fractions. 29 refs.
USA
Accession no.888866
Item 11
Polymer Preprints. Volume 43. Number 2. Fall 2002.
Papers presented at the ACS Meeting held Boston, Ma.,
18th-22nd Aug.2002.
Washington, DC, ACS, Div.of Polymer Chemistry,
2002, p.1234-5, 28cm, 012
PROPERTIES OF FOAMING WATER-
SWELLABLE EPDM RUBBER
Xiaohong Sun; Qiang Shi; Guo Zhang
Jilin,University
(ACS,Div.of Polymer Chemistry)
Foaming water-swellable EPDM rubber was prepared
using multi-component mechanical blending technology.
The cell properties, the mechanical properties and the
water-swelling abilities resulting from these properties
were investigated. The mechanical properties were found
to decrease with increasing foaming agent content.
Incorporation of silica made the TS of the water-swellable
rubber(WSR) increase 2 to 6 fold compared with that of
unfoamed WSR before immersing in water. For silica-
filled EPDM WSR, the mechanical properties of
unfoamed WSR decreased, while that of foaming WSR
increased. In contrast with traditional WSR, foaming
WSR improved volume water-swelling ratio 2 to 6 fold
and accelerated water-absorbing rate. In the presence of
silica, the water-absorbing rate was improved and water-
swelling equilibrium time was significantly reduced. 5
refs.
CHINA
Accession no.888075
Item 12
Journal of Applied Polymer Science
88, No.12, 20th June 2003, p.2842-50
MICROCELLULAR FOAM OF POLYMER
BLENDS OF HDPE/PP AND THEIR
COMPOSITES WITH WOOD FIBER
Rachtanapun P; Selke S E M; Matuana L M
Michigan,State University
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
Microcellular foams of polymer blends of high-density
polyethylene (HDPE) and polypropylene (PP), and
composites with wood fibre, were investigated to
determine the effects of processing conditions, blend
composition, and wood fibre content on the crystallinity,
sorption behaviour of carbon dioxide, void fraction and
cell morphology of the materials. It was found by DSC
that blending decreased the crystallinity of HDPE and
PP and facilitated microcellular foam production. The void
fraction was shown to be strongly dependent on
processing conditions and blend composition. The
addition of wood fibre inhibited microcellular foaming.
20 refs.
USA
Accession no.886248
Item 13
Journal of Cellular Plastics
39, No.1, Jan. 2003, p.29-47
SIMPLE MODELLING OF THE MECHANICAL
PROPERTIES WITH PART WEIGHT
REDUCTION FOR MICROCELLULAR FOAM
PLASTIC
Xu J; Kishbaugh L
Trexel Inc.
Replacement of solid polymers by microcellular polymers
may lead to a 10 percent or higher reduction in material
without significantly affecting the properties of the
moulded part. A model that treats a microcellular foam
part made by injection moulding as a sandwich structure
in which a uniform low-density foamed core is encased
by a skin frame is presented. Predictions of changes in
mechanical properties such as tensile strength, flexural
strength and impact strength for filled and unfilled
polycarbonate materials at different levels of weight
reduction are calculated based on this model and are
compared with those found in practice. Based on the
results recommended weight reductions are discussed in
terms of specific mechanical properties. 13 refs.
USA
Accession no.886222
Item 14
Cellular Polymers
22, No.1, 2003, p.43-56
EFFECT OF COMPOUND FORMULATION AND
PROCESSING CONDITIONS ON PROPERTIES
OF EXTRUDED EPDM AND NR/EPDM FOAMS
Lewis C; Rodlum Y; Misaen B; Changchum S; Sims G L A
Prince of Songkla University; Manchester,University;
UMIST
The effects of compound formulations and processing
conditions on the structure and properties of extruded EPDM
and NR/EPDM blends of tube foams were studied. The
characteristics of blends of blowing agents
(azodicarbonamide (ADC)/dinitrosopentamethylenetriamine
29
 References and Abstracts
(DNPT)) were studied using a gas evolution apparatus. The
decomposition temperature of ADC decreased with both
DNPT and 4,4-oxybis(benzenesulphonyl hydrazide)
(OBSH) blending and this affected the structure and
properties of the resulting foams. Using a tube mould for an
extrudate to vulcanise the NR/EPDM extrudate in a hot air
oven was found to control the expansion and foam
dimensions. The NR compositions affected the foam
structure and properties. 16 refs.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; THAILAND;
UK; WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.883684
Item 15
Polymer Engineering and Science
43, No.1, Jan.2003, p.40-54
IMPORTANCE OF TIMELY POLYMER
SINTERING WHILE PROCESSING
POLYPROPYLENE FOAMS IN ROTATIONAL
MOLDING
Pop-Iliev R; Rizvi G M; Park C B
Toronto,University
The morphology of PP foams obtained by processing PP
pellets that had been pre-compounded with a chemical
blowing agent was shown to be controllable either by
pellet sintering or cell coalescence. The viscosity of the
basic PP resin and the processing temperature determined
which of these two key factors had the greater influence
on the foaming process. The desired volume expansion
ratio of the foam also played an important role as it
determined the formulation of the foamable resin and the
shot size. Desirable PP foam structures in compounding
based rotational foam moulding could be obtained only
if pellet sintering took place prior to the decomposition
of the blowing agent and if the processing temperature
during the foaming process was kept lower than the
temperature of cell coalescence. 22 refs.
CANADA
Accession no.881036
Item 16
Journal of Cellular Plastics
38, No.6, Nov.2002, p.471-96
ELECTRON BEAM IRRADIATION OF
NONCROSSLINKED LDPE-EVA FOAM
Kim D W; Kim K S
Chungbuk,National University
LDPE and EVA were blended in a 80/20 ratio and the
non-crosslinked foam thereof was exposed to various
doses of electron beam irradiation in air. The foam was
made using isobutane as blowing agent. It was found that
foam with uniform cell structure was not achieved in the
case of pre-crosslinked foam with more than 40% gel
fraction. Non-crosslinked foams were, however, easily
crosslinked to a gel content of about 57% with electron
beam irradiation under optimum conditions. The gel
30
content of the post-crosslinked foams increased with
increase in the irradiation dose, beam intensity and
irradiation temp. and with the crosslinking coagent
content. Experimental studies indicated that beam
intensity was the most important parameter with regard
to gel content homogeneity. Noticeable changes in
mechanical properties, e.g. TS, tear strength, compressive
strength and hardness, were also observed. An
experimental study was also conducted by the
manufacture of low-density open-cell foam. 15 refs.
KOREA
Accession no.877944
Item 17
Journal of Cellular Plastics
38, No.5, Sept.2002, p.421-40
FOAM EXTRUSION OF PP-EMA REACTIVE
BLENDS
Pesneau I; Champagne M; Gendron R; Huneault M
Canada,National Research Council
A study was carried out into the foaming of PP/ethylene-
methyl acrylate copolymer thermoplastic elastomers with
carbon dioxide during dynamic crosslinking. The gel
content, density and cell and blend morphologies were
determined and the relationship therebetween
investigated. The solubility of carbon dioxide in the
polymers was measured and the influence of the blowing
agent on blend morphology assessed. It was found that
gel content determined blend morphology and blend
morphology influenced foam morphology and foam
density. 24 refs. (ANTEC 2001, Dallas, Texas, 6-10 May)
CANADA
Accession no.877286
Item 18
ANTEC 2002. Proceedings of the 60th SPE Annual
Technical Conference held San Francisco, Ca., 5th-9th
May 2002.
Brookfield, Ct., SPE, 2002, Paper 358, Session T25-
Applied Rheology, Extrusion I, Thermoplastic
Materials and Foams. Interactive Presentations, pp.5,
CD-ROM, 012
EFFECT OF MOLECULAR WEIGHT ON
MECHANICAL AND MORPHOLOGICAL
PROPERTIES OF HIGH DENSITY
POLYETHYLENE FOAMS
Zhang Y; Ait-Kadi A; Rodrigue D
Laval,University
(SPE)
The shear and elongational rheology of four linear high
density polyethylenes, with different molecular weights
and melt indices, was studied. Foams were produced from
the polymers using 1-3 wt% azodicarbonamide (ACA)
as the chemical blowing agent, and characterised by
morphological studies and measurement of tensile
properties. The cell size decreased with increasing
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
 References and Abstracts
molecular weight. The cell size of the lower molecular
weight polymers increased with increasing ACA content,
whilst the reverse was true for the higher molecular weight
polymers. The lower molecular weight polymers were
brittle, whilst the higher molecular weight materials were
ductile and tough. 9 refs.
CANADA
Accession no.876448
Item 19
ANTEC 2002. Proceedings of the 60th SPE Annual
Technical Conference held San Francisco, Ca., 5th-9th
May 2002.
Brookfield, Ct., SPE, 2002, Paper 353, Session T25-
Applied Rheology, Extrusion I, Thermoplastic
Materials and Foams. Interactive Presentations, pp.5,
CD-ROM, 012
STUDY OF THE FOAMING PROCESS OF
POLYETHYLENE WITH HIGH PRESSURE CO2
IN A MODIFIED EXTRUSION SYSTEM
Garcia-Leiner M; Lesser A J
Massachusetts,University
(SPE)
The barrel of a single screw extruder was modified to
permit carbon dioxide injection, and the feed section
modified to enable control of the polymer:carbon dioxide
ratio. High density (HDPE) and low density polyethylenes
(LDPE) were extruded and the extrudate morphology
studied by scanning electron microscopy. The influence
of extrudate morphology on thermal properties was
determined by differential scanning calorimetry.
Decreasing the die temperature to the polymer melting
point promoted cell nucleation. Increasing the saturation
pressure increased cell nucleation, so that samples
processed at high pressures had higher cell densities and
reduced cell sizes. Foaming was promoted by increasing
the time of polymer exposure to carbon dioxide prior to
extrusion, attributed to the dependence of cell nucleation
on the mount of dissolved gas. Dissolution of carbon
dioxide in LDPE at higher temperatures restricted foaming
and resulted in gas bubbles on the extrudate surface. The
thermal properties of HDPE were not modified by
foaming, attributed to the high crystallisation rate. 16 refs.
USA
Accession no.876443
Item 20
Journal of Macromolecular Science B
B41, No.4-6, 2002, p.761-75
MORPHOLOGY OF SEMICRYSTALLINE
FOAMS BASED ON POLYETHYLENE
Rodriguez-Perez M A; de Saja J A
Valladolid,Universidad
The matrix polymer morphology of a collection of LDPE
foams manufactured from a high-pressure nitrogen
solution process was analysed at different length scales.
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
This morphology was compared with that of the extruded
LDPE, which was used to produce the foams. The main
source of the differences between the morphologies of
the two types of material appeared to be the geometrical
arrangement of the polymer in thin cell walls and the
complicated mechanical and thermal history of the
polymer that comprised the cell foams of the foams. 22
refs. (European Conference on Macromolecular Physics:
Morphology and Properties of Crystalline Polymers, Eger,
Hungary, Sept.2001)
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; SPAIN;
WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.875539
Item 21
Polymer Engineering and Science
42, No.9, Sept.2002, p.1907-18
FOAM PROCESSING AND CELLULAR
STRUCTURE OF POLYPROPYLENE/CLAY
NANOCOMPOSITES
Pham Hoai Nam; Maiti P; Okamoto M; Kotaka T;
Nakayama T; Takada M; Ohshima M; Usuki A;
Hasegawa N; Okamoto H
Toyota Technological Institute; Kyoto,University;
Toyota Central R & D Laboratories Inc.
PP/clay nanocomposites(PPCNs) were autoclave-foamed
in a batch process. Foaming was performed using
supercritical carbon dioxide at 10 MPa, within the temp.
range 130.6 to 143.4C, i.e. below the m.p. of either PPCNs
or maleic anhydride(MA)-modified PP matrix without
clay. The foamed PP-MA and PPCN2 (prepared at 130.6C
and containing 2 wt % clay) showed closed cell structures
with pentagonal and/or hexagonal faces, while foams of
PPCN4 and PPCN7.5 (prepared at 143.4C, 4 and 7.5 wt
% clay) had spherical cells. SEM confirmed that foamed
PPCNs had high cell density of 10,000,000 to 100,000,000
cells/mL, cell sizes in the range of 30 to 120 micrometres,
cell wall thicknesses of 5 to 15 micrometres and low
densities of 0.05 to 0.3 g/mol. TEM observations of the
cell structure showed biaxial flow-induced alignment of
clay particles along the cell boundary. The correlation
between foam structure and rheological properties of the
PPCNs is also discussed. 15 refs.
JAPAN
Accession no.873198
Item 22
SPE Automotive TPO Global Conference 2002.
Proceedings of a conference held Dearborn, Mi., 30th
Sept-2nd Oct.2002.
Brookfield, Ct., SPE, 2002, Interior Applications
Session, p.97-117, 27cm, 012
SIMPLIFIED HIGH EFFICIENCY
POLYPROPYLENE FOAM PART DESIGNS FOR
AUTOMOTIVE HEADLINER
COUNTERMEASURE APPLICATIONS
31
 References and Abstracts
Maurer M; Tusim M; Lemmon J; Williams S
Dow Chemical Co.; DaimlerChrysler Corp.
(SPE,Detroit Section)
On August 18, 1995 the National Highway Traffic and
Safety Administration (NHTSA) invoked Federal Motor
Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 201U to provide
protection when an occupant’s head strikes upper interior
components such as side rails, front headers and the roof
during a crash. Subject to the phase-in requirements of
FMVSS 201U, all vehicles manufactured after September
1, 2002 will be required to satisfy the head injury criteria
(HIC) requirements of FMVSS 201U. Automotive OEMs
are now equipping upper interior components such as
headliners with foam, structural thermoplastic
components or structural composite countermeasures to
manage energy during simulated head impact crash tests.
For most small, midsize and luxury car platforms,
automotive OEMs are now offering optional features such
as powered sunroofs and integrated air bag curtains on
most coupe and sedan models. With these options
available on most passenger cars today, as many as eight
discrete headliners may need to be designed. The
challenge facing automotive OEMs lies in using unique
energy absorbing (EA) countermeasure designs with a
common headliner substrate surface without increasing
the cost or investment while maintaining optimal head
Impact performance. It is discussed how high efficiency
PP foam headliner countermeasure part designs can be
simplified without the need for costly tooling associated
with injection moulded ribbed cartridges, moulded PU
foams and steam chest moulded expanded bead foam
parts. An advanced component-level headliner
countermeasure test methodology is discussed, in addition
to the statistical analysis of such tests performed with EA
countermeasures. 8 refs.
USA
Accession no.872078
Item 23
Advances in Materials and Processes in Rotomolding.
Proceedings of a conference held Independence, Ohio,
9th-11th June 2002.
Brookfield, Ct., 2002, Session II, p.79-84, 27cm, 012
ROTATIONAL MOULDING V THE MECHANICS
OF FOAMING
Throne J
Sherwood Technologies Inc.
(SPE,Rotational Molding Div.; SPE,Cleveland Section)
The motivation for foaming is weight reduction without
loss in stiffness. In addition, PE does not seem to suffer
the same dramatic decrease in impact as other plastics do
when foamed. This is fortunate for rotational moulders,
since it is the primary material of choice. Although
polymers have been foamed via injection moulding and
extrusion for decades, foaming in rotational moulding is
a relatively new feature. Making bubbles go away during
32
processing of unfoamed polymers is very difficult.
Making bubbles appear, then retaining them during
processing of foamed polymers, is also very difficult. The
problem is that the general rotational moulding process
in many ways acts counter to the characteristics needed
to produce controlled fine-celled bubble growth. To
achieve quality foams, the rotational moulder must realise
the limitations of the rotational moulding process. The
problems faced in trying to achieve quality foam products
are detailed. Some ways to mitigate some of these
problems are also proposed. 18 refs.
USA
Accession no.872067
Item 24
Foams 2002. Proceedings of a conference held
Houston, Tx., 22nd-23rd Oct.2002.
Brookfield, Ct., 2002, Session VII, p.153-62, 27cm, 012
CRITICAL PROCESSING TEMPERATURE IN
MANUFACTURE OF FINE-CELLED PLASTIC/
WOOD-FIBRE COMPOSITE FOAMS
Guo G; Rizvi G M; Park C B; Lin W S
Toronto,University
(SPE,Thermoplastic Materials & Foams Div.;
SPE,South Texas Section)
The main benefits of incorporating wood fibres (WF) in
plastics are increased stiffness and lowered cost of the
resultant composites. However, these improvements are
usually accompanied by reduction in the ductility and
impact resistance. These shortcomings can be removed
by effectively foaming and incorporating a fine-celled
structure in these composites. The volatiles released from
WF during processing are known to deteriorate the cell
structure. The maximum processing temperature, which
affects the amount of volatiles released by the WF, during
extrusion of fine-celled plastic/WF composite affects the
cell morphology. A study is undertaken to identify the
critical temperature above which the cellular structure of
WF composite foams is significantly deteriorated. To
clearly identify the effects of the volatiles generated from
WF on the cellular morphology, neither chemical blowing
agent nor physical blowing agent is used in the foam
processing. The experimental results show that regardless
of the drying method, the highest processing temperature
of plastic/WF composites should be minimised, preferably
below 170 deg.C, in order to avoid the adverse effects of
the volatiles generated from the WF during processing. A
method of estimating the emissions from WF during
extrusion processing by using TGA data is also proposed.
30 refs.
CANADA
Accession no.871808
Item 25
Foams 2002. Proceedings of a conference held
Houston, Tx., 22nd-23rd Oct.2002.
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
 References and Abstracts
Brookfield, Ct., 2002, Session VI, p.141-51, 27cm, 012
VISUAL OBSERVATIONS OF BATCH AND
CONTINUOUS FOAMING PROCESS
Taki K; Yatsuzuka T; Nakayama T; Ohshima M
Kyoto,University
(SPE,Thermoplastic Materials & Foams Div.;
SPE,South Texas Section)
Visual observations of batch and continuous physical
foaming processes are conducted to understand the bubble
nucleation and bubble growth behaviours in polymers.
Batch foaming is performed using a newly developed high-
pressure cell, where two sapphire windows are equipped
on the walls so as to observe the early stage of bubble
nucleation and growth behaviours with a help of CCD and
microscope. In the batch process, homo PP is foamed at
different pressure release rate and at different foaming
temperature using CO2 as a physical blowing agent to see
the effects of operating condition on the bubble nucleation
and growth rate. The in situ observation can identify that:
the bubble nucleation and growth occur simultaneously;
the influence region, where the nucleation is suppressed,
exists around bubbles; and the nucleation rate and the
growth rate increase as the pressure release rate increases.
Furthermore, the continuous foaming is also performed
using a different visualisation unit, which consists of an
autoclave and extrusion slit-die with quartz windows. It is
found that the nucleation mechanism in the continuous
foaming, i.e. extrusion foaming, is different from that of
batch foaming. In continuous extrusion foaming, the
nucleation can be induced flow and/or shear stress, and
the bubbles are also generated by cavitations brought about
by the surface roughness of the wall. 13 refs.
JAPAN
Accession no.871807
Item 26
Foams 2002. Proceedings of a conference held
Houston, Tx., 22nd-23rd Oct.2002.
Brookfield, Ct., 2002, Session VI, p.133-9, 27cm, 012
FUNDAMENTAL FOAMING MACHANISMS
GOVERNING VOLUME EXPANSION OF
EXTRUDED PP FOAMS
Naguib H E; Park C B; Yoon E; Reichelt N
Toronto,University; Borealis GmbH
(SPE,Thermoplastic Materials & Foams Div.;
SPE,South Texas Section)
The fundamental foaming mechanisms governing the
volume expansion behaviour of extruded PP foams are
described. Careful analysis of extended experimental
results indicates that the final volume expansion ratio of
the extruded PP foams blown with butane is governed by
either loss of blowing agent or crystallisation of polymer
matrix. A CCD camera is installed at the die exit to
carefully monitor the shape of the extruded PP foam. The
CCD images are analysed to illustrate both these
mechanisms of gas loss and crystallisation during foaming
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
at various temperatures, and it is observed that the
maximum expansion ratio is achieved when the governing
mechanism is changed from one to the other. In general,
the gas loss mode is dominant at high temperatures,
whereas the crystallisation mode is dominant at low
temperatures. When the gas loss mode is dominant, the
volume expansion ratio is increased by decreasing the
temperature because of the reduced amount of gas lost.
By contrast, when the crystallisation mode is dominant,
the expansion ratio is increased by increasing the
temperature because of the delayed solidification of
polymer. The processing window variation with the butane
concentration, the change of the temperature ranges for
the two governing modes, and the sensitivity of melt
temperature variations to the volume expansion ratio are
discussed in detail, based on obtained experimental results
for both branched and linear PP materials. 38 refs.
AUSTRIA; CANADA; EUROPEAN UNION; WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.871806
Item 27
Foams 2002. Proceedings of a conference held
Houston, Tx., 22nd-23rd Oct.2002.
Brookfield, Ct., 2002, Session IV, p.103-12, 27cm, 012
POLYETHYLENE FOAM RESIN OUTLOOK
Harden W
Nova Chemicals Inc.
(SPE,Thermoplastic Materials & Foams Div.;
SPE,South Texas Section)
An overview is provided of the North American PE Foam
Market. Historical market growth rate and market
dynamics are presented as well as a forecast to 2007. An
analysis is also presented of the forces that impact PE
foam demand and pricing based upon Michael Porter’s
well-known five-market forces model for analysing
industries and markets. Application of this model will
provide some insight into dynamics that should be
considered in creating a robust business plan. 3 refs.
USA
Accession no.871802
Item 28
Foams 2002. Proceedings of a conference held
Houston, Tx., 22nd-23rd Oct.2002.
Brookfield, Ct., 2002, Session II, p.47-54, 27cm, 012
SEQUENTIAL REACTIVE BLENDING/
FOAMING OF PET IN EXTRUSION
EQUIPMENT
Zhang Q; Dhavalikar R; Wan C; Dey S K; Xanthos M
New Jersey,Institute of Technology
(SPE,Thermoplastic Materials & Foams Div.;
SPE,South Texas Section)
Single- and twin-screw extruders with customised screw
profiles are used to produce low density PETP-PP foams
in the presence of reactive compatibiliser and coagents.
Low density PETP foam is also produced from
33
 References and Abstracts
commercially available PETP by chemical modification/
chain extension to enhance the foamability followed by
addition of physical blowing agent down stream. The
process conditions, assumed reactions and product
characteristics are given in detail. 7 refs.
USA
Accession no.871797
Item 29
Foams 2002. Proceedings of a conference held
Houston, Tx., 22nd-23rd Oct.2002.
Brookfield, Ct., 2002, Session I, p.19-24, 27cm, 012
BATCH AND CONTINUOUS FOAMING OF
BLENDS OF LLDPE AND CROSS-LINKED LDPE
Zhang Q; Dey S K; Xanthos M
New Jersey,Institute of Technology
(SPE,Thermoplastic Materials & Foams Div.;
SPE,South Texas Section)
Blends of LLDPE and crosslinked LLDPE (xLDPE) are
foamed by a proprietary batch foaming process as well
as in a continuous tandem extrusion line. Good quality,
low-density foams are produced from both foaming
processes. For batch foaming, it is found that high
concentration of xLDPE is necessary to bring up the
LLDPE resin properties to foamable levels. In extrusion
foaming, adding 10% crosslinked LDPE results in
significant improvements in foam processing and foam
quality. 5 refs.
USA
Accession no.871795
Item 30
Foams 2002. Proceedings of a conference held
Houston, Tx., 22nd-23rd Oct.2002.
Brookfield, Ct., 2002, Session I, p.9-18, 27cm, 012
NOVEL HIGH MELT STRENGTH POLYMERS
FOR FOAM APPLICATIONS
Mispreuve H; Chaudhary B I; Thoen J
Dow Chemical Co.
(SPE,Thermoplastic Materials & Foams Div.;
SPE,South Texas Section)
Inspire High Melt Strength (HMS) Performance Polymers
are innovative differentiated propylene-based polymers
offering a combination of high melt strength and high
impact strength, which is particularly useful for foam
applications. The flexural modulus of typical Inspire HMS
Performance Polymers ranges from about 150,000 to
about 300,000 psi. The characteristics of Inspire
Performance Polymers are described, as well as the soft
and flexible foams made by expanding these polymers
using isobutane as blowing agent. Applications include
thermal and acoustic insulation, food packaging,
automotive and cushion packaging applications. These
results are to be considered as a feasibility study for a
design space. Fine-tuned products for foaming using a
34
wider range of foaming agents are available under the
trademark Inspire. 1 ref.
USA
Accession no.871794
Item 31
Foams 2002. Proceedings of a conference held
Houston, Tx., 22nd-23rd Oct.2002.
Brookfield, Ct., 2002, Session I, p.1-8. 27cm, 012
LOW DENSITY EXTRUDED POLYPROPYLENE
FOAMS - ONE OF THE FINAL FRONTIERS?
Folland R; Reichelt N; Stadlbauer M
Borealis Polymers NV; Borealis GmbH
(SPE,Thermoplastic Materials & Foams Div.;
SPE,South Texas Section)
The processing behaviour of Daploy WB130HMS PP
foam resin is described. This material offers new
opportunities for low density PP foam production.
Densities down to 50 kg/cub.m and below can be achieved
with physical foaming. The final foam properties can be
tailored by blending WB130HMS with the full range of
standard PP grades or metallocene PEs (m-PE). A
recycling study, using physical foaming with butane,
shows that Daploy WB130HMS can be reprocessed
without any significant effects on foam density and
structure. 14 refs.
AUSTRIA; BELGIUM; EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN
UNION; WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.871793
Item 32
Polymer Preprints, Volume 41, Number 1, Proceedings
of a conference held San Francisco, Ca., March 2000..
Washington D.C., ACS,Div.of Polymer Chemistry,
2000, p.1058-9, 28cm, 012
FOAMING OF POLYETHYLENE IN A NOVEL
DYNAMIC DECOMPRESSION AND COOLING
PROCESS
Song K; Apfel R E
Yale,University
(ACS,Div.of Polymer Chemistry)
Details are given of the fabrication of foams with uniform
closed-cell structures. LDPE was used as polymer
feedstock. Thermal analysis was performed using DSC
and morphologies were examined using SEM. 12 refs.
USA
Accession no.870857
Item 33
Cellular Polymers
21, No.4, 2002, p.237-64
ETHYLENE-STYRENE INTERPOLYMER FOAM
BLENDS: MECHANICAL PROPERTIES AND
SPORT APPLICATIONS
Ankrah S; Verdejo R; Mills N J
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
 References and Abstracts
Birmingham,University
Foamed blends of ethylene-styrene interpolymer and
LDPE were subjected to a range of mechanical tests,
including compressive impact testing, Instron
compression and Poisson’s ratio measurements,
compressive creep measurements and compression set and
recovery measurements. The data obtained were
compared with those for EVA and the suitability of these
foamed blends as replacements for EVA in the
manufacture of soccer shin guards and midsoles for sports
shoes was evaluated. 20 refs.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; UK;
WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.870425
Item 34
ANTEC 2002. Proceedings of the 60th SPE Annual
Technical Conference held San Francisco, Ca., 5th-9th
May 2002.
Brookfield, Ct., SPE, 2002, Paper 192, Session M38-
Rotational Molding Materials, pp.5, CD-ROM, 012
INVESTIGATION OF THE PROCESSING
CHARACTERISTICS AND MECHANICAL
PROPERTIES OF METALLOCENE
POLYETHYLENE FOAMS FOR ROTATIONAL
MOULDING
Archer E; Harkin-Jones E; Kearns M P; Fatnes A-M
Belfast,Queen’s University; Borealis AS
(SPE)
The rheological and thermal properties, and the rotational
blow moulding of foamed metallocene (mPE) and Ziegler-
Natta polyethylenes were compared. Several commercial
chemical blowing agents were used. The moulded
polymers were characterised by flexural and impact
testing, and by density and bubble content measurements.
The foamed mPE had higher impact resistance than the
conventional PE. However, the mPE exhibited lower
flexural properties, attributed to the smaller and more
uniform bubble size. The average bubble size in both
polymers increased with increasing oven temperature. The
nitrogen-releasing blowing agents, which were
exothermic, gave lower density foams than the carbon
dioxide-releasing, endothermic agents. 4 refs.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; NORWAY;
SCANDINAVIA; UK; WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.868458
Item 35
ANTEC 2002. Proceedings of the 60th SPE Annual
Technical Conference held San Francisco, Ca., 5th-9th
May 2002.
Brookfield, Ct., SPE, 2002, Paper 191, Session M38-
Rotational Molding Materials, pp.5, CD-ROM, 012
SINGLE-STEP ROTATIONAL FOAM MOLDING
OF SKIN-SURROUNDED POLYETHYLENE
FOAMS
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
Pop-Iliev R; Park C B
Toronto,University
(SPE)
The single step rotational moulding of polyethylene with
an outer dense skin and an inner foamed core was
investigated. The non-foamable component was a blend
of ethylene polymers with different particle sizes and melt
indices, whilst the foamable phase was linear low density
polyethylene containing a chemical blowing agent with
an operating temperature range of 149-177 C. The
formation of the desired structure required the formation
of the skin layer prior to activation of the blowing agent,
and this was achieved by use of a suitable processing time-
temperature profile. 25 refs.
CANADA
Accession no.868457
Item 36
ANTEC 2002. Proceedings of the 60th SPE Annual
Technical Conference held San Francisco, Ca., 5th-9th
May 2002.
Brookfield, Ct., SPE, 2002, Paper 159, Session M32-
Thermoplastic Materials and Foams. Thermoplastic
Foams, pp.5, CD-ROM, 012
EFFECT OF VISCOSITY ON LOW DENSITY
FOAMING OF POLY(ETHYLENE-CO-OCTENE)
RESINS
Vachon C; Gendron R
Canada,National Research Council
(SPE)
Poly(ethylene-co-octene) copolymers with differing melt
flow indices, crosslinked using dicumyl peroxide (DCP),
were characterised by dynamic rheology and elongational
viscosity studies. The properties of injection moulded
foams prepared using 0-2.54 wt% DCP and
azodicarbonamide blowing agent were evaluated in
relation to the polymer rheological properties. It was
concluded that to obtain a good foam required a balance
between polymer viscosity and branching, and also that
crosslinking is required to maintain expansion and to
prevent collapse. 7 refs.
CANADA
Accession no.868425
Item 37
Modern Plastics International
32, No.10, Oct.2002, p.61
PROTECTIVE FOAM LINERS ARE
NATURALLY BREATHABLE
Toensmeier P A
Impact-resistant foam liners used in helmets and other
protective gear are usually not breathable unless air
passages are fabricated in them. Brock USA has developed
a process for moulding closed-cell foam that permits
three-dimensional air flow and moisture evaporation
35
 References and Abstracts
through impact liners. The foam structure is also claimed
to upgrade impact resistance. Brock liners are moulded
of a PP compound that is supplied as CO2-expanded
beads, 3 to 6mm in diameter. Key to the process is
application of an elastomeric adhesive coating that makes
beads adhere to each other at points along their surfaces
where they come in contact. This creates air passages
between the beads throughout the liner. The technique of
adhering spheres to each other rather than fusing them
together permits a range of densities in one protective
liner.
BROCK USA
USA
Accession no.868167
Item 38
Machine Design
74, No.16, 22nd Aug.2002, p.64/8
FOAM MEETS VEHICLE CRASHWORTHINESS
REGS HEAD ON
Maurer M J; Tusim M H
Dow Chemical Co.
The US NHTSA Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard
201U requires that passenger cars, trucks and vans, in a
crash, protect an occupant’s head in the event it strikes
upper interior parts including side rails, front headers and
the roof. Conventional foams such as EPP bead and
recoverable PU absorb impact energy through
compression of cellular structures and then rebound, along
with the occupant, which is an undesirable feature. Rigid
thermoplastics more efficiently dissipate energy by
fracturing or buckling, but do not cushion blows as well
as foams. A new high-efficiency PP honeycomb foam
from Dow Automotive combines properties of both
materials. To speed design with the PP foam, Dow used a
statistical design of experiments with a six-factor Box-
Behnken response surface design.
USA
Accession no.868107
Item 39
Cellular Polymers
21, No.3, 2002, p.165-94
EFFECT OF CELL SIZE ON THE PHYSICAL
PROPERTIES OF CROSSLINKED CLOSED
CELL POLYETHYLENE FOAMS PRODUCED
BY A HIGH PRESSURE NITROGEN SOLUTION
PROCESS
Rodriguez-Perez M A; Gonzalez-Pena J I; Witten N;
de Saja J A
Valladolid,Universidad; Zotefoams PLC
The thermal conductivity, thermal expansion, mechanical
properties at low strain rates and dynamic mechanical
properties of a collection of crosslinked closed cell PE
foams manufactured by a high pressure nitrogen solution
process were studied as a function of the cell size. The
36
main mechanisms that influenced each property and the
foam microstructure were examined in an attempt to
explain the results. A theoretical model was used to
examine the thermal conductivity values. The results
showed the extent to which reducing the cell size could
improve the insulating capabilities of these materials. The
effect of cell size on the mechanical properties at low
strain rates was very small, so the thermal expansion did
not depend on cell size. The structural characteristics,
however, influenced the dynamic mechanical response
at temps. below 15C. 25 refs.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; SPAIN; UK;
WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.865897
Item 40
Polymer International
51, No.7, July 2002, p.601-6
PHYSICAL STUDIES OF FOAMED
REINFORCED RUBBER COMPOSITES. PART I.
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF FOAMED
ETHYLENE-PROPYLENE-DIENE
TERPOLYMER AND NITRILE-BUTADIENE
RUBBER COMPOSITES
El Lawindy A M Y; Abd El-Kade K M; Mahnoud W E;
Hassan H H
Suez Canal,University; Cairo,University
Furnace black-reinforced EPDM and NBR blends were
compounded with different concentrations of
azodicarbonamide foaming agent to produce EPDM and
NBR foamed composites. All the mechanical parameters
measured were found to decrease as the foaming agent
concentration and/or temperature increased. The stress-
strain results were discussed with reference to the
continuum mechanics theory for compressible materials.
16 refs.
EGYPT
Accession no.862957
Item 41
Machine Design
74, No.15, 8th Aug.2002, p.52
PADDING THAT COOLS AND PROTECTS
It is briefly reported that designers at Brock USA use
expanded PP beads in their lacrosse jerseys. The beads,
marketed under the name Arpo by JSP International,
provide impact protection and cooling. When a player
wearing a Brock jersey is struck on the chest, each bead
moves, trying to move adjacent beads, thus deflecting
energy away from the body and dissipating it over a larger
surface area.
BROCK USA
USA
Accession no.862704
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
 References and Abstracts
Item 42
Polymer Engineering and Science
42, No.7, July 2002, p.1481-92
STRATEGIES FOR ACHIEVING ULTRA LOW-
DENSITY POLYPROPYLENE FOAMS
Naguib H E; Park C B; Panzer U; Reichelt N
Toronto,University; Borealis GmbH
An investigation was carried out on the volume expansion
behaviour of foams made from various propylene
polymers with the aim of producing extruded PP foams
with a large volume expansion ratio. The effects of
processing conditions on volume expansion and cell
density and of the amount of blowing agent (butane) on
volume expansion were examined and the foamability of
branched and linear PPs was compared. It was found that
ultra low-density, fine-celled PP foam with a very high
expansion ratio could be produced from branched PP
because of its reduced degree of cell coalescence. 46 refs.
AUSTRIA; CANADA; EUROPEAN UNION; WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.862223
Item 43
Polymer Engineering and Science
42, No.6, June 2002, p.1274-85
DEFORMATION AND ENERGY ABSORPTION
CHARACTERISTICS OF MICROCELLULAR
ETHYLENE-OCTENE COPOLYMER
VULCANIZATES
Nayak N C; Tripathy D K
Indian Institute of Technology
The compressive stress-strain properties of unfilled and
filled, closed-cell, microcellular ethylene-octene
copolymer vulcanisates were investigated in relation to
various blowing agent loadings and strain rates. Fillers
employed were calcium carbonate, silica and aluminium
silicate. A correlation was established between the
compression modulus and density of the foams and the
efficiency and ideality parameter plotted against stress to
determine the maximum efficiency and ideality region,
which would make these foams suitable for cushioning
and packaging applications. 36 refs.
INDIA
Accession no.859239
Item 44
Macromolecular Symposia
Vol.181, 2002, p.507-11
FOAMED CROSSLINKED LDPE/PP BLENDS
MADE BY HOT MOLD INJECTION MOLDING
Kotzev G; Touleshkov N; Christova D
Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
Details are given of the mechanical properties and
melting/crystallisation behaviour of foamed and
crosslinked LDPE/PP blends made by hot mould injection
moulding. The chemical changes as a result of the
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
crosslinking were determined by gel content. Thermal
properties were studied using DSC. The difference of
influence of crosslinking agent on the chemical changes
of both polymers was established. 7 refs.
BULGARIA; EASTERN EUROPE
Accession no.856864
Item 45
Macromolecular Symposia
Vol.181, 2002, p.421-6
SITE-RESOLVED X-RAY SCATTERING
STUDIES. II. THE MORPHOLOGY IN
INJECTION-MOLDED PP FOAMS
Zipper P; Djoumaliisky S
Graz,Universitat; Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
PP-structural foam mouldings were produced on an
injection moulding machine in a pre-pressurised mould
cavity by the classical low-pressure process and an
alternative low-pressure process. Melt temperature,
injection direction and sprue diameter were varied. Cross-
sections cut from the middle of the small cylinder in
longitudenal orientation were investigated by site-
resolved X-ray scattering. Morphological properties were
investigated. 4 refs.
AUSTRIA; BULGARIA; EASTERN EUROPE; EUROPEAN
UNION; WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.856854
Item 46
Materials in Telecommunications (incorporating PIT
IX). Proceedings of a conference held London, 26th-
27th September 2001.
London, Institute of Materials, 2001, Paper 28, pp5, 012
DEVELOPMENT OF AN HDPE COMPOUND
FOR INSULATION OF COMMUNICATION
CABLES BY THE GAS INJECTION PROCESS
Kerr E A; Keane P D
Wire & Cable Technical Service
(Institute of Materials)
As part of the drive to increased performance in
communication cables (telephony, data and coaxial
cables), continued advances have been made in extrusion
and material technology. One of the most significant over
the last decade is the advent of physical foaming.
Insulation foaming leads to lower cable attenuation and
permits higher data transmission by use of broader
bandwidth signals. Traditional foaming by a chemical
expansion agent is now supplemented by gas injection or
physical foaming. The principal advantages of this
technology include: higher foaming ratios and lower,
intrinsic losses of the dielectric material, in comparison
to chemical expansion. Due to the specific demands of
the gas injection process, specially formulated compounds
have been developed. The development of a fully
formulated HDPE compound is described. Such a
37
 References and Abstracts

compound is designed for use in a broad range of coaxial Item 49

and data cable applications. 1 ref. Blowing Agents and Foaming Processes 2002.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; UK; Proceedings of a conference held Heidelberg, 27th-28th
WESTERN EUROPE May 2002.
Accession no.855855 Shawbury, Rapra Technology Ltd., 2002, Paper 14,
p.141-54, 29cm, 012
THE USE OF POLYFUNCTIONAL MONOMERS
Item 47
IN COMPRESSION-MOULDED LOW-DENSITY
Blowing Agents and Foaming Processes 2002.
POLYETHYLENE FOAM FORMULATIONS
Proceedings of a conference held Heidelberg, 27th-28th
Sims G L A; Sipaut C S
May 2002.
UMIST; Manchester,University; Sains
Shawbury, Rapra Technology Ltd., 2002, Paper 23,
Malaysia,University
p.243-50, 29cm, 012
(Rapra Technology Ltd.)
MELT STRENGTH ANALYSIS FOR EXTRUDED
POLYOLEFIN FOAM DEVELOPMENT The influence of adding polyfunctional monomers having
Yang C-T; Lee S-T different structures and functionality into a dicumyl
Sealed Air Corp. peroxide-based crosslinking system for LDPE was
(Rapra Technology Ltd.) investigated. Monomers employed were diallyl phthalate,
trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate and triallyl cyanurate.
The results are reported of an investigation into the melt
The effects of formulation on matrix gel content and on
rheology of LDPE blown with isobutane in elongational
foam density at similar gel content were examined and
flow using roller pull-off experiments and the effect of
the dependence of foam density on melt modulus assessed.
blending an ionomer with LDPE on the extrusion process
The applicability of swell ratio for estimating foam density
and properties of the resulting foam. Extensional viscosity
was evaluated and the suitability of triallyl cyanurate as
is calculated from the pulling force and roller speed. It is
a crosslinking promoter for LDPE foam demonstrated.
shown that the roller pull-off method is suitable for
20 refs.
generating extensional viscosity data and that addition of
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; MALAYSIA;
ionomer gives rise to enhanced melt strength. 13 refs.
UK; WESTERN EUROPE
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; UK;
WESTERN EUROPE Accession no.854598
Accession no.854606
Item 50
Journal of Materials Science
Item 48
37, No.7, 1st April 2002, p.1347-54
Blowing Agents and Foaming Processes 2002.
EFFECT OF ALUMINIUM SILICATE FILLER
Proceedings of a conference held Heidelberg, 27th-28th
ON MORPHOLOGY AND PHYSICAL
May 2002.
PROPERTIES OF CLOSED CELL
Shawbury, Rapra Technology Ltd., 2002, Paper 20,
MICROCELLULAR ETHYLENE-OCTENE
p.213-26, 29cm, 012
COPOLYMER
EFFECT OF RECYCLING ON THE
Nayak N C; Tripathy D K
RHEOLOGICAL PROPERTIES AND FOAMING
Indian Institute of Technology
BEHAVIOURS OF BRANCHED
POLYPROPYLENE SEM was used to study the effect of aluminium silicate
Naguib H E; Mukhopadhyay A; Wang J; Park C B; filler on the morphology of Engage-8150 microcellular
Reichelt N ethylene-octene copolymer, with variation of contents of
Toronto,University; Borealis GmbH blowing agent and silicate filler, in comparison with the
(Rapra Technology Ltd.) unfilled vulcanisates. The average cell size, maximum
cell size and cell density varied with variation of blowing
The rheological properties and foamability of recycled,
agent and filler loading. Physical properties such as
branched PP foam and virgin PP foam were determined
relative density, hardness, TS, EB, modulus, tear strength
and compared. The rheological behaviour of the foams
decreased with increasing blowing agent concentration,
was correlated with foaming behaviour and foam
while TS, 100% modulus, tear energy and hardness varied
morphology was investigated at various processing
linearly with the density of the filled vulcanisates. The
temperatures using a single-screw tandem foam extruder.
elastic nature of closed cells reduced the hysteresis loss
The foam samples were characterised by volume
compared with solid compounds. Set properties improved
expansion ratio and cell population density and the data
with blowing agent concentration. It was observed that
obtained correlated with the rheological data. 17 refs.
stress relaxation behaviour was independent of blowing
AUSTRIA; CANADA; EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN
UNION; UK; WESTERN EUROPE
agent concentration, i.e. density of closed cell
microcellular vulcanisates. The flaw sizes were found
Accession no.854603

38 © Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited

 References and Abstracts
theoretically to be about 2.57 times larger than maximum
cell sizes observed by SEM. 34 refs.
DU PONT DOW ELASTOMERS
INDIA
Accession no.853284
Item 51
Journal of Reinforced Plastics & Composites
21, No.2, 2002, p.101-20
MELT COMPOUNDING BASED ROTATIONAL
FOAM MOLDING TECHNOLOGY FOR
MANUFACTURE OF POLYPROPYLENE FOAMS
Pop-Iliev R; Park C B
Toronto,University
Details are given of the processing of PP foams in
rotational foam moulding. The method comprises
dispersing a chemical blowing agent in the PP matrix
using a twin screw compounder, pelletising the obtained
expandable composition, and then producing foams in
an uninterrupted rotational foam moulding cycle.
Different foamable compositions were formulated in order
to prepare both 3-fold and 6-fold foamable pellets from
each PP grade. Cell morphologies are discussed. 19 refs.
CANADA
Accession no.851704
Item 52
Journal of Cellular Plastics
38, No.2, March 2002, p.163-76
CELLULAR UHMW POLYETHYLENE
PRODUCED BY NON-FOAMING LEACHING
TECHNIQUE: MORPHOLOGY AND
PROPERTIES
Shutov F; Ananthanarayan V T
Minnesota,University; Tennessee,Technological
University
A process comprising a combination of compression
moulding technique and leaching was developed to
produce open porous UHMW PE. The developed process
did not require any design or machine modifications and,
at the same time, was environmentally friendly. This
repeatable process could produce samples having
predetermined pore size, pore shape and porosity dictated
by the size, shape and content of the salts in the moulding
mixture. All the ingredients were approved by the FDA
for in-vivo medical applications. A maximum porosity of
60% could be obtained, beyond which the mechanical
properties of the material deteriorated. The porous
UHMW PE developed, which was permeable by liquids,
could be used as a substrate matrix in bone regeneration
and in hip- and knee joint replacements. With adequate
lubrication, the porous implants would prevent the
formation of polymer debris due to friction and thereby
increase the life of the biomedical implants. 12 refs.
USA
Accession no.850202
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
Item 53
Journal of Applied Polymer Science
83, No.2, 10th Jan.2002, p.357-66
MORPHOLOGY AND PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
OF CLOSED CELL MICROCELLULAR
ETHYLENE-OCTENE COPOLYMER: EFFECT
OF PRECIPITATED SILICA FILLER AND
BLOWING AGENT
Nayak N C; Tripathy D K
Indian Institute of Technology
SEM photomicrographs were used to study the
morphology of microcellular ethylene-octene copolymer
and the effects of variation of blowing agent and silica
filler loading were investigated. The average cell size,
maximum cell size and cell density varies with variation
of azodicarbonamide blowing agent and filler loading.
Physical properties such as relative density, hardness,
tensile strength, elongation at break, modulus and tear
strength decrease with blowing agent concentration. Stress
relaxation behaviour is independent of blowing agent
loading. Set properties improve with blowing agent
concentration, and the elastic nature of closed cells
reduces the hysteresis loss compared to solid compounds.
The hysteresis loss decreases with increasing blowing
agent as well as filler loading. The tear path deviates from
the linear front and gives rise to a larger effective depth
of the flows. 33 refs.
INDIA
Accession no.846621
Item 54
Cellular Polymers
20, No.6, 2001, p.403-16
EFFECT OF MATERIAL FACTORS ON THE
DENSITY AND CELL MORPHOLOGY OF
CHEMICALLY FOAMED POLYPROPYLENE
Dixon D; Martin P J; Harkin-Jones E
Belfast,Queen’s University
The effects are assessed of various material factors on
the cell morphology and density of extruded expanded
PP rod samples, produced using a range of commercial
chemical blowing agents. The work is part of a research
project into the optimisation of the extrusion and
subsequent thermoforming of EPP sheet for food
packaging applications. Trials were also carried out to
quantify the effects on the foam of additives, such as
pigment, sodium benzoate, co-polymer, and regrind, and
the grade of polymer used. A design of experiment
methodology was adopted for these latter tests. 7 refs.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; UK;
WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.843854
39
 References and Abstracts
Item 55
Cellular Polymers
20, No.6, 2001, p.386-402
VISCOELASTIC BEHAVIOUR OF ALUMINIUM
SILICATE FILLED CLOSED-CELL
MICROCELLULAR ETHYLENE-OCTENE
COPOLYMER VULCANIZATES: EFFECT OF
BLOWING AGENT, TEMPERATURE,
FREQUENCY AND STRAIN
Nayak N C; Tripathy D K
Indian Institute of Technology
An investigation is reported of the dynamic mechanical
response of aluminium silicate filled closed cell
microcellular ethylene-octene copolymer (Engage)
vulcanisates. The effect of blowing agent, frequency and
temperature on dynamic mechanical properties is studied,
and the strain-dependent dynamic mechanical properties
of microcellular Engage are also investigated. 25 refs.
INDIA
Accession no.843853
Item 56
Journal of Injection Molding Technology
5, No.3, Sept.2001, p.152-9
MICROCELLULAR FOAM PROCESSING IN
RECIPROCATING-SCREW INJECTION
MOLDING MACHINES
Jingyi Xu; Pierick D
Trexel Inc.
A microcellular foam processing system for the
reciprocating-screw injection moulding machine was
developed. The design criteria derived provided the
necessary conditions for creating and maintaining a
single-phase solution in the overall system of the
plasticising unit, supercritical fluid(SCF) delivery unit and
hydraulic unit. An overall systems approach was the key
to successful implementation of a microcellular foam
process. These modifications are described, together with
the component designs required for a microcellular foam
moulding machine. The important components discussed
are the plasticising unit, injection unit, hydraulic unit,
clamp unit and SCF unit. The general guidelines for
designing an injection moulding machine for
microcellular foam are listed as the conclusions. 18 refs.
USA
Accession no.840081
Item 57
Journal of Cellular Plastics
37, No.1, Jan. 2001, p.21-42
THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY OF A
POLYETHYLENE FOAM BLOCK PRODUCED
BY A COMPRESSION MOULDING PROCESS
Martinez-Diez J A; Rodriguez-Perez M A; De Saja J A;
Arcos y Rabago L O; Almanza O A
40
Valladolid,Universidad; Queretaro,Universidad
Autonoma; Colombia,University
Low density PE foam sheets having a thickness of 10
mm were cut from a block produced by compression
moulding and their thermal conductivities over the
temperature range from 24 to 50C determined. The
evolution of the properties along the block was analysed
and the cell structure, apparent mean cell diameter,
anisotropy, mean cell wall thickness and relative fraction
of polymer determined using quantitative image analysis
and a previously reported model utilised to predict the
thermal conductivity of the foams. 30 refs.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; SPAIN;
WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.839328
Item 58
Adhasion Kleben & Dichten
45, No.7/8, 2001, p.29-32
German
COMPRESSIVE LAMINATION OF PE FOAM
WITH ACETATE TEXTILE FABRICS
Krueger G
Krueger & Partner
PE foams are recommended because of their properties,
especially for use in packaging. In medical technology
they are also of interest because of their purity. In car
construction we value their flexibility that is almost
independent of temperature as well as the very low
fogging effect. This study shows how the real strength of
PE foams can be improved.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY;
WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.839191
Item 59
Kunststoffe Plast Europe
91, No.11, Nov. 2001, p.24-7
MANY VARIATIONS
Wolf M; Saenze J; Stopperka K
Bruckner Maschinenbau GmbH
A novel procedure, called LISIM (Linear Motor
Simultaneous Stretching) technique, for the manufacture
of expanded, biaxially oriented films of PP and propylene
copolymers, is reported. Examples, which demonstrate
the the range of possibilities for varying the final film
properties through formulations, machine settings and
processing are demonstrated and the mechanical and
optical properties of expanded films made by the above
technique tabulated. (Kunststoffe, 91, No.11, 2001, p.68-
73)
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY;
WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.837216
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
 References and Abstracts
Item 60
Kobunshi Ronbunshu
58, No.9, 2001, p.486-8
Japanese
COMPRESSION MODULUS OF OPEN-CELLED
POLYETHYLENE FOAM
Adachi H; Hasegawa T
Nagoya Municipal Industrial Research Institute
The static modulus and dynamic storage modulus were
investigated for some open-celled PE foams by static
compression tests and dynamic viscoelastic measurements
in compression mode. Experimental data were compared
with theoretical predictions. 8 refs.
JAPAN
Accession no.836948
Item 61
Journal of Macromolecular Science B
40, No.3-4, 2001, p.603-13
STRUCTURE-PROPERTY RELATIONSHIPS IN
POLYOLEFIN FOAMS
Almanza O; Arcos y Rabago L O; Rodriguez-Perez M A;
Gonzalez A; de Saja J A
Colombia,University; Queretaro,Universidad
Autonoma; Valladolid,Universidad
Two theoretical models were developed for use in
predicting the thermal conductivity and Young’s modulus
of LDPE foams produced by a high-pressure nitrogen
solution process. The main factors that influenced the
properties of these materials were studied in terms of these
models. The results showed that the two properties were
dependent on different factors. The matrix polymer
morphology of the foams was also studied and compared
with that of the solid sheet from which the foams were
manufactured. 14 refs. (Europhysics Conference on
Structure Development during Polymer Processing:
Physical Aspects, Sept.2000, Minho, Portugal)
COLOMBIA; EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION;
MEXICO; SPAIN; WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.836389
Item 62
Industria della Gomma
45, No.2, March 2001, p.45-7
Italian
MACHINES FOR EVA AND CROSSLINKED
FOAMS
Details are given of the E266-4 injection press developed
by Main Group for the production of shoe soles from EVA
and crosslinked EVA foams.
MAIN GROUP
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; ITALY;
WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.835431
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
Item 63
Polyolefins 2001. Conference proceedings.
Houston, Tx., 25th-28th Feb. 2001, p.431-40
MUCELL THERMOFORMABLE POLYOLEFIN
FOAM SHEET
Blizard K; Chapman B
Trexel Inc.
(SPE,South Texas Section; SPE,Thermoplastic
Materials & Foams Div.; SPE,Polymer Modifiers &
Additives Div.)
An overview is presented of Trexel’s MuCell
microcellular foam extrusion technology and a description
is given of its application to the manufacture of
thermoformable PP sheet. The results of pilot scale
thermoforming trials carried out to optimise forming
conditions and obtain data about potential cycle time
effects, measurements of the densities, flexural modulus
and wall thicknesses of the sheets and containers made
from the sheets and cell structure analysis are presented
and discussed.
USA
Accession no.834931
Item 64
Polyolefins 2001. Conference proceedings.
Houston, Tx., 25th-28th Feb. 2001, p.323-34
HIGH EFFICIENCY STRUCTURAL OLEFINIC
FOAM FOR AUTOMOTIVE ENERGY
ABSORBING (EA) COUNTERMEASURE
APPLICATIONS
Maurer M J; Tusim M H; Cate P
Dow Chemical Co.
(SPE,South Texas Section; SPE,Thermoplastic
Materials & Foams Div.; SPE,Polymer Modifiers &
Additives Div.)
The unique performance advantages of a new structural
polyolefin foam, which is being used in commercial
vehicle production for enhanced automotive safety
performance, are described. This structural foam consists
of a blend of high melt strength PP and blowing agent
and and is being evaluated in a range of energy absorbing
countermeasure applications, including pillar
countermeasures for occupant head impact protection,
headliner countermeasures for occupant head impact
protection and front and rear end system countermeasures
for vehicle chassis protection. 7 refs.
USA
Accession no.834922
Item 65
Cellular Polymers
20, No.4, 2001, p.255-77
CROSSLINKING OF POLYOLEFIN FOAMS. I.
EFFECT OF TRIALLYL CYANURATE ON
DICUMYL PEROXIDE CROSSLINKING OF
LOW-DENSITY POLYETHYLENE
41
 References and Abstracts
Sims G L A; Sipaut C S
UMIST; Manchester,University; Sains
Malaysia,University
The results are reported of a study of the dicumyl peroxide
(DCP) crosslinking of two LDPEs having similar number-
average molec.wts. but different molecular weight
distribution and of the effect of triallyl cyanurate (TAC)
on the crosslinking of these polymers. The effects of a)
MWD on gel content, b) DCP concentration on gel content
using a fixed concentration of TAC, c) TAC concentration
on gel content using a fixed concentration of DCP, d)
varying DCP concentration on melt behaviour, e)
crosslinking systems containing TAC on melt behaviour,
f) increasing DCP concentration on foam density and cell
size for traditional crosslinking systems and g) TAC on
foaming behaviour are discussed. 23 refs.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; MALAYSIA;
UK; WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.832727
Item 66
Journal of Polymer Science: Polymer Physics Edition
39, No.18, 15th Sept.2001, p.2159-67
RHEOLOGICAL PROPERTIES AND FOAM
PROCESSABILITY FOR BLENDS OF LINEAR
AND CROSSLINKED POLYETHYLENES
Yamaguchi M; Susuki K-I
Tosoh Corp.
The effect of blending crosslinked LLDPE (cLLDPE) on
the rheological properties and foam processability of
LLDPE is studied. A small addition of cLLDPE which
has a low density of crosslink points, enhances strain
hardening behaviour in the elongational viscosity to a
great degree, although it has little effect on steady-state
shear viscosity. The enhanced strain hardening reduces
heterogeneous deformation during foaming. As a result,
a foam with a uniform cell size distribution is obtained.
37 refs.
JAPAN
Accession no.831171
Item 67
Antec 2001.Conference proceedings.
Dallas, Texas, 6th-10th May, 2001, paper 661
HEAT TRANSFER IN FOAM PLASTICS
Pugne D; Mitchell M
Pennsylvania,State University
(SPE)
The thermal conductivity of a section of a commercially
produced high density polyethylene foam channel was
measured. The walls consisted of a 6.4 mm foam core
with a skin of 1.6 mm thickness on either side. Squares
were machined from the outer surface of the channel, so
that heat flow through: the entire thickness; the core plus
one skin layer; and the complete section could be
42
measured. The ends of the channel were sealed and it
was filled with water and ice. The outer surface
temperature was measured as a function of time. The
channel was then re-filled with water at 45.3 C and the
surface temperatures again measured. Heat flow
simulations were performed using finite element analysis
software and the experimentally determined thermal
conductivities.
USA
Accession no.830093
Item 68
Foams 2000: Second International Conference on
Thermoplastic Foam. Conference proceedings.
Parsippany, N.J., 24th-25th October 2000, p.149-61
CHALLENGE TO THE PRODUCTION OF LOW
DENSITY PROPYLENE FOAMS IN EXTRUSION
Naguib H E; Park C B
Toronto,University
(SPE)
The volume expansion behaviour of low-density
propylene foams in extrusion is investigated. As the
escape of blowing agent from the foam causes the foam
to contract and to have low expansion, efforts are made
to prevent the gas loss during foaming. The basic
strategies taken for this purpose are to use a branched
propylene resin with high melt strength, to use a long-
chain blowing agent with low diffusivity, to employ
glycerol monostearate as a diffusion retarder and to
uniformly lower melt temperature. Use of a branched
propylene resin is required to achieve large volume
expansion because cell coalescence will expedite the gas
loss from the extruded foam to the environment. The foam
morphologies of linear and branched propylene materials
at various processing temperatures are studied using a
single-screw tandem foam extrusion system and their
volume expansion behaviours compared. Ultra low-
density, fine-celled propylene foams with very high
expansion ratio up to 90-fold are successfully produced
from the branched propylene resins. 25 refs.
CANADA
Accession no.829222
Item 69
Foams 2000: Second International Conference on
Thermoplastic Foam. Conference proceedings.
Parsippany, N.J., 24th-25th October 2000, p.139-48
USING POLYMER CHARACTERISATION
TECHNIQUES TO PREDICT LDPE RESIN
SUITABILITY FOR EXTRUDED FOAM
APPLICATIONS
Auger J; Nguyen L
Nova Chemicals Corp.
(SPE)
All LDPE resins are not created equal. It is well known
that autoclave LDPEs are considered to be the products
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
 References and Abstracts
of choice for extrusion coating applications. On the other
hand, LDPE resins produced using tubular reactors have
a different structure, making them more suitable for
extruded foam applications. More specifically, within the
choices of tubular LDPE resins for extruded foam
applications, some are easier to process and produce better
quality foam products than others. The general chemical
and rheological differences between autoclave and tubular
LDPE resins are discussed, with emphasis on those
differences for a variety of tubular LDPE products used
in the extruded foam market. 4 refs.
USA
Accession no.829221
Item 70
Foams 2000: Second International Conference on
Thermoplastic Foam. Conference proceedings.
Parsippany, N.J., 24th-25th October 2000, p.108-16
BLENDING LLDPE MADE USING ADVANCED
SCLAIRTECH TECHNOLOGY WITH NOVAPOL
LDPE TO IMPROVE TEAR AND IMPACT
PROPERTIES IN THIN FOAM SHEET
Nguyen L; Ho K; Montgomery S
Nova Chemicals Corp.
(SPE)
Improving tear properties in thin PE foam sheet
applications has always been a challenge for many PE
foam producers. A study of a blending LLDPE made using
Advanced Sclairtech with Novapol LDPE is presented.
Advanced Sclairtech technology is an improved solution
polymerisation process using a new Ziegler-Natta catalyst.
Blending LLDPE with LDPE is shown to improve the
physical properties of thin foam sheets, particularly, tear
and impact properties. The results of rheological
characterisation and how it affects processing and physical
and mechanical properties of blown film and foam sheet
applications are discussed. The correlation of structure/
property relationship between resin, blown film and foam
characteristics at various blend ratios is examined. 2 refs.
USA
Accession no.829217
Item 71
Foams 2000: Second International Conference on
Thermoplastic Foam. Conference proceedings.
Parsippany, N.J., 24th-25th October 2000, p.102-7
NEW PRODUCTS MADE FROM ETHYLENE-
STYRENE INTERPOLYMER/LDPE BLEND
FOAMS FOR VARIOUS APPLICATIONS
Ramesh N S
Sealed Air Corp.
(SPE)
Ethylene-styrene interpolymers (ESI) exhibit some
interesting properties when they are blended with LLDPE
or PP. Aspects covered include foaming technology, blend
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
morphology, product applications and physical properties
of ESI blend foams. 1 ref.
USA
Accession no.829216
Item 72
Foams 2000: Second International Conference on
Thermoplastic Foam. Conference proceedings.
Parsippany, N.J., 24th-25th October 2000, p.5-11
NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN INSPIRE
PERFORMANCE POLYMERS FOR FOAMS
Thoen J; Zhao J; Ansems P; Hughes K; Madenjian L;
Sammler R; Suh K
Dow Chemical Co.
(SPE)
A new generation of high melt strength (HMS) PPs,
together with their applications in the field of foam
extrusion, is discussed. The combination of high melt
strength and high drawability of the polymer melt are the
main characteristics of the new HMS Inspire Performance
Polymers for foams. Applying advanced molecular
architecture design capabilities derived from Insite
technology, has resulted in high performance PP resins
that are characterised by this desired rheological
behaviour. Characteristic properties of the resins are
presented, followed by a discussion of the benefits HMS
Inspire Performance Polymers offer regarding polymer
processing and final foam properties. It is now possible
to manufacture PP foams with densities down to 25 kg/
cub.m, applying foam extrusion technologies traditionally
designed for PE and PS. The main applications for the
new lightweight foams are, for instance, in automotive
energy absorption as well as in thermal and acoustic
insulation applications. This new family of Inspire
Performance Polymers extends the applicability of PP into
a variety of new applications and markets, leveraging both
existing and new extrusion technology capabilities. 5 refs.
USA
Accession no.829207
Item 73
Revista de Plasticos Modernos
80, No.534, Dec.2000, p.630/7
Spanish
CROSSLINKED EXPANDED MATERIALS:
TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS AND
PRODUCT OPPORTUNITIES
The use of crosslinked expanded EVA and other
crosslinked foamed polymers in shoe soles is discussed,
and developments by Main Group in injection moulding
machines for the production of soles from such materials
are examined.
MAIN GROUP SPA
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; ITALY;
WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.828651
43
 References and Abstracts
Item 74
Antec 2001.Conference proceedings.
Dallas, Texas, 6th-10th May, 2001, paper 460
DEVELOPMENT OF AN EXTRUSION SYSTEM
FOR FINE-CELLED FOAMING OF WOOD-
FIBER COMPOSITES USING A PHYSICAL
BLOWING AGENT
Zhang H; Rizvi G M; Lin W S; Guo G; Park C B
Toronto,University
(SPE)
The use of wood fibre filler, combined with a cellular
structure, to reduce cost and increase the mechanical
properties of thermoplastics was investigated. An
extrusion system was developed for material preparation,
consisting of two extruders working in tandem. In the
first extruder the plastic and wood fibre were
compounded, moisture being vented in vapour form at
the junction between the two extruders. In the second
extruder the dry material was blended with a physical
blowing agent, passed through a static mixer, then
homogeneously cooled to enhanced melt strength, before
extrusion through a nucleation die with cooling to freeze
the surface layer of the extrudate. Trials were conducted
using high density polyethylene, softwood fibre (50% less
than 125 micrometre, with an addition of 0-40 wt%),
modified polyethylene coupling agent, CO2 physical
blowing agent (0-4 wt%) and talc as the nucleating agent.
The system operated successfully, attributed to the
combination of uniform mixing, improved bonding and
effective moisture removal. The cell morphology was
dependent upon the system configuration, and was
strongly influenced by the coupling agent. Increasing the
CO2 content had little effect on the cell morphology, but
increased the volume expansion ratio and decreased the
minimum foaming temperature. Reducing the fibre
content enhanced the cell morphology. 58 refs.
CANADA
Accession no.827190
Item 75
Antec 2001.Conference proceedings.
Dallas, Texas, 6th-10th May, 2001, paper 444
INFLUENCING THE FOAM STRUCTURE OF
CO2-BLOWN POLYPROPYLENE SHEETS
Heinz R; Michaeli W
Aachen,Institut fur Kunststoffverarbeitung
(SPE)
Polypropylene (PP) foam sheet was produced by foam
extrusion using conventional linear PP and also a branched
high melt strength PP, foamed using CO2 with either
sodium bicarbonate/citric acid mixtures or talc as
nucleating agents. The influences of: die gap; blowing
agent content; nucleating agent content; temperatures of
the cooling section, the static mixer, the die, and the die
lip on the foam quality were evaluated. The foam quality
was determined by density, thickness and surface quality
44
measurements, and structure evaluation, considering cell
size, density and elongation. Foam quality was improved
by the use of branched PP, which gave thicknesses of up
to 2 mm, and densities as low as 140 kg/cu m. A thickness
of only 0.8 mm, and a density of 330 kg/cu m was
achieved using linear PP. 3 refs.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY;
WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.827071
Item 76
Antec 2001.Conference proceedings.
Dallas, Texas, 6th-10th May, 2001, paper 443
USE OF ETHYLENE/STYRENE
INTERPOLYMERS IN CROSSLINKED FOAMS
FOR THE FOOTWEAR INDUSTRY
Dubois R; Karande S; Wright D P; Martinez F
Dow Chemical Co.
(SPE)
Foams of ethylene-styrene interpolymers (ESI), of
crosslinked ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer, and
of blends of these two copolymers, were prepared and
evaluated for footwear applications. Prepared foams were
characterised by measurement of: density; rebound
resilience according to ASTM D 3574-86; Asker C
hardness; compression set; oven shrinkage, at a
temperature of 70 C for 1 h; and split tear. It was concluded
that the blends could provide lower compression set,
higher rebound resilience and greater softness without
loss of split tear or heat shrinkage properties or gain in
strength; or alternatively, the blends could provide lower
weight, softer foams and higher rebound resilience with
no loss of compression set, split tear, or heat shrinkage
properties. 17 refs.
Accession no.827070
Item 77
Antec 2001.Conference proceedings.
Dallas, Texas, 6th-10th May, 2001, paper 442
FOAM EXTRUSION OF SYNDIOTACTIC
POLYPROPYLENE-POLYETHYLENE BLENDS
Park C P
Dow Chemical Co.
(SPE)
Foams were extruded from low density polyethylene
(LDPE) and blends of LDPE with syndiotactic
polypropylene (sPP), using isobutane as the blowing
agent. The extruded materials were characterised by
measurement of dimensional stability at room
temperature, density, tensile properties, dynamic stiffness,
and crystallinity determined by differential scanning
calorimetry. The sPP, with a slow crystallisation rate, did
not interfere with the expansion of the LDPE, and
enhanced the temperature resistance by in-situ
crystallisation. The blends were flexible, dimensionally
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
 References and Abstracts
stable, and were considered suitable for thermoforming
applications.
Accession no.827069
Item 78
Antec 2001.Conference proceedings.
Dallas, Texas, 6th-10th May, 2001, paper 438
EFFECTS OF BLENDING OF BRANCHED AND
LINEAR POLYPROPYLENE MATERIALS ON
THE FOAMABILITY
Naguib H E; Xu J X; Park C B; Hesse A; Panzer U;
Reichelt N
Toronto,University; Borealis GmbH
(SPE)
A tandem screw extruder arrangement feeding a gear
pump was used for the foam extrusion of blends of linear
and branched polypropylene (PP), with 0.8 wt% talc as
the cell nucleating agent, to investigate the influence of
blend composition on the processability and foam
properties. The blowing agent was 10 wt% n-butane. The
cell morphology was studied using optical and scanning
electron microscopy. The cell density and the volume
expansion increased with increasing proportion of
branched PP, attributed to a reduction in cell coalescence
due to the higher melt strength and extensibility of the
branched material. The optimum temperature at which
the volume expansion ratio occurred decreased with
increasing branched content. This was attributed to the
higher viscosity of the linear PP and to the extensional
characteristics of the branched PP. The crystallisation
temperature of the blends was not composition dependent,
and it is proposed that the crystallisation temperature was
not the determining factor for the maximum volume
expansion ratio. 39 refs.
AUSTRIA; CANADA; EUROPEAN UNION; WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.827065
Item 79
Antec 2001.Conference proceedings.
Dallas, Texas, 6th-10th May, 2001, paper 400
EXTRUSION FOAMING OF PET/PP BLENDS
Wan C; Xanthos M; Dey S; Zhang Q
New Jersey,Institute of Technology
(SPE)
Blends of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PETP) and
polypropylene (PP) with different rheological properties
were dry blended or compounded, and extrusion foamed
using both physical blowing and chemical agents, and
the foam properties compared with those of foam
produced from the individual components in the absence
of compatibilisers and rheology modifiers. The foams
were characterised by measurement of density, cell size
and thermal properties. Low density foam with a fine cell
size was obtained by addition of a compatibiliser and a
co-agent, and foamed using carbon dioxide. The presence
of PP or a polyolefin-based compatibiliser did not effect
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
the melting temperature nor the crystallinity of PETP, but
did decrease the crystallisation temperature. 5 refs.
USA
Accession no.826616
Item 80
BLOWING AGENTS AND FOAMING PROCESSES
CONFERENCE 2001. Proceedings from a conference
held Frankfurt, 13th-14th March 2001.
Shawbury, Rapra Technology Ltd., 2001, Paper 28. 012
FOAMING OF FILM AND SHEET FROM
POLYPROPYLENE AND POLYSTYRENE
Berghaus U
Reifenhauser GmbH
(Rapra Technology Ltd.)
The production of foamed films and sheets from
polypropylene and polystyrene is discussed, with
particular reference to packaging applications.
Advantages of foamed materials for this application are
examined, and the chemical and physical foaming
processes are described. Extrusion technology for film
and sheet by chemical and physical foaming processes is
discussed, and recent developments in the coextrusion of
multilayer packaging trays for the food industry are
considered.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY;
UK; WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.826304
Item 81
BLOWING AGENTS AND FOAMING PROCESSES
CONFERENCE 2001. Proceedings from a conference
held Frankfurt, 13th-14th March 2001.
Shawbury, Rapra Technology Ltd., 2001, Paper 7. 012
STRATEGIES FOR ACHIEVING FINE-CELLED
LOW-DENSITY POLYPROPYLENE FOAMS
Naguib H E; Park C B; Hesse A; Panzer U; Reichelt N
Toronto,University
(Rapra Technology Ltd.)
The purpose of this study is to develop an engineering
basis for extrusion processing of low-density P foams with
a large volume expansion ratio. This paper presents an
effective means for the control of cell growth to achieve
a desired volume expansion ratio using butane as the
blowing agent. The role of branching of polypropylene
materials in determining the volume expansion ration of
extruded foams is investigated, and an effective
processing strategy is also established to prevent the loss
of gas. Since too quick crystallisation may govern the
volume expansion behaviour of PP foams, a proper range
of the processing temperature is required to be established.
The expandability of PP materials is studied, and
experimental results are presented that verify the
feasibility of the proposed ideas. 46 refs.
45
 References and Abstracts
CANADA; EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION;
UK; WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.826078
Item 82
Polymer Testing
20, No.6, 2001, p.643-7
PREDICTION OF IMPACT PROPERTIES OF
POLYOLEFIN FOAMS
Iannace F; Iannace S; Caprino G; Nicolais L
Napoli,Universita Federico II
The mechanical response of polypropylene foam was
studied over a wide range of strain rates and the linear
and non-linear viscoelastic behaviour was analysed. The
material was tested in creep and dynamic mechanical
experiments and a correlation between strain rate effects
and viscoelastic properties of the foam was obtained using
viscoelasticity theory and separating strain and time
effects. A scheme for the prediction of the stress-strain
curve at any strain rate was developed in which a strain
rate-dependent scaling factor was introduced. An energy
absorption diagram was constructed. 14 refs.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; ITALY;
WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.824983
Item 83
Antec 2001.Conference proceedings.
Dallas, Texas, 6th-10th May, 2001, paper 115
EFFECT OF PROCESSING VARIABLES ON THE
QUALITY OF INJECTION MOLDED FOAMED
PARTS
Duever T A; Tripp M T; Tzoganakis C
Waterloo,University
(SPE)
The influence of mould temperature, curing time, extruder
temperature, screw speed, compression pressure, injection
pressure and cushion (the volume of molten polymer
remaining in the barrel after injection) on the physical
properties of injection moulded ethylene-vinyl alcohol
copolymer foams was investigated using statistical design
of experiments techniques. Models for the prediction of
properties were compared with experimental
observations. The samples were characterised by
measurement of: length and weight expansion; density;
hardness; split tear; compression set; and abrasion
resistance. Mould temperature and curing time were the
dominant factors for high-density foams, with extruder
temperature having a significant influence for lower
density compositions. 2 refs.
CANADA
Accession no.822864
Item 84
Journal of Cellular Plastics
46
37, No.4, July 2001, p.333-52
INVESTIGATION OF THE RADIATION
CROSSLINKED FOAMS PRODUCED FROM
METALLOCENE POLYOLEFIN ELASTOMERS/
POLYETHYLENE BLEND
Kim D W; Kim K S
Chungbuk,National University; Youngbo Chemical
Co.Ltd.
In order to produce low-density crosslinked foam with
good properties and a uniform cell structure from
metallocene polyolefin elastomer(POE)/LDPE blends, the
crosslinking efficiency of resin, behaviour of crosslinking
sensitiser, dependence of mechanical properties on
irradiation dose and compressive strength in different cell
sizes were examined. When POE(ethylene-octene
copolymer)/LDPE 70/30 was irradiated at 3 Mrad, the
gel content was 18.5%, but the addition of 0.3 phr of
triallyl-1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylate only increased gel
content up to 36%. The gel fraction increase was greater
with lower melt index of the resin. Although TS increased
up to a certain point with increasing gel content, the
decrease of TS was observed over the fixed gel content.
The effect of polyfunctionality was investigated by
analysing the gel fraction in accordance with the number
of double bonds in molecules of crosslinking sensitisers.
As a result of the measurement of changes of compressive
strength according to the sizes of different foam cells,
having the same degree of density, bigger cells showed
stronger compressive strengths when compressed at 25%,
while foams containing smaller cells showed superior
compressive strengths when compressed over 50%. 19
refs.
KOREA
Accession no.821775
Item 85
Plast 21
No.97, Nov.2000, p.38-9
Spanish
NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN THERMOFORMING
Research carried out by the Queen’s University of Belfast
in the thermoforming of PP and PP foam is reviewed.
Studies were made of the influence of crystallinity on
thermoformability and the use of chemical blowing agents
in the production of foams having lower density and
optimum cell structure. Finite element modelling was used
in the prediction of wall thicknesses and an optimised
process control system was developed.
BELFAST,QUEEN S UNIVERSITY
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; NORTHERN
IRELAND; UK; WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.818418
Item 86
Patent Number: US 6187840 B1 20010213
CHEMICALLY EMBOSSED METALLOCENE
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
 References and Abstracts
POLYETHYLENE FOAM
Yang L-Y T; Dees M
Armstrong World Industries Inc.
A textured metallocene polyethylene foam sheet suitable
for use in a floor covering is made using a highly co-
activated azodicarbonamide package which blows the
metallocene polyethylene effectively. The preferred co-
activators are zinc oxide and urea. The textured surface
of metallocene polyethylene foam is formed by a chemical
embossing process which utilises a liquid triazole having
an alkyl moiety as a foam-expansion inhibitor. The triazole
is dissolved in a non-polar solvent to form the foam
inhibitor. The preferred inhibitor is a hydrocarbon which
may be halogenated.
USA
Accession no.818219
Item 87
Advances in Polymer Technology
20, No.2, Summer 2001, p.108-15
ROTATIONAL MOULDING OF TWO-LAYERED
POLYETHYLENE FOAMS
Liu S-J; Yang C-H
Chang Gung,University
Rotational moulding of PE foams has increasingly become
an important process in industry because of its resultant
thicker walls, low sound transfer, high stiffness and good
thermal insulation. The rotomouldability of two-layer PE
foamed parts is assessed. The polymeric material used is
LLDPE and the foaming material is an endothermic
chemical blowing agent. Two different moulding methods,
by powder and by pellet, are used to mould the multilayer
foamed parts. Rotational moulding experiments are
carried out in a laboratory scale uniaxial machine, capable
of measuring internal mould temperature in the cycle.
Characterisation of moulded part properties is performed
after moulding. Optical microscopy is also employed to
determine the bubble distribution in foamed parts. The
final goal is to investigate how blowing agent and
processing conditions can influence the process of
rotational moulding and final product quality. It is found
that the rotational moulding of two-layer PE foams
produces parts of better impact properties, as well as fine
outside surfaces. In addition, rotational moulding of
foamed parts by pellets saves the cost of powder grinding,
but is counteracted by uneven inner surfaces. 20 refs.
TAIWAN
Accession no.818013
Item 88
Polymer Engineering and Science
41, No.5, May 2001, p.735-42
FOAMING OF LOW-DENSITY POLYETHYLENE
IN A DYNAMIC DECOMPRESSION AND
COOLING PROCESS
Kwangjin Song; Apfel R E
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
Yale,University
The effects of the properties of polymers and blowing
agents (chloroform and methylene chloride) on the
macrostructure and microstructure of foamed products
in a dynamic decompression and cooling process were
investigated. When the homogeneous solutions, prepared
by the heating and mixing of the mixtures of LDPEs and
chlorinated hydrocarbons under nitrogen, went through
a rapid pressure quench above the boiling point of the
liquids, bubbles nucleated out through liquid/gas phase
separation and grew through diffusion and expansion of
the gaseous phases. Foam cell stabilisation was improved
by polymers exhibiting higher extensional hardening and
blowing liquids possessing higher latent heat of
evaporation. The resultant LDPE foams had mixed cell
structures, more cells being closed in the skin parts but
more being open in the core parts. In the polymer matrix,
micromorphologies of granules, fibres and fibre networks,
with oriented lamellae, were observed. The formation of
these complex structures was examined in terms of phase
and deformation behaviours of the solutions. 23 refs.
USA
Accession no.817907
Item 89
Polymers & Polymer Composites
9, No.4, 2001, p.227-38
VISCOELASTIC PROPERTIES OF
POLYETHYLENE SYNTACTIC FOAM WITH
POLYMER MICROBALLOONS
Lawrence E; Pyrz R
Aalborg,University
The use is investigated of polymeric microballoons in
place of glass microballoons for the manufacture of
polyethylene syntactic foams. Whilst glass microballoons
have good mechanical and thermal properties, they are
subject to breaking and shearing during processing. This
present study deals with the viscoelastic properties of
extruded PE and a foam made from PE and approximately
40 volume percent of polymer microballoons. Results are
discussed of creep tests and stress relaxation tests. 6 refs.
DENMARK; EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION;
SCANDINAVIA; WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.817541
Item 90
Cellular Polymers
20, No.2, 2001, p.79-100
MODELING THE GAS-LOSS CREEP
MECHANISM IN EVA FOAM FROM RUNNING
SHOES
Mills N J; Rodriguez-Perez M A
Edited by: Birmingham,University;
Valladolid,University
47
 References and Abstracts
Compressive creep experiments were performed on an
EVAC foam from a running shoe. The recovery process
after creep is discussed. Modelling was performed of gas
diffusion perpendicular to the stress axis and along the
stress axis. 16 refs.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; SPAIN; UK;
WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.817287
Item 91
Plastics and Rubber Weekly
8th June 2001, p.9
EPP TAKES OFF WITH RISING CAR SAFETY
STANDARDS
Edwards N
Protection Packaging’s Newport factory has spent 10
years gradually developing a market for expanded PP
automotive components that it believes has huge potential.
Toolkits are its most popular in-car application, but the
company also produces bumper cores, crash protection
and void fillers. EPP offers the advantage that it can be
recycled along with the many high-density PP parts, such
as bumpers. The company also produces returnable
packaging in the form of EPP component trays used in
car production. Meanwhile, the Newport plant’s
packaging business is shrinking as Japanese teletronics
companies move mass production abroad. However, last
year the company launched antistatic EPE packaging for
DAT drives and is currently shipping 25,000 a month.
PROTECTION PACKAGING LTD.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; UK;
WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.816860
Item 92
Shawbury, Rapra Technology Ltd., 2001, pp.146. 30
cms., 1/6/01. Rapra Industry Analysis Series
POLYMER FOAMS. TRENDS IN USE AND
TECHNOLOGY
Eaves D
Rapra Technology Ltd.
This market report on polymer foams covers foams
derived from the most commonly available polymers: PU
(flexible and rigid, including polyisocyanate), polyolefins
(PP, PE, and ethylene copolymers), PS, phenolics, PVC
and latex. The production of foams using the recently
developed microcellular process is also discussed, as are
physical and chemical blowing agents. Processing aids
and compounding ingredients are reviewed, and for each
foam type, details are given of properties, processes,
markets and applications, and industry trends.
Environmental considerations are also examined, with
reference to the Montreal Protocol and recycling of foams.
EUROPE-GENERAL
Accession no.815481
48
Item 93
Patent Number: US 6174930 B1 20010116
FOAMABLE POLYPROPYLENE POLYMER
Agarwal P K; Mehta A K
Exxon Chemical Patents Inc.
A foamable isotactic polypropylene homopolymer is
obtained by metallocene catalysis and has a molecular
weight distribution and density, which fall within broad
ranges. It may be prepared in a multiple stage
polymerisation process using the same metallocene
component in at least two stages.
USA
Accession no.814133
Item 94
Polymer Testing
20, No.3, 2001, p.253-67
IMPROVEMENT OF THE MEASUREMENT
PROCESS USED FOR THE DYNAMIC
MECHANICAL CHARACTERISATION OF
POLYOLEFIN FOAMS IN COMPRESSION
Rodriguez-Perez, M A; Almanza O; del Valle JL;
Gonzalez A; de Saja J A
Valladolid,Universidad; Colombia,University
Because there are many factors involved in the dynamic
mechanical compression of polyolefin foams, the Taguchi
method was employed in a Perkin Elmer DMA7 dynamic
mechanical analyser to establish a method to improve the
measurement process. The signal-to-noise ratio was
measured to determine how the variability could be
improved. Control and noise factors were evaluated and
levels chosen, with details being tabulated. Appendix A
describes some of the factors. Tests were conducted on
two closed cell foams. NA2006 foam is 48 kg/cu m LDPE
and NEE3306 foam is 32 kg/cu m EVA. Different factors
were shown to influence results for E’ and tan delta but
an optimum combination is proposed for the simultaneous
measurement of both properties. The results were less
variable as frequency was increased. Small differences
in the dynamic response of different materials should be
measurable because of the low variability in the
experimental results. 18 refs.
COLOMBIA; EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION;
SPAIN; WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.813852
Item 95
Patent Number: US 6162380 A1 20001219
METHOD FOR PRODUCING FOAMED
PLASTIC HOLLOW BODIES
Kohn U; Steigerwald F
Wella AG
In the method of producing a hollow foamed plastic body
from polyethylene or polypropylene by means of an
extrusion blow-moulding process using a single-screw
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
 References and Abstracts
extruder and a blow-moulding tool, the plastic material
is foamed by means of a chemical blowing agent, and a
pre-moulded tube blank formed from the foamed plastic
material is blow-moulded in the blow-moulding tool. The
blow-moulding tool has a tool surface temperature of at
least 35 deg C over at least one portion of the surface. A
blowing agent that decomposes endothermically and
provides a nucleation effect is included in a blowing-agent
master batch based on high density polyethylene. The
master batch has an average grain size of about 1 mm
and the pre-moulded tube blank is blow moulded at a
pressure of from 0.5 to 2.0 bar, or the pre-moulded tube
blank is blow-moulded in an interval blow-moulding
process with a blow-moulding pressure of from 3 to 10
bar, preferably 8 to 10 bar, in a first time slot and a blow-
moulding pressure of from 0.5 to 1.0 bar in a second time
slot.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY;
USA; WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.812606
Item 96
Patent Number: US 6150427 A1 20001121 2000
FOAMING PROPYLENE COPOLYMER, AND
FOAMED PARTICLES AND FOAMS THEREOF
Ito T; Seta Y; Tsunori R
Idemitsu Petrochemical Co.Ltd.
Provided are a foaming propylene-ethylene random
copolymer which is characterised in that (1) its ethylene
unit content (x (wt. %)) falls between 0.2 and 10% by
weight, (2) its MI falls between 1 and 16 g/10 min, (3) its
boiling diethyl ether extraction (E (wt. %) and x satisfy
the relation of a formula (I): E larger than or equal to
0.25x+1.1 (I), (4) its melting point (Tm (degree C.)) and
x satisfy the relation of a formula (II): Tm is larger than
or equal to165-5x (II), (5) its isotactic triad fraction in
the PPP chain moiety as measured through 13 C NMR is
not smaller than 98 mol %, and preferably, (6) the relation
between the time of relaxation tau (sec) of the copolymer
and MI of the copolymer satisfies a formula (III): tau
larger than or equal to 0.80-0.42. times log MI (III), and
also its foaming beads and cellular articles. The copolymer
and its foaming beads have improved primary and
secondary foamability, and the cellular articles of the
copolymer have excellent mechanical properties including
rigidity.
JAPAN; USA
Accession no.810774
Item 97
Patent Number: US 6166096 A1 20001226
PRE-EXPANDED PARTICLES OF
POLYPROPYLENE RESIN, PROCESS FOR
PRODUCING THE SAME AND PROCESS FOR
PRODUCING IN-MOULD FOAMED ARTICLES
THEREFROM
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
Ichimura T; Nakamura K; Senda K
Kaneka Corp.
A pre-expanded particle made of a blend of 10 to 90
percent by weight of a polypropylene resin having a melt
index of 6 to 10 g/10 minutes and 90 to 10 percent by
weight of a polypropylene resin having a melt index of
0.5 to 3 g/10 minutes. The melt index of the blend being
within the range of 2 to 5 g/10 minutes. The pre-expanded
particles can be moulded by an in-mould foaming method
in a short time without causing sink to give polypropylene
resin cellular moulded articles having good surface
property and good melt adhesion of the particles.
JAPAN; USA
Accession no.810209
Item 98
Plastics and Rubber Weekly
6th April 2001, p.13
PROTECTION DRIVES ON WITH EPP PARTS
Edwards N
Protective Packaging sees the automotive sector as
positively brimming with opportunity in the coming
months. The key is the growing provision of EPP
components, from head restraints to side impact bars and
bumper cores. The company’s Newport, South Wales, site
specialises in automotive work. The Glasgow site is
unusual is mixing, moulding with fabrication of EPE. The
company recently opened its refurbished design office at
its Blackburn headquarters. One innovative product is the
supply of dissipative EPS, which removes the need for
shielding bags for products like disc drives.
PROTECTION PACKAGING LTD.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; UK;
WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.810128
Item 99
Kobunshi Ronbunshu
58, No.1, 2001, p.56-8
Japanese
DYNAMIC COMPRESSION MODULUS OF
CLOSE-CELLED POLYETHYLENE FOAM
Adachi H; Hasegawa T
Nagoya,Municipal Industrial Res.Inst.Rokuban
The dynamic storage modulus of closed-cell PE foams
was investigated by dynamic viscoelastic measurement
in the compression mode. It was found that dynamic
modulus correlated with compression hardness and that
the resistance against pressure inside the cells had no
effect upon static modulus or dynamic storage modulus.
8 refs.
JAPAN
Accession no.809551
49
 References and Abstracts

Item 100
Journal of Applied Polymer Science
79, No.12, 21st March 2001, p.2146-55
STUDY ON THE FOAMING OF CROSSLINKED
POLYETHYLENE
Abe S; Yamaguchi M
TOSOH Corp.
The processing of crosslinked PE foam, with a closed-
cell structure, was investigated. Two types of LLDPE
produced using a metallocene catalyst were crosslinked
by dicumyl peroxide(DCP). The expansion ratio of the
foams decreased with increasing DCP content, which was
due to the enhancement of the elastic modulus. The
crystallisation temp.(Tc) of the foams was also responsible
for the expansion ratio. After expansion, the crosslinked
foam with lower Tc shrank to a greater degree prior to
the crystallisation, which was attributed to the volume
reduction of the gas in the cells. As a result, the expansion
ratio decreased. The degree of shrinkage decreased with
increasing Tc because immediate crystallisation prevented
the shrinkage. 28 refs.
JAPAN
Accession no.807397
Item 101
Chimica e l Industria
82, No.3, April 2000, p.313-8
Italian
COEXTRUDED POLYPROPYLENE FOAM
SHEETS
Delben F; Forabosco A; Casasola M
Trieste,University; AMB Srl
Multi-layer sheets for use in the manufacture of food packaging
containers were produced by the coextrusion of PP foam in
combination with PE, an EVOH barrier layer and tie layers.
Results are presented of studies of the mechanical and
morphological properties, density and cell structure of foam
layers based on different types of PP. 8 refs.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; ITALY;
WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.807089
layer and a resin layer provided on the outer side of the
foamed resin layer in a mould in such manner that at least
part of the opposed inner surfaces of foamed resin layer
in the parison are fusion-bonded to each other. There is a
polypropylene resin layer on the surface of the foamed
polypropylene resin layer. The melt tension and melt flow
rate obtained by measurement of the polypropylene resin
forming the layers in the expansion-moulded article
satisfy given relationships.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; JAPAN;
WESTERN EUROPE-GENERAL
Accession no.806641
Item 103
Patent Number: US 6130266 A1 20001010
PRE-EXPANDED PARTICLES OF PROPYLENE
RESIN, PROCESS FOR PREPARING THE SAME
AND FLOW-RESTRICTING DEVICE
Mihayashi T; Ota N; Akamatsu N; Yanagihara Y;
Satoh T
Kaneka Corp.
Pre-expanded particles of a propylene polymer having a
high expansion ratio and excellent moulding adhesion
without using a volatile blowing agent or increasing
expansion pressure are disclosed. They are prepared by
dispersing polymer particles comprising a propylene resin
composition into an aqueous dispersion medium in a
pressure vessel, heating the resulting mixture to an
expansion temperature higher than the softening
temperature of the particles, introducing an inorganic gas,
and releasing the mixture into a lower atmosphere than
the inner pressure of the pressure vessel. The mixture is
expanded after the temperature of the mixture is
maintained in a temperature range of not more than the
expansion temperature to at least the expansion
temperature -1C for at least 30 minutes. The composition
contains 100 parts by weight of (A) a random copolymer
of ethylene and propylene having an ethylene content of
1.5 to 4.5% by weight and 0.001 to 10 parts by weight of
(B) an alkali metal salt of a copolymer of ethylene and
(meth)acrylic acid.
JAPAN; USA

Item 102 Accession no.806328

Patent Number: EP 1075933 A2 20010214
MULTI-LAYER EXPANSION-MOLDED Item 104
ARTICLE OF POLYPROPYLENE RESIN, Patent Number: EP 1066958 A1 20010110
PRODUCTION PROCESS THEREOF, AND THERMOFORMABLE MULTI-LAYER
CONTAINER, SHOCK-ABSORBING MATERIAL PARTIALLY FOAMED SHEET
FOR AUTOMOBILE AND AUTOMOTIVE Di Cesare G
MEMBER FORMED OF THE MULTI-LAYER Cryovac Inc.
EXPANSION-MOLDED ARTICLE OF
The sheet comprises a foamed layer (a) composed of
POLYPROPYLENE RESIN
polypropylene, at least one surface of which is directly
Kogure N; Gokuraku H
adhered to a substantially unfoamed layer (b) comprising
JSP Corp.
an ethylene-based polymer. The resin employed for the
A multi-layer expansion-moulded article is obtained by foamed layer is a blend of at least about 50% by weight
moulding a multi-layer parison comprising a foamed resin of polypropylene and from about 3 to less than about 50%

50 © Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited

 References and Abstracts
by weight of an ethylene/C3 to C8 alpha-olefin plastomer.
The presence of the plastomer in the polypropylene
foamed layer increases the bond with the directly adhering
layer (b), thus preventing delamination problems upon
thermoforming.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; WESTERN
EUROPE-GENERAL
Accession no.805974
Item 105
Antec 2000.Conference proceedings.
Orlando, Fl., 7th-11th May, 2000, paper 703
EFFECT OF CHEMICAL BLOWING AGENT
DOSAGE ON THE PROPERTIES OF EXTRUDED
EXPANDED POLYPROPYLENE
Dixon D; Martin P J; Harkin-Jones E
Belfast,Queen’s University
(SPE)
The influence of chemical blowing agent concentration
on die temperature and premature foaming, and on the
cell density, density, tensile strength and shrinkage of
extruded polypropylene foam was investigated. The
blowing agent, a bicarbonate/citric acid based material,
was used in concentrations in the range 0.1-1.0%. The
optimum dosage, which gave the highest cell density in
conjunction with a low density, was 0.5%. The tensile
strength decreased with increasing blowing agent
concentration. 6 refs.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; UK;
WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.805711
Item 106
Polyolefins 2000. Conference proceedings.
Houston, Tx., 27th Feb.-1st March 2000, p.449-56
THIN GAUGE POLYETHYLENE FOAM
EXTRUSION
Sreenath G K
Battenfeld Gloucester Engineering Co.Inc.
(SPE,South Texas Section; SPE,Thermoplastic
Materials & Foams Div.; SPE,Polymer Modifiers &
Additives Div.)
Thin gauge PE foams have been increasingly used for
protective packaging over the past few years. However,
very little processing data has been available. Process
conditions for a continuous extrusion process to
manufacture thin gauge PE foam are outlined. A
specification defining the range of thickness and density
is proposed and extrusion conditions documented. Typical
process issues are discussed. A high-speed winding
technology to wind thin gauge PE foam sheet is
summarised. 3 refs.
USA
Accession no.803470
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
Item 107
Patent Number: US 6127441 A1 20001003
EXPANDABLE RESIN COMPOSITION
Sakamoto T; Ishihara K; Furukawa T
Nippon Unicar Co.Ltd.
This comprises (A) 100 pbw of HDPE having a DSC
melting point of about 127 to 136C, a density of 0.945 to
0.967 g/cu.cm. and a melt flow rate of about 0.1 to 10 g/
10 min. and, for each 100 pbw of A, (B) about 2 to 50
pbw of PP having a DSC melting point of at least about
130C, (C) about 50 to 200 pbw of an ethylene/alpha-olefin
copolymer obtained using a metallocene catalyst and
having a DSC melting point of about 98 to 121C, a density
of 0.900 to 0.935 g/cu.cm. and a melt flow rate of about
0.5 to 3 g/10 min., (D) about 0.1 to 5 pbw of a
polysiloxane-polyether block copolymer of given formula
and (E) about 0.02 to 5 pbw of a nucleating agent, such
as azodicarbonamide, talc or mixtures thereof.
JAPAN; USA
Accession no.802931
Item 108
Patent Number: US 6129798 A1 20001010
PROCESS FOR MANUFACTURING AN
ETHYLENE VINYL ACETATE INSOLE
Yang Y-C; Lu S-F
This involves weighing moulding compounds for
manufacturing the insole. The moulding compounds are
mixed and rolled by means of a roller to form a sheet
material, which is then cut into elongated strips. A
predetermined amount of the strips are placed into a first
mould unit, which is heated and pressurised to form a
partially foamed insole. The partially foamed insole is
placed into a second mould unit, which is heated,
pressurised and cooled to form a completely foamed
insole, which is then trimmed.
USA
Accession no.802882
Item 109
Patent Number: US 6114025 A1 20000905
FOAM AND FILM/FOAM LAMINATES USING
LINEAR LOW DENSITY POLYETHYLENE
DeVaudreuil M D; Crowell J M; Smith A R;
Wilkes G R
Tenneco Protective Packaging Inc.
A polymeric composition for use in foam manufacture
comprises a linear low density polyethylene and a
resiliency modifier resin. The linear low density
polyethylene is present in an amount of from about 1 to
90 weight percent of the polymeric composition and has
a z-average molecular weight greater than about 700,000.
The resiliency modifier resin is present in an amount of
from 10 to about 99 weight percent of the polymeric
composition and may be a low density polyethylene.
51
 References and Abstracts
Reclaimed material may comprise a portion of the linear
low density polyethylene.
USA
Accession no.801269
Item 110
Patent Number: US 6124025 A1 20000926
POLYPROPYLENE-BASED FOAMED SHEET
Kitayama T; Tsubouchi K; Matsubara S
Sumitomo Chemical Co.Ltd.
The present invention provides a polypropylene-based
foamed sheet whose expansion ratio is 4 or more times
characterised by expansion ratio A of the part (skin layer)
up to 20% in each of the seat thickness from both surface
of said polypropylene-based foamed sheet and expansion
ratio B of part other than said skin layer (core layer)
satisfying the following formula (1): 1.3 less than or equal
to B/A. The polypropylene-based foamed sheet of the
present invention is excellent in the balance of lightweight
properties and rigidity.
JAPAN; USA
Accession no.801013
Item 111
Plastiques & Elastomeres Magazine
52, No.4, May 2000, p.27
French
POLYURETHANES GO INTO HOSPITAL
Topuz B
A hospital trolley developed by Bayer and GMP is
described. The trolley is equipped with a portable
computer for the collection and management of patient
information with the aim of reducing medical errors. The
main component is a sandwich structure reaction injection
moulded in Bayer’s Baydur 60 PU and consisting of a
cellular core and a smooth skin. Other components are
made of PP, PMMA or polycarbonate. Developments by
GMP in the use of PU foams in refrigerator manufacture
are also reviewed, and turnover figures are presented for
the Company.
BAYER AG; GMP; SMEG; CANNON GROUP;
ELECTROLUX AB
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY;
ITALY; SCANDINAVIA; SWEDEN; WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.800834
Item 112
Patent Number: US 6103153 A1 20000815
PRODUCTION OF FOAMED LOW-DENSITY
POLYPROPYLENE BY ROTATIONAL
MOLDING
Park C B; Liu G; Liu F; Pop-Iliev R; D’Uva S; Zhang B
Compositions and processing conditions are disclosed for
the production by rotomoulding of polypropylene foams,
hitherto satisfactorily produced only by injection
52
moulding and extrusion moulding. Rheological properties
of the polypropylene resin, processing conditions and
choice of composition of the chemical blowing agent were
found to play important roles in obtaining high quality
polypropylene foam structures. High strength fine-cell
polypropylene foams could in particular be formed by
first melt compounding a suitable chemical blowing agent
with the resin under conditions which allow for
homogeneous mixing without appreciable decomposition
of the blowing agent.
USA
Accession no.800405
Item 113
Patent Number: US 6111020 A1 20000829
CROSSLINKED FOAMS FROM BLENDS OF
ETHYLENE VINYL ACETATE AND ETHYLENE-
STYRENE INTERPOLYMERS
Oriani S R; Karande S V
Dow Chemical Co.
Disclosed are ethylene-vinyl acetate/ethylene-styrene
interpolymer blends, which are useful in preparing foams
exhibiting improved compression set resistance,
dimensional stability and rebound resilience at similar
foam densities than known foam systems, e.g. EVA. The
crosslinked foams are particularly useful in fabricating
footwear and gaskets.
USA
Accession no.800259
Item 114
Patent Number: US 6110986 A1 20000829
PROPYLENE-BASED POLYMER
COMPOSITION AND FOAMED ARTICLE
THEREOF
Nozawa H; Wakamatsu K; Nagamatsu T
Sumitomo Chemical Co.Ltd.
A propylene-based polymer composition is obtained by
polymerising a propylene monomer in the presence of a
stereoregular olefin polymerisation catalyst system in the
first stage to produce a crystalline propylene-based
polymer (A) having an intrinsic viscosity of 5 dl/g or more,
and successively polymerising a propylene monomer in
the second stage to produce a crystalline propylene-based
polymer (B) having an intrinsic viscosity of less than 3
dl/g. The content of (A) is in the range of 0.05% by weight
or more and less than 35% by weight of the total of the
polymers (A) and (B) and the total of the polymers (A)
and (B) has an intrinsic viscosity of less than 3 dl/g and a
Mw/Mn of less than 10.
JAPAN; USA
Accession no.800226
Item 115
International Journal of Polymeric Materials
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
 References and Abstracts
47, No.1, 2000, p.7-17
POLYETHYLENE FOAM WASTE UTILISATION
FOR LIGHTWEIGHT CONCRETE
PRODUCTION
Perevozchikov A; Yakovlev G; Kodolov V
Udmurt,Scientific Centre; Russian Academy of
Sciences
An investigation was carried out on concrete containing
up to 30% of PE foam waste in order to optimise the
thermal conductivity of the concrete. An amorphous
aggregate of ash-slag waste was utilised to decrease the
thermal conductivity of the concrete. 5 refs.
RUSSIA
Accession no.800201
Item 116
Antec 2000.Conference proceedings.
Orlando, Fl., 7th-11th May, 2000, paper 404
DEVELOPMENT OF POLYPROPYLENE PLANK
FOAM PRODUCTS
Park C P; Garcia G A
Dow Chemical Co.
(SPE)
The foamability of a number of polypropylenes, including
polymers branched using an azidofunctional silane, was
investigated, using mixtures of chlorofluorocarbons and
hydrochlorofluorocarbons as foaming agents. The
polymers were characterised by determination of their
viscoelastic properties at 190 C. The foamability was
studied using a range of foaming agent concentrations
and cell sizes, with a 25 mm foam extruder. A slit die was
used to make regular planks, and a multi-hole die to make
strand planks. The multi-hole die was designed to force
the foam strands together into a coalesced structure. The
successful production of the plank was attributed to the
achievement of bubble stability by the use of low foam
densities and small cell sizes. 11 refs.
USA
Accession no.799919
Item 117
Antec 2000.Conference proceedings.
Orlando, Fl., 7th-11th May, 2000, paper 402
LOW DENSITY FOAMING OF
POLY(ETHYLENE-CO-OCTENE) BY
INJECTION MOLDING
Moulinie M; Daigneault L E; Woelfle C; Gendron R
Canada,National Research Council
(SPE)
Low density poly(ethylene-co-octene) foams were
prepared by injection moulding compositions consisting
of copolymer, azodicarbonamide foaming agent, zinc
oxide and zinc stearate activators, dicumyl peroxide
crosslinking agent and talc nucleating agent. The influence
of composition on the foam density and morphology was
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
investigated using one set of processing conditions. Proper
bubble growth required the matching of the crosslinking
agent concentration to the initial polymer viscosity.
Optimisation of the formulation resulted in densities as
low as 72 kg/cu m, and average cell sizes as small as 28
micrometre. 3 refs.
CANADA
Accession no.799917
Item 118
Antec 2000.Conference proceedings.
Orlando, Fl., 7th-11th May, 2000, paper 269
PROCESSING OF POLYPROPYLENE FOAMS IN
MELT COMPOUNDING BASED ROTATIONAL
FOAM MOLDING
Pop-Iliev R; Park C B
Toronto,University
(SPE)
A process for the production of polypropylene foams by
rotational moulding is proposed. The polymer, in powder
form, is first mixed with azodicarbonamide blowing agent
and zinc oxide activator by melt compounding, using a
twin-screw compounder. The prepared material is then
converted into pellets which are used in the rotational
moulding process. The process was investigated
experimentally using a variety of polypropylenes with
melt flow rates in the range 5.5-35 dg/min, 3-fold and 6-
fold foamable compositions being prepared. The best cell
morphologies were obtained using high melt strength
grades. The cell morphologies were not as good as those
of the corresponding polyethylene foams, but were
significantly better than those processed using a dry
blending approach. 19 refs.
CANADA
Accession no.798551
Item 119
Antec 2000.Conference proceedings.
Orlando, Fl., 7th-11th May, 2000, paper 268
ROTATIONAL MOLDING OF POLYETHYLENE
FOAM BY PELLETS
Shih-Jung Liu; Ching-Hsiung Yang
Chang Gung,University
(SPE)
The rotational moulding of linear low density
polyethylene foam using powder or pellets and an
endothermic chemical blowing agent was investigated
using a laboratory uniaxial machine with oven
temperatures in the range 250-400 C, the internal mould
temperatures being measured during heating and cooling.
Two-layer samples were produced consisting of a non-
foamed outer layer and a foamed inner layer. The samples
were evaluated by tensile and impact testing, and
determination of thickness uniformity and warpage.
Density decreased with increasing oven temperature. The
presence of the blowing agent gave an improvement in
53
 References and Abstracts
impact properties, but adversely affected the tensile
strength. The use of pellets gave severe non-uniform
thicknesses. Two-layer parts with a non-foamed outer
layer had high impact properties and good outer surfaces.
6 refs.
TAIWAN
Accession no.798550
Item 120
Patent Number: US 6103775 A1 20000815
SILANE-GRAFTED MATERIALS FOR SOLID
AND FOAM APPLICATIONS
Bambara J D; Kozma M L; Hurley R F
Sentinel Products Corp.
New crosslinked polymeric foam compositions, and
methods for making the same, are provided. The new
compositions utilise novel crosslinked polyolefin
copolymers and show improvements in strength,
toughness, flexibility, heat resistance and heat-sealing
temperature ranges as compared to conventional low
density polyethylene compositions. The new
compositions also show processing improvements over
linear low density polyethylene. The novel polyolefins,
which are essentially linear, comprise ethylene
polymerised with at least one alpha-unsaturated C3 to C20
olefinic comonomer, and optionally at least one C3 to
C20 polyene, and exhibit, in an uncrosslinked sense, a
resin density in the range of about 0.86 g/cm3 to about
0.96 g/cm3, a melt index in the range of about 0.5 dg/min
to about 100 dg/min, a molecular weight distribution in
the range of from about 1.5 to about 3.5, and a composition
distribution breadth index greater than about 45 percent.
The polyolefins are silane-grafted to enhance the physical
properties and processability of the resins. Slow silane-
grafted materials exhibit enhanced physical and
processing properties.
USA
Accession no.797897
Item 121
Polymer Preprints. Volume 40. Number 2. August
1999. Conference proceedings.
New Orleans, La., August 1999, p.752-3
POLYSTYRENE/POLYPROPYLENE POLYMER
BLEND COMPATIBILISATION WITHOUT
ADDITION OF PREMADE BLOCK OR GRAFT
COPOLYMERS OR FUNCTIONALISATION
Furgiuele N; Khait K; Torkelson J M
(ACS,Div.of Polymer Chemistry)
A novel approach is used to compatibilise a blend without
addition of premade copolymers or functionalisation of
polymers lacking functional groups. Solid-state shear
pulverisation (S3P) processes polymers at temperatures
below the melt transition (for semicrystalline polymers)
or the glass transition (for amorphous polymers). The
polymer, introduced as pellets or flakes into the pulveriser,
54
undergoes a combination of compression and high shear
and extensional conditions, resulting in fragmentation/
fracture into a fine powder without melting. Depending
on conditions, the polymer may undergo chain scission,
resulting in highly reactive free radicals at chain ends.
Radical combination reactions at interfaces and in regions
of efficient mixing may result in block copolymer
formation similar to that achieved with reactive
compatibilisation during melt processing of functionalised
polymers. A PP/PS blend processed via S3P is compared
with an identical blend processed solely via melt mixing
methods. The pulverised blend is compatibilised while
the properties of the melt mixed blend evolve with
annealing. 14 refs.
USA
Accession no.797243
Item 122
Patent Number: US 6096793 A1 20000801
FOAM COMPRISING POLYOLEFIN BLEND
AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING SAME
Lee S-T; Baker J J
Sealed Air Corp.
A foam comprising a blend of a low density polyethylene
and an ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer is disclosed. The
ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer is preferably LLDPE and
has a density ranging from about 0.86 to 0.94 grams/cubic
centimeter and a melt flow index of greater than 10 g/10
minutes.
USA
Accession no.796855
Item 123
Antec 2000.Conference proceedings.
Orlando, Fl., 7th-11th May, 2000, paper 70
NUCLEATION IN FOAM EXTRUSION
Lee S T
Sealed Air Corp.
(SPE)
An intermeshing counter-rotating twin screw extruder was
used to produce polyethylene foam, using carbon dioxide
with no nucleating agent as the blowing agent. The
extruded sheet was characterised by counting cells across
the sheet thickness and converting to nucleation cell
density. Experiments were conducted using a constant
carbon dioxide ratio with various die openings, and a
constant die opening with various carbon dioxide ratios.
Conventional nucleation theories did not adequately
describe the nucleation in the absence of a nucleating
agent, and it is proposed that chemical superheat rather
than mechanical superheat was a critical factor in the
nucleation rate. There was also a dependence upon shear
energy. 8 refs.
USA
Accession no.793801
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
 References and Abstracts
Item 124
Patent Number: US 6077878 A1 20000620
FOAM MADE FROM MODIFIED
POLYPROPYLENE RESIN AND PROCESS FOR
THE PRODUCTION THEREOF
Okura T; Kourogi M; Fukui Y; Kim H; Tomita H;
Miyama O; Aoyama T
Kanegafuchi Kagaku Kogyo KK
The modified polypropylene resin is a graft copolymer
of polypropylene and an aromatic vinyl monomer and
has an average number of grafted aromatic vinyl chains
of not less than 1 in one molecule of the graft copolymer
and a weight-average molecular weight of the grafted
aromatic vinyl chains of not less than 200. The foamed
article has a high closed cell content, a high expansion
ratio and good external appearance.
JAPAN; USA
Accession no.793452
Item 125
Patent Number: US 6077875 A1 20000620
FOAMED AND EXPANDED BEADS OF
POLYPROPYLENE RESIN FOR MOLDING
Sasaki H; Sakaguchi M; Akiyama M; Tokoro H
JSP Corp.
The beads comprise an uncrosslinked propylene random
copolymer having a melting point of at least 140C, as a
base resin. The time required to attenuate an air pressure
within the foamed beads applied by a pressurising
treatment with air from 1.2 to 0.8 kgf/sq.cm.(G) under
atmospheric pressure at 23C is at least 80 minutes and
the CNI value of the foamed beads, which is defined by a
given equation, is smaller than 3.80.
JAPAN; USA
Accession no.793449
Item 126
Kobunshi Ronbunshu
57, No.9, 2000, p.561-8
Japanese
RECYCLING TECHNOLOGY FOR LAMINATES
COMPOSED OF THERMOPLASTIC
POLYOLEFIN ELASTOMER AND
CROSSLINKED POLYPROPYLENE FOAM
Tarsuda N; Sato N; Fukumori K; Kako C; Nishimura H
Toyota Motor Corp.
Details are given of the development of new technology
for the recycling of composites of thermoplastic elastomer
skinlayers and PP foam layers without deterioration in
mechanical properties. The technology is based on
resolving the crosslink structure of PP foam by a reactive
agent injected into an extruder and finely dispersing
decrosslinked PP foam into the thermoplastic elastomer
matrix by high shear force. 11 refs.
JAPAN
Accession no.792500
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
Item 127
Antec 2000.Conference proceedings.
Orlando, Fl., 7th-11th May, 2000, paper 49
EXTRUSION OF CLOSED CELL VERY LOW
DENSITY FLEXIBLE SYNTACTIC FOAMS USING
METALLOCENE CATALYZED POLYOLEFINS
AND THERMOPLASTIC MICROBALLOONS
Trainer L J; Beauregard D; Orroth S; Schott N
Massachusetts,University
(SPE)
The work to develop a foam jacketing material for
underwater communication cable applications, with a
maximum density of 550 kg/cu m, is reported. The base
material was a poly(ethylene-co-octene) thermoplastic
elastomer, which was used with a syntactic foaming agent
consisting of microballoons with a thermoplastic acrylic
shell encapsulating isopentane. During extrusion the
microballoons softened, and on exiting the die they
expanded under the pressure exerted by the isopentane.
Analysis of variance was used to determine the influence
of screw speed, processing temperatures, and microballoon
concentration on the foam density. The density was largely
determined by the microballoon concentration and the
screw speed, but both barrel temperature and die
temperature also had significant effects.
USA
Accession no.791361
Item 128
Cellular Polymers
19, No.4, 2000, p.271-85
MORPHOLOGY AND PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
OF CLOSED-CELL MICROCELLULAR
ETHYLENE-OCTENE COPOLYMER: EFFECT
OF PRECIPITATED CACO3 FILLER AND
BLOWING AGENT
Nayak N C; Tripathy D K
Indian Institute of Technology
The morphology of the microcellular ethylene-octene
copolymer (Engage from DuPont Elastomers), both
unfilled and filled with precipitated calcium carbonate,
was studied by SEM, the concentrations of blowing gent
and precipitated calcium carbonate filler being varied. The
average cell size, maximum cell size and cell density
varied with variation of blowing agent and filler loading.
Physical properties such as relative density, hardness, TS,
EB, modulus and tear strength decreased with blowing
agent concentration. The elastic nature of closed cells
reduced the hysteresis loss compared with solid
compounds. Stress relaxation behaviour was independent
of blowing agent loading, i.e. density of closed cell
microcellular vulcanisates. Theoretically, flaw sizes were
found to be about 2.4 times larger than maximum cell
sizes observed from SEM photomicrographs. 27 refs.
DUPONT ELASTOMERS
INDIA
Accession no.791246
55
 References and Abstracts
Item 129
Patent Number: US 6066393 A1 20000523
POLYOLEFIN/IONOMER BLEND FOR
IMPROVED PROPERTIES IN EXTRUDED
FOAM PRODUCTS
Lee S-T
Sealed Air Corp.
Ionomer present in a polyethylene resin from about 1 to
40% by weight of the resin produces superior extruded
foam sheet products which approach the pore size and
resiliency of foams prepared from chemical blowing
agents. The results can be achieved at normal extrusion
rates and on standard extrusion foaming equipment.
USA
Accession no.790627
Item 130
Patent Number: US 6083434 A1 20000704
ROTATIONAL MOLDING PROCESS FOR
PRODUCING FOAMED ARTICLES
Strebel J J
Equistar Chemicals LP
Improved compositions useful for the production of
rotomoulded articles having a foamed interior and non-
foamed exterior skin are provided. The compositions of
the invention are comprised of a first thermoplastic resin
component which is an ethylene polymer in pellet form
containing a chemical foaming agent, an organic peroxide
and, optionally, a metal-containing activator compound
and a second resin component which is a powder and can
be a thermoplastic ethylene polymer or ethylene
copolymer having less than 30% crystallinity. An
improved one-step process for producing foamed
rotomoulded articles having foamed interiors and non-
foamed exterior skins is also provided.
USA
Accession no.790443
Item 131
Journal of Cellular Plastics
36, No.5, Sept./Oct.2000, p.397-421
FOAMS MADE FROM BLENDS OF ETHYLENE
STYRENE INTERPOLYMERS WITH
POLYETHYLENE, POLYPROPYLENE AND
POLYSTYRENE
Chaudhary B I; Barry R P; Tusim M H
Dow Chemical Co.; Dow Deutschland Inc.
Insite technology from Dow Chemical has enabled the
production of ethyl ethylene-styrene interpolymers (ESI)
by copolymerisation of ethylene and styrene monomers.
The properties of interpolymers vary significantly with
copolymer styrene content. Interpolymers with up to about
45 wt.% copolymer styrene are semi-crystalline and
exhibit good low temperature toughness. Interpolymers
with greater than about 45 wt.% copolymer styrene are
56
essentially amorphous and range from those that have low
modulus and high elongation to those that have higher
modulus with unique stress relaxation and deadfold
properties. Interpolymers have both aromatic and aliphatic
functionality. Hence, they are compatible with a variety
of other thermoplastics. Interpolymers have been
commercially launched under the trademark Index
Interpolymers and are classified as E-Series (up to about
45 wt.% styrene) or S-series (greater than about 45 wt.%
styrene). The properties of blends of interpolymers with
LDPE, HDPE, PP and PS are described, together with
the novel and unique foams made by expanding some of
these blends with physical blowing agents. 9 refs.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY;
USA; WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.789417
Item 132
Polymer Testing
19, No.7, Oct.2000, p.831-48
DYNAMIC MECHANICAL ANALYSIS APPLIED
TO THE CHARACTERISATION OF CLOSED
CELL POLYOLEFIN FOAMS
Rodriguez-Perez M A; de Saja J A
Valladolid,Universidad
A collection of polyolefin foams with closed cell structure
and different chemical compositions and densities was
studied by using SEM, DSC and dynamic mechanical
analysis. Deformation mechanisms were also studied.
26 refs.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; SPAIN;
WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.786639
Item 133
Patent Number: US 6069183 A1 20000530
FOAMABLE COMPOSITION USING HIGH
DENSITY POLYETHYLENE
Wilkes G R; Kisner R D; Stimler J J
Tenneco Packaging Inc.
A polymeric composition for producing foam in which
the polymeric composition comprises high density
polyethylene, alkenyl aromatic polymer and, optionally,
a resiliency modifier resin. The high density polyethylene
is in an amount of from about 45 to about 90 weight
percent of the polymeric composition. The high density
polyethylene has a z- average molecular weight, M.sub.z,
greater than about 1,000,000. The alkenyl aromatic
polymer is in the amount of from about 3 to about 45
weight percent of the polymeric composition. The
resiliency modifier resin is in the amount of from 0 to
about 40 weight percent of the polymeric composition.
The foam is produced in the absence of a significant
amount of a stability control agent.
USA
Accession no.786161
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
 References and Abstracts
Item 134
Journal of Applied Polymer Science
77, No.7, 15th Aug.2000, p. 1478-87
MORPHOLOGIES OF BLENDS OF ISOTACTIC
POLYPROPYLENE AND ETHYLENE
COPOLYMER BY RAPID EXPANSION OF
SUPERCRITICAL SOLUTION AND ISOBARIC
CRYSTALLIZATION FROM SUPERCRITICAL
SOLUTION
Han S J; Lohse D J; Radosz M; Sperling L H
Exxon Research & Engineering Co.;
Lehigh,University; Louisiana,State University
By rapid expansion of supercritical propane solution
(RESS), and isobaric crystallisation (ICSS), isotactic
polypropylene and ethylene-butylene copolymers were
precipitated from the supercritical solution. The RESS
process produced microfibres with a trace of
microparticles, while the ICSS process produced
microcellular products. Improvement in thermal stability
was achieved by first synthesising a thermoplastic
vulcanisate from polypropylene and ethylene-propylene-
diene terpolymer from a supercritical propane solution,
followed by RESS. 28 refs.
USA
Accession no.786053
Item 135
Journal of Cellular Plastics
36, No.4, July/Aug.2000, p.310-26
PREDICTING THE PERFORMANCE OF
CHEMICAL BLOWING AGENTS USING
THERMAL ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES
Dixon D; Martin P J; Harkin-Jones E
Belfast,Queen’s University
The relationship between the cell morphology of extruded
expanded PP and the thermal decomposition behaviour
of chemical blowing agents used in their production was
studied. The thermal analysis techniques used were DSC
and TGA. Tests were completed on six of the chemical
blowing agents currently available for use with PP. It was
found that agents with a higher decomposition temp. and
rate of gas evolution generally produced foam samples
with a smaller cell size and higher cell density. The
smallest, densest and most uniform cell structure was
produced using Boehringer HP20P, an endothermic
bicarbonate/citric acid-based blowing agent. The older
and lower cost azodicarbonamide-based agent performed
well and was shown to be better than most of the
bicarbonate/citric acid-based agents. 5 refs.
BOEHRINGER
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; UK;
WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.785739
Item 136
Patent Number: US 6040351 A1 20000321
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
FOAM RUBBER COMPOSITION AND A
MOLDED PRODUCT OF FOAM RUBBER
Okita T; Nakashima K; Mizushima T; Wadaki T
Toyoda Gosei Co.Ltd.
The composition contains (A) a low-molecular ethylene-
propylene-5-ethylidene-2-norbornene terpolymer having
a Mooney viscosity (ML 1+4 at 100C) of 20 to 40, an
ethylene/propylene weight ratio of 65/35 to 50/50, an
iodine value of 20 to 30 and a Q value (Mw/Mn) not
exceeding 3, as determined by gel permeation
chromatography, (B) a high-molecular ethylene-
propylene-5-ethylidene-2-norbornene terpolymer having
a Mooney viscosity of 100 to 300, an ethylene/propylene
weight ratio of 65/35 to 50/50, an iodine value of 20 to
30 and a Q value (Mw/Mn) of 6 to 10, (C) a vulcanising
agent containing sulphur and zinc carbamate and
sulphenamide as accelerators and (D) a foaming agent
containing N,N’-dinitrosopentamethylenetetramine and
urea.
JAPAN; USA
Accession no.784773
Item 137
Patent Number: US 6040348 A1 20000321
COMPOSITION BASED ON PROPYLENE
POLYMERS FOR EXPANDED GRANULES,
PROCESS FOR OBTAINING IT AND ITS USE
Delaite E; Charlier J; Bertozzi G
Solvay Polyolefins Europe-Belgium SA
The composition comprises, per 100 pbw, from 60 to 90
pbw of a propylene homopolymer (A) having a melt flow
index from 0.1 to 20 g/10 min and from 40 to 10 pbw of
a propylene random copolymer (B) containing from 3 to
20 mol % of ethylene and/or an alpha-olefin having from
4 to 6 carbon atoms, the melt flow index of which ranges
from 25 to 3000 g/10 min. It is used in the manufacture
of expanded granules and moulded cellular articles.
BELGIUM; EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION;
USA; WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.784770
Item 138
Polymer Engineering and Science
40, No.8, Aug.2000, p.1843-9
ON-LINE NIR SENSING OF CO2
CONCENTRATION FOR POLYMER
EXTRUSION FOAMING PROCESSES
Nagata T; Tanigaki M; Ohshima M
Kyoto,University
Details are given of the development of an on-line sensor
using near IR spectroscoy for monitoring carbon dioxide
concentration in polymeric extrusion foaming processes.
The calibration curve relating the absorbance spectrum
at 2019 nm to the dissolved gas concentration was derived
so as to infer dissolved carbon dioxide gas concentration
57
 References and Abstracts
on-line from measured NIR spectra. Data are presented
for carbon dioxide in PP. 9 refs.
JAPAN
Accession no.782987
Item 139
Patent Number: EP 1016690 A2 20000705
WATER-CONTAINING POLYPROPYLENE
RESIN COMPOSITION AND PRE-EXPANDED
PARTICLES MADE THEREOF
Mogami K; Munakata Y; Senda K
Kaneka Corp.
Disclosed is a pre-expanded particle having a high
expansion ratio and excellent flexibility and cushioning
property. In-moulded articles made thereof do not lose
their mechanical strength, heat resistance and water
resistance without conventional volatile organic foaming
agents or carbon dioxide gas. The PP particle is prepared
by pre-expanding a water-containing propylene
composition comprising (A) 100 pbw of a PP having a
melt flow rate (230C, 2.16kg load) of 10 to 70 g/10 min
and a tensile elongation at break of at least 300%; (B)
0.05 to 10 pbw of a hydrophilic polymer; and (C) 0 to 3
pbw of a filler and having a water content of 1 to 20% by
weight under a water vapour pressure at the melting point
of the PP. The particle has an apparent expansion ratio of
25 to 70 times, a closed cell content of at least 85% and
an average cell diameter of 50 to 500 micrometers.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; JAPAN;
WESTERN EUROPE-GENERAL
Accession no.778602
Item 140
New Materials/Japan
Feb.2000, p.2
HIGH EXPANSION POLYPROPYLENE
REPLACES POLYSTYRENE
Grand Polymer has developed a PP that can replace PS in
extrusion moulding applications. The PP has high foaming
properties and can be used for expanded sheet
applications, unlike conventional PP. The company is
planning to replace PS in such application areas as
products used with microwave ovens, expanded deep
draws for processed food, large vacuum/pressure forming
products and large blow moulding products as well as
finding new application areas. The PP is an ultra-high
crystallisation grade with a precisely controlled molecular
structure, that can be processed into good-quality
expanded sheets even at a high expansion rate because
its melt tension strength is more than double that of
conventional PP. This abstract includes all the information
contained in the original article.
GRAND POLYMER CO.LTD.
JAPAN
Accession no.777982
58
Item 141
Patent Number: US 5900195 A 19990504
PROTECTION OF PIPELINE JOINT
CONNECTIONS
Pool P L; Gowan W H
Urethane Products International
A method and apparatus for protecting exposed pipeline
joints on weight coated pipelines used in offshore
applications. The method allows quick installation on a
lay barge where pipeline sections are being welded
together for offshore installation. The method does not
require a long cure time before handling. The method
protects the corrosion coating on pipeline joint sections
not covered with weight coat by forming a pliable sheet
of polyethylene into a cylindrical cover material sleeve
over the exposed pipeline joint connection. Polyurethane
chemicals are reacted to form a high density foam which
fills an annular space between the pipe and the cover
material sleeve. The cover material sleeve and the foam
form a composite system to protect the joint connection
whereby the foam provides continuous compressive
reinforcements and impact resistance and the sleeve
provides puncture resistance and protection from water
jetting/post trenching operations plus abrasion resistance.
USA
Accession no.774425
Item 142
Advances in Polymer Technology
19, No.2, Summer 2000, p.87-96
SURROUNDING TEMPERATURE EFFECTS ON
EXTRUDED POLYETHYLENE FOAM
STRUCTURE
Lee S-T; Lee K
Sealed Air Corp.
The effects of variations in the surrounding temperature
on the cell structure and density of extruded PE foams
were investigated. Tests were carried out on cellular
LLDPE and LDPE dry blended with Hydrocerol CF-20,
a masterbatch consisting of citric acid and sodium
bicarbonate in a LDPE carrier. Foam rod samples were
extruded into air, water and water/ice from a single-screw
extruder and analysed using polarised light microscopy.
Graphs of foam density versus melt temperature, cell
density versus surrounding temperature and screw speed
and foam density and cell density versus surrounding
temperature are presented and discussed. 11 refs.
USA
Accession no.774107
Item 143
Journal of Polymer Science: Polymer Physics Edition
38, No.7, 1st April 2000, p.993-1004
PREDICTION OF THE RADIATION TERM IN
THE THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY OF
CROSSLINKED CLOSED CELL POLYOLEFIN
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
 References and Abstracts
FOAMS
Almanza O A; Rodriguez-Perez M A; Saja J A
Colombia,University
A series of low density polyolefin foams were
manufactured and studied in terms of their thermal
conductivity, cellular structure and polymer matrix
morphology. In order to predict the thermal conductivity
of a specified material a mathematical equation is
presented. 26 refs.
COLOMBIA; EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION;
SPAIN; WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.773154
Item 144
Italian Technology
No.1, May 2000, p.69-70
EPP FOR THERMOFORMING
Foamed PP is a new alternative material for processors
of PP or PS thermoformed items for packaging
applications. The joint R&D programme of Italproducts,
Reedy International and PP resin suppliers has made it
possible for everybody involved in the packaging industry
to install and run an extrusion and thermoforming line
capable of producing medium density EPP items. The
features of the equipment required are described.
ITALPRODUCTS SRL; REEDY INTERNATIONAL
CORP.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; ITALY;
WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.772655
Item 145
Journal of Cellular Plastics
36, No.1, Jan./Feb.2000, p.29-44
NONISOTHERMAL MELTING AND
CRYSTALLISATION OF FOAMED
CROSSLINKED POLYETHYLENE
Kotzev G; Touleshkov N; Christova D; Nedkov E
Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
Foamed crosslinked specimens of LDPE are produced
by hot mould injection moulding. Dicumyl peroxide as
crosslinking agent and azodicarbonamide as blowing
agent, are used. The three components are blended and
granulated in advance in an extruder-granulator at
temperatures of 100-125 deg.C. The contents of blowing
and crosslinking agents in the composites studied are 5-
15 and 0.08-0.6, respectively, in percents by weight. The
ability for maximum foaming is studied by determining
the overall density of the specimens. Degree of
crosslinking is calculated from the equilibrium strain
value defined at temperature 140 deg.C and pressure stress
0.045 MPa. The same parameter is estimated also by the
melt flow index. The LDPE morphological parameters
are determined on the basis of DSC graphics obtained by
a Perkin-Elmer DSC-7 differential scanning calorimeter
at heating and cooling rates of 10 deg.C/min. The
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
activation energy for transport through phase boundary
crystal melt, the surface energy of the crystal, the long
period and the degree of the crystallinity are calculated
by computer programs using formulae of non-isothermal
melting and crystallisation kinetics theory. 19 refs.
BULGARIA; EASTERN EUROPE
Accession no.769807
Item 146
Journal of Vinyl and Additive Technology
6, No.1, March 2000, p.49-52
MOISTURE CROSSLINKING PROCESS FOR
FOAMED POLYMERS
Pape P G
Dow Corning Corp.
The benefits of the Sioplas moisture crosslinking process
for the manufacture of crosslinked PE foam and the end-
uses of such foams are discussed. The process involves
grafting of alkoxysilanes onto ethylene homo- or
copolymers to provide moisture crosslinkable polymers
suitable for the manufacture of flexible, rigid, open-celled,
closed-cell or very low density foams. 11 refs.
USA
Accession no.769390
Item 147
Journal of Vinyl and Additive Technology
6, No.1, March 2000, p.34-8
AGEING MODIFIERS FOR EXTRUDED LDPE
FOAM
Dieckmann D; Holtz B
American Ingredients Co.
The results are reported of a study of the effect of several
glycerol ester ageing modifiers used to regulate the
isobutane/air interchange on the properties of extruded
LDPE foams. Properties investigated included
dimensional stability, electrostatic decay and rub-off of
excess wax at the surface of the foam. Comparisons are
made with the non-glyceride modifier, stearamide. 4 refs.
USA
Accession no.769388
Item 148
Patent Number: EP 997493 A1 20000503
CROSSLINKED OLEFIN ELASTOMER FOAM
AND ELASTOMER COMPOSITION THEREFOR
Sueda T; Yasaka N; Yoo C; Yoon J; Choi K; Lee K
Mitsui Chemicals Inc.
The foam has a specific gravity of 0.05 to 0.2, an
expansion ratio of 8 to 15, a compression set of 30 to
60% and a tear strength of 1.5 to 2.5 kg/cm. It is obtained
by heating an elastomer composition comprising a specific
ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer, an organic peroxide, a
crosslinking auxiliary and a foaming agent. The
crosslinked foam has a high expansion ratio, is free from
59
 References and Abstracts
surface roughening attributed to defoaming, exhibits a
soft touch and low compression set and has excellent
mechanical strength (particularly tear strength) and heat
resistance.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; JAPAN;
WESTERN EUROPE-GENERAL
Accession no.769126
Item 149
Macromolecular Symposia
Vol 147, Dec.1999, p.127-37
TENSILE DEFORMATION BEHAVIOUR OF THE
POLYMER PHASE OF FLEXIBLE
POLYURETHANE FOAMS AND
POLYURETHANE ELASTOMERS
van der Heide E; van Asselen O L J; Ingenbleek G W
H; Putman C A J
Shell Research & Technology Centre
Atomic force microscopy and attenuated total reflection
infrared spectroscopy were used to study the changes
occurring in the micromorphology of a single strut of
flexible polyurethane foam. A mathematical model of the
deformation and orientation in the rubbery phase, but which
takes account of the harder domains, is presented which
may be successfully used to predict the shapes of the stress-
strain curves for solid polyurethane elastomers with
different hard phase contents. It may also be used for low
density polyethylene at different temperatures. Yield and
rubber crosslink density are given as explanations of
departure from ideal elastic behaviour. 17 refs.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION;
NETHERLANDS; WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.768031
Item 150
Patent Number: US 6008262 A 19991228
FOAMABLE COMPOSITIONS COMPRISING
LOW VISCOSITY THERMOPLASTIC
MATERIAL COMPRISING AN ETHYLENE
ALPHA-OLEFIN
McKay K W; Simmons E R; Woodbridge D P
Fuller H.B.,Licensing & Financing Inc.
These compositions may comprise a single ethylene/
alpha-olefin or a blend thereof and, optionally, at least
one diluent including waxes, plasticisers, such as oil,
polymeric tackifiers or mixtures thereof. They may be
used as cabinet sealants and as foam layers in disposable
articles, such as nappies, incontinence devices and
medical devices, such as bandages and dressings.
USA
Accession no.767704
Item 151
Cellular Polymers
18, No.6, 1999, p.385-401
60
THE THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY OF
POLYETHYLENE FOAMS MANUFACTURED
BY A NITROGEN SOLUTION PROCESS
Almanza O A; Rodriguez-Perez M A; de Saja J A
Colombia,University; Valladolid,Universidad
Properties of peroxide cross-linked polyethylene foams
manufactured by a nitrogen solution process, were
examined for thermal conductivity, cellular structure and
matrix polymer morphology. Theoretical models were
used to determine the relative contributions of each heat
transfer mechanism to the total thermal conductivity.
Thermal radiation was found to contribute some 22-34%
of the total and this was related to the foam’s mean cell
structure and the presence of any carbon black filler. There
was no clear trend of thermal conductivity with density,
but mainly by cell size. 27 refs.
COLOMBIA; EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION;
SPAIN; WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.765070
Item 152
Innovations in Rotational Molding in the year 2000 and
beyond. Conference proceedings.
Strongsville, Oh., 6th-8th June 1999, p.95-104
ROTATIONAL FOAM MOULDING OF
POLYETHYLENE AND POLYPROPYLENE
Pop-Iliev R; Liu G; Liu F; Park C B; D’Uva S;
Lefas J A
Toronto,University
(SPE,Rotational Molding Div.; SPE,Cleveland Section)
It is shown how the conventional rotomoulding principle
can be used to convert polyolefins into useful foamed
articles that can successfully conserve energy and natural
resources. A blend of a polyolefin resin and a chemical
blowing agent (CBA) is introduced into a mould and the
mould is run through a usual four-stage rotomoulding
cycle using conventional rotomoulding processing
equipment. The selected polyolefin resins are
characterised using differential scanning calorimetery. In
order to select the most suitable CBAs for foaming of
polyolefins, the decomposition behaviour of various CBA
candidates is investigated by using thermogravimetric
analysis. The CBAs identified in such a way are used to
prepare differently formulated PE and PP-based foamable
blends, the foaming of which is simultaneously studied
using hot-stage optical microscopy and through extensive
rotational foam moulding experimental parametric study.
A uni-axial, custom-made, lab-scale rotomoulding
machine is used for conducting rotational foam moulding
experiments. As a result, optimal processing strategies
for three- and six-fold expansion foams are identified,
and PE and PP foams with reduced cell sizes and increased
cell densities are successfully produced. 18 refs.
CANADA
Accession no.764439
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
 References and Abstracts
Item 153
Journal of Applied Polymer Science
75, No.1, 3rd Jan.2000, p.156-66
MECHANICAL CHARACTERISATION OF
CLOSED-CELL POLYOLEFIN FOAMS
Rodriguez-Perez M A; Velasco J I; Arencon D;
Almanza O; de Saja J A
Valladolid,Universidad; Barcelona,Escola Tecnica
Superior d’Enginyers Industrials; Bogota,Universidad
de Colombia
Three different techniques (compression at low strain
rates, falling-weight impact tests and DMA) were used
to study a collection of crosslinked (electron beam),
closed-cell polyolefin foams of different chemical
constitutions, densities, and cellular structures. The
thirteen materials were 100% LDPE, LDPE/LLDPE
blends, LDPE/EVA blend, EPR/EVA blend, and LDPE/
HDPE blends. Densities ranged from 29 kg/cu.m to 105
kg/cu.m. Some were foamed while passing vertically
through an air/IR heated oven (Alveolit), while the others
were foamed while passing horizontally through a
foaming oven (Alveolen). They were studied by DSC and
SEM also. Cells were elongated in the foaming direction.
Anisotropy was higher for Alveolit foams than Alveolen
foams. 18 refs.
COLOMBIA; EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION;
SPAIN; WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.764065
Item 154
Journal of Cellular Plastics
35, No.6, Nov./Dec.1999, p.531-49
EXTRUDED NON-CROSSLINKED FOAMS
MADE FROM ETHYLENE-STYRENE
INTERPOLYMERS AND BLENDS WITH
POLYETHYLENE
Chaudhary B I; Barry R P
Dow Chemical Co.; Dow Deutschland Inc.
Ethylene-styrene interpolymers (ESI) are a new class of
polymers made by copolymerisation of ethylene and
styrene monomers using Insite technology, the patented
constrained geometry single site catalysts and proprietary
solution process of Dow Chemical. The trade name used
for the interpolymers is Index. Foams with novel and
unique properties have been made by expanding these
polymers using physical blowing agents. The properties
of foams made from interpolymers and blends with PE
are described. 6 refs.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY;
USA; WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.760238
Item 155
Patent Number: US 5972257 A 19991026
PROCESS FOR MAKING A FOAMED SHOE SOLE
Liu K-C
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
A process for making a foamed shoe sole includes (a)
forming at least one unexpanded blank in at least one
first mould by introducing thereinto a resinous moulding
composition, which includes an agent capable of
expanding and crosslinking the resinous moulding
composition, at a temperature lower than that which can
cause the composition to expand and cross-link; (b)
trimming the unexpanded blank to remove flash and
inspecting the weight and size of the unexpanded blank;
and (c) placing in a second mould the unexpanded blank
having a predetermined weight and size and heating the
unexpanded blank under pressure at a temperature high
enough to cause the unexpanded blank to undergo
expansion and cross-linking, whereby the sole so
produced has good cross-linking characteristics and
retains exactly the shape and size of the mould cavity of
the second mould. Preferably, the resinous composition
contains polyethylene vinyl acetate.
TAIWAN
Accession no.758880
Item 156
Patent Number: US 5916926 A 19990629
FOAMED HIGH DENSITY POLYETHYLENE
Cooper K K; Firdaus V; Poloso A; Tong P P-L
Mobil Oil Corp.
Control of polyethylene melt strength and melt viscosity
has been used to produce foamed articles.
USA
Accession no.758259
Item 157
Materiale Plastice
36, No.2, 1999, p.90-5
Rumanian
CELLULAR PE PREPARATION BY
RADIORETICULATION
Zaharescu T; Jipa S; Mitroi M
ICPE SA; Arpechim SA
PE is suitable for foam manufacture. Azodicarbonamide
added in various concentrations, up to 20%, was
successfully employed as the blowing agent. The
crosslinking of commercial grade material was carried
out by exposure to radiation. The expanding temperature
was 205C. This study is focused on the functional
properties of foams: gel content correlated with expansion
ratio, and cell density. 11 refs.
EASTERN EUROPE; RUMANIA
Accession no.758031
Item 158
Patent Number: US 5968630 A 19991019
LAMINATE FILM-FOAM FLOORING
COMPOSITION
Foster S M
61
 References and Abstracts
Tenneco Protective Packaging Inc.
This is composed of a thin film of LDPE adhered to a
sheet of LDPE foam by means of a very thin layer of
LDPE. The foam preferably has a density of between
about 1.9 and 2.2 pcf and the bottom PE film serves as a
vapour barrier. One side of the PE film extends beyond
one edge of the PE foam sheet. The laminate composition
is installed in a free floating manner on the concrete
subflooring, with the PE film or foam sheet contacting
the surface of the subflooring. The laminate is usually in
long strips so when it is installed one edge of one strip
overlies the extended portion of the PE film of an adjacent
strip. Tape having adhesive on both sides can be positioned
between the overlay region to adhere together the overlaid
portions to prevent movement thereof during installation
of laminate wood finish flooring, which is installed, in
plank form, on top of the laminate composition in a free
floating manner.
USA
Accession no.756467
Item 159
Patent Number: EP 963827 A2 19991215
MOULDED ARTICLE OF FOAMED AND
EXPANDED BEADS OF PROPYLENE RESIN
Shioya S; Hira A; Sasaki H; Tokoro H
JSP Corp.
The moulded article, which has an apparent density of
0.11 to 0.45 g/cu.cm. and an average number of cells
within the range of 5 to 100 cells/sq.mm., is obtained by
heating and moulding the foamed beads.
JAPAN
Accession no.756031
Item 160
Polymer Engineering and Science
39, No.9, Sept.1999, p.1776-86
EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF FOAMED
POLYETHYLENE IN ROTATIONAL MOULDING
Liu S-J; Tsai C-H
Chang Gung,University
Rotational moulding of foamed PE has increasingly
become an important process in industry because of its
thicker walls, low sound transfer, high stiffness and good
thermal insulation. However. the foaming process of
polyethylene during rotational moulding has not been well
studied. The focus of this article is to assess the
rotomouldability of foamed polyethylene and to
investigate how blowing agents can influence the process
of rotational moulding and the final product quality.
Rotational moulding experiments were carried out in a
laboratory scale uniaxial machine capable of measuring
internal mould temperature in the cycle. Mechanical
property tests, as well as thickness distribution and density
measurements, were performed on the rotationally
moulded parts. Differential scanning calorimetry and
62
optical microscopy have also been employed to identify
the material and structural parameters. It was found that
the presence of blowing agent results in an improvement
of the impact properties, which are counteracted by longer
cycle times and uneven surfaces.
TAIWAN
Accession no.755472
Item 161
Japan Chemical Week
40, No.2051, 2nd Dec.1999, p.11
JSP ADDING EXPANDABLE PP BEADS PLANT
It is briefly reported that, with its factories running at full
capacity in the production of expandable PP beads used
in core material of automobile bumpers, JSP International
recently started building a new plant in Tullahoma,
Tennessee. The new plant, with an annual production
capacity of 2,800 tons, is scheduled to start operations
next July. With a 75% share of the US plastic bumper
market, the company is currently capable of producing
14,000 t/y of expandable PP beads.
JSP INTERNATIONAL
USA
Accession no.754222
Item 162
Asian Plastics News
Sept.1999, p.57
DOW DELIVERS CUSTOMISED FOAM
TECHNOLOGY
Dow Chemical has recently introduced its first customer-
defined foam laminate products based on its Index
interpolymers, a new family of thermoplastics based on
the copolymerisation of ethylene and styrene using Dow’s
Insite catalyst technology. Dow’s Envision custom foam
laminates allow customers to define virtually any
combination of plank or sheet products from Dow’s
recently introduced Synergy soft touch foams and its
existing line of Ethafoam foam products. The laminates
are targeted at OEMs looking to improve case insert
designs as well as electronics pack designs. It is also
suitable for seat cushions and applications requiring
permanent graphic elements. Brief details are noted.
DOW CHEMICAL CO.
USA
Accession no.753920
Item 163
High Performance Plastics
Oct.1999, p.2
NEW PP FOAM DELIVERS 100% PP
PERFORMANCE
Zotefoams has introduced a new 100% PP foam called
Propozote, produced using unique crosslinking
technology using an autoclave at a higher temperature
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
 References and Abstracts
than usual, and with nitrogen as the expansion agent. The
company claims that all other foams on the market at
present are actually blends of PP with PE/EVA, and are
not able to deliver the full performance benefit of PP. The
product is briefly described, and the company’s position
as a producer of crosslinked PE block market is indicated.
ZOTEFOAMS PLC
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; UK;
WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.751706
Item 164
Plastics News International
Oct.1999, p.70
PP FOAM FOR INTELLIGENT CAR BATTERY
The iQ automotive battery incorporates a micro-chip
which monitors and controls the electrochemical process
of the lead-acid battery, as well as its physical
environmental and operating conditions. The thermal
insulation of the battery also plays an important role.
Neopolen P, a thermoplastic particle foam from BASF
which can be processed completely without blowing
agents, was chosen for this application. The foamed
battery container calls for a solid frame that can be
mounted onto the car body, and this frame is configured
as a solid PP injection-moulded article, and fused to the
container.
BASF AG
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY;
WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.751269
Item 165
Eureka
19, No.9, Oct.1999, p.32-3
FOAMS ARE STRONG ENOUGH TO HOLD UP
THE TRAINS
Shelley T
In the course of developing materials for the building
industry, Sekisui Chemical has built up huge experience
in developing structural foams. One of its established
products is Elson Neo Lumber FFU, a thermosetting PU
foam reinforced with long glass fibre, which has been
used to make railway sleepers as a replacement for wood.
A new honeycomb polyolefin foam is recyclable and
much stronger than PS foams. Applications include sound
proofing and impact energy absorption in cars. Materials
under development include a family of PE and PP foams
with compression stiffness optimised in the vertical
direction.
SEKISUI CHEMICAL (EUROPE)
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; UK;
WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.751171
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
Item 166
Cellular Polymers
18, No.3, 1999, p.197-216
DYNAMIC FATIGUE PROPERTIES OF
CLOSED-CELL NON-CROSSLINKED PE
FOAMS
Sombatsompop N; Saengjun B; Tareelap N;
Sudaprasert T
King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Thonburi
The dynamic fatigue properties of commercial closed-
cell/non-crosslinked PE foams were investigated for
applications of structural loading and packaging design.
The compressive properties were studied in terms of
maximum dynamic fatigue stress set at various void sizes,
maximum test amplitudes and test speeds, the results
being compared with those obtained under static
compression conditions. Local temp. rises under cyclic
loading and dynamic compression set were also
investigated. All the experimental results were obtained
using a universal tensile testing machine and the data were
recorded using a high speed data logger coupled to a
personal computer. The static compressive stress was
affected by test speed, but this was not the case for
maximum amplitude. These two variables were found to
influence the maximum dynamic fatigue stress of the foam
in association with increased fatigue in the material,
excessive rupture of the cell structure and ductile-brittle
characteristics of the foam. 16 refs.
THAILAND
Accession no.750959
Item 167
Cellular Polymers
18, No.3, 1999, p.157-74
SHEAR AND COMPRESSIVE IMPACT OF
POLYPROPYLENE BEAD FOAM
Mills N J; Gilchrist A
Birmingham,University
PP bead foams were subjected to oblique impacts, in
which the material was compressed and sheared. This
strain combination could occur when a cycle helmet hit a
road surface. The results were compared with simple shear
tests at low strain rates and to uniaxial compressive tests
at impact strain rates. The observed shear hardening was
greatest when there was no imposed density increase and
practically zero when the angle of impact was less than
15 degrees. The shear hardening appeared to be a unique
function of the main tensile extension ratio and was a
polymer contribution, whereas the volumetric hardening
was due to the isothermal compression of the cell gas.
Foam material models for finite element analysis needed
to be reformulated to consider the physics of the hardening
mechanisms, so their predictions were reliable for foam
impacts in which shear occurred. 16 refs.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; UK;
WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.750958
63
 References and Abstracts
Item 168
155th ACS Rubber Division Meeting, Spring 1999.
Conference Preprints.
Chicago, Il., 13th-16th April 1999, Paper 69, pp.36
OPTIMIZATION OF THE PRODUCTION OF
EPDM SPONGE RUBBER SEALS FOR THE
AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY
Krusche A; Haberstroh E
IKV
(ACS,Rubber Div.)
A study was made of relationships between compound
rheological properties, microwave vulcanisation
parameters and accelerators on the quality of extruded
EPDM foam seals for the automotive industry. The
influence of these factors on cell size and structure, density
and mechanical properties was investigated. Correlations
were found between the chemical composition of the
compound, variations in processing parameters and the
quality of the finished product. 12 refs.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY;
USA; WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.749881
Item 169
155th ACS Rubber Division Meeting, Spring 1999.
Conference Preprints.
Chicago, Il., 13th-16th April 1999, Paper 22, pp.18
HOW TO OPTIMIZE THE PROCESSING OF
FOAMED RUBBER GOODS
Fuchs E; Reinartz K S
Bayer AG
(ACS,Rubber Div.)
Factors influencing the cell structure and surface
appearance of foamed rubber articles are discussed, and
results are presented of experiments with EPDM
formulations in which interactions between the
crosslinking reaction and decomposition of blowing
agents were studied. The decomposition reaction was
dependent on temperature, and blowing agents differed
in their chemical influence on the crosslinking reaction.
The rates of decomposition and crosslinking increased
with decreasing blowing agent particle size. Synergistic
effects were not observed for blends of blowing agents.
Decomposition and crosslinking rates could be increased
by the addition of zinc dicyanatodiamine, and amounts
of zinc oxide determined the activity of the blowing agents
and crosslinking. The type of EPDM used affected the
crosslinking reaction, but had little or no effect on the
decomposition of the blowing agent. 3 refs.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY;
USA; WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.749839
Item 170
Antec 99. Volume II. Conference proceedings.
New York City, 2nd-6th May 1999, p.2104-8. 012
64
FOAMING OF POLYPROPYLENE IN
EXTRUSION PROCESSES
Andreassen E; Borve K L; Rommetveit K; Redford K
Sintef; Borealis AS
(SPE)
Various PP grades are foamed using a small general-
purpose twin-screw extruder. Cell diameters of
approximately 70 mu and foam densities of approximately
14 kg/cub.m are achieved with a conventional linear PP,
using iso-butane as foaming agent. Linear and branched
PP grades are subjected to dynamic rheometry and
instrumented haul-off measurements, and the results are
discussed in terms of melt strength, viscosity and
elasticity. Promising results are obtained for branched
materials produced by reactive extrusion. 7 refs.
NORWAY; SCANDINAVIA; WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.748781
Item 171
Antec 99. Volume II. Conference proceedings.
New York City, 2nd-6th May 1999, p.2100-3. 012
FOAM INJECTION MOULDING OF
THERMOPLASTICS LOADED WITH CARBON
DIOXIDE PRIOR TO PROCESSING
Pfannschmidt O; Michaeli W
IKV
(SPE)
Loading of thermoplastics with CO2 results in a reduction
in polymer viscosity. When added in higher
concentrations, carbon dioxide allows the production of
foams. The addition of carbon dioxide can be realised
during processing in the plasticising unit of a special
injection moulding machine. However, in the present case
the additive is added to the polymer within an autoclave
prior to processing with a standard injection moulding
machine. Sorption and desorption measurements of
carbon dioxide in the polymer are conducted using a
magnet suspension balance. The influence of the process
parameters on foam structure and density is tested. 6 refs.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY;
WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.748780
Item 172
Antec 99. Volume II. Conference proceedings.
New York City, 2nd-6th May 1999, p.2084-9. 012
STUDY OF SURROUNDING TEMPERATURE
EFFECTS ON EXTRUDED FOAM STRUCTURE
Lee S T; Lee K
Sealed Air Corp.
(SPE)
Foam extrusion experiments are performed to study the
effects of surrounding temperature variation on cell
structure. LLDPE is used with endothermic chemical
blowing agent on a single-screw extruder to exit from a
capillary die into environments with different
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
 References and Abstracts
temperatures. Cell density, foam density and cell
morphology are investigated. The amount of chemical
blowing agent and the surrounding conditions are viewed
together to correlate with the cell density. Foam density
appears to be related to gas escape from the surface during
foaming. 10 refs.
USA
Accession no.748777
Item 173
Antec 99. Volume II. Conference proceedings.
New York City, 2nd-6th May 1999, p.2071-5. 012
DEVELOPMENTS IN HIGH STRENGTH IPP:
TECHNOLOGY PROPERTIES, APPLICATIONS
AND MARKETS
Ratzsch M; Panzer U; Hesse A; Bucka H
Borealis AG
(SPE)
The manufacture of a new family of high melt strength
polypropylenes (HMS-PP), its benefits and application
in the field of foam extrusion are discussed. A brief
introduction into general pathways of influencing melt
strength shows that it is the combination of both, a high
strength and high drawability of the polymer melt (due
to the introduction of some long-chain branches into the
polymer structure) which is the main characteristic of
these special materials. The rheological behaviour is due
to a special post polymerisation (Daploy) process which
introduces long-chain branches into the PP by comonomer
bridging. The presentation of general properties resulting
from the modified polymer architecture is followed by
the discussion of benefits HMS-PP gives to polymer
processing and to final material properties. In particular
it is possible to manufacture non-crosslinked and
thermoformable PP foams with a density range down to
0.1 g/cub.cm and below by PE and PS foam extrusion
processes. Main applications are lightweight packaging
trays, beakers and containers as well as technical foams
for automotive headliners, door liners and acoustic panels.
It is shown that the new family of high melt strength PP
is a challenge and chance for PP to improve in existing
and new polymer applications and markets. 9 refs.
AUSTRIA; WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.748775
Item 174
Journal of Applied Polymer Science
73, No.14, 29th Sept.1999, p.2825-35
ANOMALOUS THICKNESS INCREASE IN
CROSSLINKED CLOSED CELL POLYOLEFIN
FOAMS DURING HEAT TREATMENTS
Rodriguez-Perez M A; Almanza O; De Saja J A
Valladolid,Universidad; Columbia,University
Results are presented of an experimental study of the
thickness increase, change in dimensions and change in
properties of a collection of crosslinked closed cell PE
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
foams (Alveolen and Alveolux from Sekisui Alveo BV)
with different densities, which were obtained from
different foaming processes and made of different base
polymers, as a function of the treatment temp. and
treatment time. The results indicate that the thickness
increase of these materials is related to the anisotropic
cellular structure of the original foams. 9 refs.
SEKISUI ALVEO BV
COLOMBIA; EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION;
NETHERLANDS; SPAIN; WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.747389
Item 175
Modern Plastics International
29, No.9, Sept.1999, p.38/43
DOW UNVEILS SOFT-TOUCH GRADES BASED
ON ITS INTERPOLYMERS
Darby J
Synergy Soft Touch Foams from Dow Chemical Co. are
announced. The products are claimed to be a cost effective
and environmentally acceptable alternative to crosslinked
PE foams for protective uses. They are made from a
proprietary blend of custom-designed low density
polyethylene and the company’s Index ethylene-styrene
interpolymers. The Synergy foams are made with Dow’s
RapidRelease technology, a proprietary process
incorporating a patented CFC-free and HCFC-free
hydrocarbon blowing agent. Details are given of the
materials, the process, applications, and properties.
DOW CHEMICAL CO.
USA
Accession no.745188
Item 176
Patent Number: US 5928584 A 19990727
FOAMABLE COMPOSITIONS FOR
ROTATIONAL MOULDING
Lee C C; Beuke D T; Feder A R; Lefas J; D’Uva S
Wedtech (USA) Inc.
These essentially comprise a mixture of a skin-forming
component, which comprises two distinct phases blended
together, a high zero-shear viscosity material and a low zero-
shear viscosity material, and a foam core-foaming
component, which includes a blowing agent, physically dry
blended together. The three materials are preferably selected
from suitable homopolymers and copolymers of ethylene.
CANADA
Accession no.744735
Item 177
Patent Number: US 5929127 A 19990727
FINE-CELLED POLYOLEFIN FOAM
MATERIALS
Raetzsch M; Bucka H; Panzer U; Hesse A; Reichelt N;
Leistner D
Borealis AG
65
 References and Abstracts
These consist of mixtures of PP and polyolefins, which
are reacted with bifunctional, unsaturated monomers and/
or hydrolysable, ethylenically unsaturated organosilane
compounds in the presence of thermally decomposing free
radical-forming agents in two stages and then foamed.
They exhibit high dimensional stability at elevated
temperatures and high stiffness and have densities ranging
from 10 to 600 kg/cu.m. End-uses include food packaging,
internal and external automotive parts and electrical/
electronic parts.
AUSTRIA; WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.744583
Item 178
Cellular Polymers
18, No.1, 1999, p.1-20
EFFECT OF BLENDING ON THE PHYSICAL
PROPERTIES OF CROSSLINKED CLOSED
CELL POLYETHYLENE FOAMS
Rodriguez-Perez M A; de Saja J A
Valladolid,Universidad
The mechanical properties at low strain rates, dynamic
mechanical properties, creep-recovery behaviour, thermal
expansion and thermal conductivity of foams
manufactured from blends of LDPE with an EVA and with
an isoprene-styrene block copolymer were studied as a
function of the LDPE content in the blends. The
experimental results demonstrated important aspects
related to the modification of the foam properties by
blending. 16 refs.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; SPAIN;
WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.744011
Item 179
European Plastics News
26, No.7, July/Aug.1999, p.43
MATT EVAS AIMED AT SHOE MARKETS
API has launched Apifive, a new line of crosslinked,
expanded EVAs that, unlike conventional EVAs, have a
matt finish. API has developed these new products by
introducing a series of elastomers into the EVAs, it is
briefly reported. The compounds are especially suitable
for insoles, where the requirements are for matt, very soft
and dimensionally constant parts, and for quality soles
for mounting or milling.
API SPA
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; ITALY;
WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.743096
Item 180
Packaging Magazine
2, No.12, 17th June 1999, p.26
FOAM’S A SOFT TOUCH
66
Dow Chemical has launched a range of foams which are
said to exceed industry standards for softness and
toughness. This article supplies brief details of the foams
which are based on Dow’s Insite catalyst technology.
Synergy Soft Touch Foams are produced using Dow’s
Index Interpolymers, a new thermoplastic polymer family
based on the copolymerisation of ethylene and styrene.
The foams are offered in three grades of softness, and
other properties include shock absorption, vibration
damping and insulation.
DOW CHEMICAL CORP.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY;
WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.742244
Item 181
Canadian Plastics
57, No.5, May 1999, p.40
FOAMS MEET PACKAGING REQUIREMENTS
The Sealed Air Corp. has introduced Stratocell laminated
polyethylene foam plank and CelluPlank polyethylene
foam. These foams are designed to meet a range of
protective packaging requirements from economical
lightweight protection to heavy duty industrial cushioning
applications. The high performance cushioning provided
allows package designers to get the same, or better,
protective results using fewer cubic feet per pack and
eliminating waste costs. Stratocell is a multilayer plank
of 1/2in. thick layers ranging from 1in. to 5in. in thickness.
CelluPlank polyethylene foam is perfect for heavier
applications requiring shock absorption, vibration
damping, thermal insulation or sound deadening. This
abstract includes all the information contained in the
original article.
SEALED AIR CORP.
CANADA
Accession no.742235
Item 182
Asian Chemical News
5, No.224, 12th July 1999, p.7
DOW KEEPS QUIET WITH INDEX FOAMS
Dow has developed a metallocene-based ethylene-styrene
foam interpolymer using Index technology, which is
claimed to provide significant advances in sound
insulation. Quash dB1 Sound Management Foam is
produced by a rapid Release Technology, the company’s
patented CFC-free, HCFC-fee, and HFC-free blowing
agent system, together with an accelerated curing systems
which is claimed to reduce residual blowing agents in
the foam to trace levels. Applications for the Quash foams
are indicated.
DOW
USA
Accession no.740709
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
 References and Abstracts
Item 183
Patent Number: EP 928805 A2 19990714
PROCESS FOR MAKING FOAM ARTICLES
FROM HIGH MELT STRENGTH PROPYLENE
POLYMER MATERIALS
Bavaro V P
Montell North America Inc.
A material, such as (a) a terpolymer of propylene, ethylene
and butene-1, (b) a polyolefin composition, which
includes about 31 to 39% of a copolymer of propylene
and ethylene and about 58 to 72% of a terpolymer of
propylene, ethylene and butene-1 or (c) a polyolefin
composition, which includes about 30 to 65% of a
copolymer of propylene and butene-1 and about 35 to
70% of a copolymer of propylene and ethylene, is
irradiated and extruded through a die in the presence of a
physical expanding agent and a cell nucleating agent to
produce a structure having a density, which is at least 10
times less than the initial density of the material. The foam
articles exhibit improved flexibility and low temperature
toughness compared to conventional propylene polymer
materials.
USA
Accession no.740001
Item 184
Popular Plastics and Packaging
44,,No.5, May 1999, p.71-3
THIN FOAMS OF LDPE
Singh P; Singh H; Gupta A
Shiram Institute for Industrial Research
The production of LDPE thin foams is discussed, and its
superior properties as compared with polystyrene are
examined. The radiation crosslinking of LDPE foams is
the preferred method for thin foams and chemical
crosslinking for thicker foams. Work on the development
of compositions for making thin foams of LDPE was
initiated at Shiram Institute, whereby various
compositions of LDPE were designed and formulated by
incorporating various amounts of blowing agents, resin
lubricants and nucleating agents. Test results are briefly
examined with respect to density and gel content. 15 refs.
INDIA
Accession no.739884
Item 185
Patent Number: US 5905098 A 19990518
PROCESS FOR PRODUCING LOW DENSITY
POLYETHYLENIC FOAM WITH
ATMOSPHERIC GASES AND POLYGLYCOLS
OR POLYGLYCOL ETHERS
Wilkes G R; Dunbar H A; Bly K A; Uhl E R
Tenneco Protective Packaging Inc.
Polyglycols or polyglycol ethers, which have gas
absorption properties and exhibit a plasticising effect in
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
PE extrudates, are combined with physical atmospheric
blowing agents, such as nitrogen, argon, carbon dioxide,
water and blends thereof, to produce uncrosslinked foams
having densities as low as 10 kg/cu.cm.
USA
Accession no.738737
Item 186
Patent Number: US 5902858 A 19990511
MODIFIED POLYPROPYLENE RESIN, FOAM
MADE THEREOF AND PROCESSES FOR THE
PREPARATION OF THEM
Okura T; Miyama O; Tomita H
Kaneka Corp.
The PP is produced by melt-kneading PP, an isoprene
monomer and a radical polymerisation initiator, which
has a high melt viscosity and a high melt tensile strength
and is difficult to cause drawdown. Foamed articles made
therefrom have a low density, high closed cell content,
good appearance and excellent heat resistance.
JAPAN
Accession no.738698
Item 187
Patent Number: US 5783611 A 19980721
COMPOSITION AND PROCESS FOR
ROTATIONAL MOULDING FOAMED
ARTICLES
Strebel J J
Millennium Petrochemicals Inc.
Improved compositions useful for the production of
foamed rotomoulded articles are provided. The
compositions of the invention are comprised of a first
thermoplastic resin component which is an ethylene
polymer in pellet form containing a foaming agent and a
second thermoplastic resin component which is a powder
consisting of a mixture of different particle size and melt
index ethylene polymers. An improved process for
producing foamed rotomoulded articles having uniformly
foamed interiors and smooth exterior skins which are
substantially free of surface defects is also provided.
USA
Accession no.737307
Item 188
Patent Number: EP 916465 A1 19990519
COMPOSITE POLYPROPYLENE MATERIAL
HAVING MOULDED AND FOAMED LAYER
AND METHOD OF PRODUCING SAME
Shioya S; Shinohara M; Tokoro H
JSP Corp.
This composite material includes a PP moulded body
having a particular melting point and a foamed body of
expanded particles fuse-bonded to the body, which is
67
 References and Abstracts
placed in the mould prior to moulding the composite. The
foamed body has at least two endothermic peaks in the
DSC curve thereof at peak temperatures of 135C or more.
The peel strength between the moulded body and the
foamed body is at least 1.5 kg/15 mm.
JAPAN
Accession no.736038
Item 189
Patent Number: US 5883145 A 19990316
CROSSLINKED FOAM STRUCTURES OF
POLYOLEFINS AND PROCESS FOR
MANUFACTURING
Hurley R F; Kozma M L; Feichtinger K A
Sentinel Products Corp.
Disclosed are crosslinked foam compositions utilising
polyolefins, which are essentially linear and comprise
ethylene polymerised with at least one alpha-unsaturated
C3 to C20 olefinic comonomer and, optionally, at least
one C3 to C20 polyene. The copolymers have a density
in the range of about 0.86 to 0.96 g/cu.cm., a melt index
in the range of about 0.5 to 100 dg/min, a MWD in the
range of from about 1.5 to 3.5 and a composition
distribution breadth index greater than about 45%. The
compositions exhibit improved strength, toughness,
flexibility, heat resistance and heat sealing temperature
ranges, as compared to conventional LDPE compositions.
They also exhibit processing improvements over LLDPE.
USA
Accession no.735949
Item 190
Patent Number: US 5883144 A 19990316
SILANE-GRAFTED MATERIALS FOR SOLID
AND FOAM APPLICATIONS
Bambara J D; Kozma M L; Hurley R F
Sentinel Products Corp.
Disclosed are polyolefins, which are essentially linear and
comprise ethylene polymerised with at least one alpha-
unsaturated C3 to C20 olefinic comonomer and,
optionally, at least one C3 to C20 polyene, and exhibit a
density in the range of about 0.86 to 0.96 g/cu.cm., a melt
index in the range of about 0.5 to 100 dg/min, a MWD in
the range of from about 1.5 to 3.5 and a composition
distribution breadth index greater than about 45%. The
polyolefins are silane grafted to enhance physical
properties and processability and are used to make
crosslinked foam compositions having improved strength,
toughness, flexibility, heat resistance and heat sealing
temperature ranges, as compared to conventional LDPE
compositions. They also exhibit processing improvements
over LLDPE.
USA
Accession no.735948
68
Item 191
Antec 99.Volume 1.Conference proceedings.
New York City, 2nd-6th May, 1999, p.1457-67.012
COMPARISON OF DRYING BLENDING-BASED
AND MELT COMPOUNDING-BASED
ROTOMOLDING TECHNIQUES FOR LLDPE
FOAMS
Pop-Iliev R; Liu G; Liu F; Park C B; D’Uva S; Lefas J A
Toronto,University; WedTech Inc.
(SPE)
A chemical blowing agent was well dispersed in a linear
low density polyethylene matrix, in pellet form. The
pellets were rotationally moulded to produce foams, the
morphology of the foams being studied using optical
microscopy. The quality of the cell structures in terms of
cell size, cell population density and volume expansion
ratio was superior to that of foams produced by drying
blending. 28 refs.
CANADA
Accession no.735496
Item 192
4th Rotamoulding Conference. Conference proceedings.
London, 1995, paper 1. 835
NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN ROTATIONAL
MOULDING
Roels W
Borealis AS
(BPF)
This paper takes the form of overhead slides which discuss
the foaming of polyethylene in rotational moulding.
Discussed are the characteristics of PE foam, its
applications and processing, physical properties, one-shot
foam, and a third generation rotational moulding grades
with improved flow properties.
NORWAY; SCANDINAVIA; WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.730323
Item 193
Espoo, Technical Research of Finland, 1998, pp.103. 10
ins. 15/4/99. VTT Publn. 361
NEW TECHNOLOGY TO MANUFACTURE
POLYPROPYLENE FOAM SHEET AND
BIAXIALLY ORIENTED FOAM FILM
Raukola J I
VTT Chemical Technology
VTT Publn.361
A new three-layer blown film die design was developed
to produce foamed tube and biaxially oriented PP film.
Testing was carried out on homopolymer, bimodal
polymer and copolymer types of PP. The study addresses
extrusion conditions, including screw and die designs;
the effects of chemical foam nucleating agents; the effects
of processing parameters on foam structure; and
rheological properties. In addition, some applications
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
 References and Abstracts

leading to new commercialised innovations in foam films The traditional production and applications of crosslinked
are discussed. 78 refs. polyolefin foams is reviewed and the advantages of
FINLAND; SCANDINAVIA; WESTERN EUROPE polyolefins produced by metallocene catalysts is pointed
Accession no.729790 out. They can be crosslinked by silanes to give uniform
materials. Densities can be half and strengths double those
of conventional foams. As adhesive tapes they can be used
Item 194 as adhesive carriers and facilitators in bonding of
Materie Plastiche ed Elastomeri dissimilar and non-uniform surfaces. Examples are double
No.9, Sept.1998, p.550-4 faced mounting tapes, EKG pads and use in attaching body
Italian side mouldings in cars. CMR (Continuous Metallocene
EXTRUSION AND THERMOFORMING OF Rubber from Sentinel Products Corp.) is a roll product of
RIGID PP FOAM PACKAGING 100% elastomeric metallocene polymer. EMR
Terragni F (Elastomeric Metallocene Rubber from Sentinel Products
Italproducts srl Corp.) is a bun product that contains over 50% elastomeric
Details are given of extrusion and thermoforming lines metallocene polymers. Of the three products from Sentinel
developed by Italproducts for the manufacture of PP foam Products Corp. it exhibits the greatest elastomeric
containers. The extrusion process using high melt strength properties as well as superior thermoforming properties.
PP and chemical blowing agents is described and results MPO (Metallocene Polyolefin Blend from Sentinel
are presented of thermoformability studies. Products Corp.) is a blend of elastomeric metallocene with
REEDY INTERNATIONAL CORP. conventional polyolefins. It is designed to bridge the gap
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; ITALY; USA; between PVC foams and conventional PE foams.
WESTERN EUROPE Currently it has replaced a significant share of EVAc
Accession no.726318 adhesive tape foams and PVC foams. Considerable data
are shown to explain the technology and the materials’
advantages over conventional crosslinked polyolefin,
Item 195 cellular neoprene, cellular EPDM, cellular SBR and
Kunststoffe Plast Europe cellular NBR/PVC blend. Peel strength data compares
89, No.3, March 1999, p.24-6. (Translated from peel adhesion on steel for competitive PE foam and
Kunststoffe 89 (1999) 3, pp.78-80) Sentinel MPO. Brief food contact and toxicity information
DASHBOARD MODULE FROM PP is included.
Johannboke E; Popp G
USA
Peguform GmbH
Accession no.724129
The design and manufacture is described in detail of a
dashboard module from polypropylene. The lightweight
Item 197
monomaterial dashboard comprises an outer material of
Patent Number: US 5859076 A 19990112
a TPO film, foam backed with an EPP foam. This
OPEN CELL FOAMED ARTICLES INCLUDING
decorative element, together with a highly integrated
SILANE-GRAFTED POLYOLEFIN RESINS
composite fibre hybrid cross beam, forms the core element
Kozma M L; Bambara J D; Hurley R F
of the lightweight dashboard module. The prototype
Sentinel Products Corp.
consists of four individual components, and is designed
in such a way that it can be built into and tested in the Describes open cell foamed articles including silane-
Mercedes A class car. 3 refs. grafted single-site initiated polyolefin resins. The olefin
JSP INTERNATIONAL polymer resin can be a polyethylene, a copolymer of
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY; ethylene, a C3-C20 alpha-olefin, or a copolymer of
WESTERN EUROPE ethylene, a C3-20 alpha-olefin and a C4-C20 diene. The
Accession no.726049 open cell foamed articles have good cushioning properties
and can be non-allergenic.
USA
Item 196
Tech XXI. Conference proceedings. Accession no.721176
Orlando, Fl., 6th-8th May,1998, p.111-24. 6A7
PERFORMANCE BENEFITS OF FLEXIBLE Item 198
METALLOCENE FOAMS IN PRESSURE Polymer Engineering and Science
SENSITIVE TAPE APPLICATIONS 38, No.12, Dec.1998, p.1997-2009
Smith S C PRODUCTION OF LOW DENSITY LLDPE
Sentinel Products Corp. FOAMS IN ROTATIONAL MOULDING
(Pressure Sensitive Tape Council) Liu G; Park C B; Lefas J A
Toronto,University; WedTech Inc.

© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited 69

 References and Abstracts
In order to better understand the mechanisms of foaming,
a fundamental study on the foaming process in
rotomoulding was conducted. First, the decomposition
behaviour of the chemical blowing agents, sodium
bicarbonate and Celogen OT (p,p’-
oxybisbenzenesulphonyl hydrazide from Uniroyal
Chemicals) was studied by TGA. The zero-shear viscosity
of LLDPEs was measured using a rotational stress
rheometer. Also, an optical microscope with a hot stage
was used to study cell nucleation, growth, coalescence,
and coarsening in LLDPE melts, which provide an
improved understanding of the foaming dynamics with a
chemical blowing agent in rotational moulding. Finally,
the actual foaming behaviour in rotomoulding was
studied. The experimental results indicate that the amount
of blowing agent, the heating time, and the processing
temperature play important roles in determining the cell
morphology in rotational foam moulding. 23 refs.
CANADA
Accession no.718716
Item 199
Patent Number: EP 896020 A1 19990210
PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF A
SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT FOAMED SHEET
Moon H S; Cattan E D
A LDPE, a first blowing agent, a surfactant and a
separation agent are mixed and the resulting mixture is
heated at a temperature higher than 160C to obtain a
molten mass, which is then heated at a temperature higher
than the gasification temperature of the blowing agent to
separate the blowing agent. The mixture is then cooled
and formed into a sheet. A second gaseous blowing agent
is introduced into the cooled mass, the foamed mass
obtained is maintained at a stabilising temperature to
stabilise it and cooled at 20 to 25C and the resulting cooled
mass is maintained at this temperature for 24 hours.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; ITALY;
KOREA; WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.718549
Item 200
Patent Number: US 5844009 A 19981201
CROSSLINKED LOW-DENSITY POLYMER
FOAM
Hurley R F; Bambara J D; Bambara M; Bambara R
Sentinel Products Corp.
This is a blend of LDPE, which generally has a density
between 0.91 and about 0.93 g/cu.cm. and a melt index
greater than 1 and a silane-grafted single-site initiated
polyolefin, which is generally a copolymer of ethylene
and a C3 to C20 alpha-olefin having a density between
about 0.86 and 0.96 g/cu.cm. and a MWD between about
1.5 and 3.5.
USA
Accession no.718351
70
Item 201
Patent Number: US 5837173 A 19981117
PROCESS FOR PREPARING EXPANDED
ARTICLES BASED ON
CHLOROTRIFLUOROETHYLENE
COPOLYMERS
Vita G; Pozzoli M
Ausimont SpA
A copolymer of ethylene and chlorotrifluoroethylene is
mixed with 0.5 to 2 wt.% of boron nitride, the blend
obtained is extruded at 260 to 300C, nitrogen is injected
into the blend at 50 to 150 atmospheres and the pressure
is lowered to produce the expanded article, which has
high dielectric properties.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; ITALY;
WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.716611
Item 202
Patent Number: US 5801208 A 19980901
BLOWING AGENT, EXPANDABLE
COMPOSITION, AND PROCESS FOR
EXTRUDED THERMOPLASTIC FOAMS
Shau-Tarng Lee
Sealed Air Corp.
An expandable thermoplastic composition is disclosed
for extrusion foaming wherein the composition comprises
a polyethylene resin and a blowing agent comprising
ethane present in an amount of at least about 40 percent
or more by weight based upon the total weight of the
blowing agent and a different alkane selected from the
group consisting of C1, C2, C3, C4, C5 and C6 alkanes
and mixtures thereof, wherein the minimum percentage
of ethane increases above 40 percent as the arithmetic
mean carbon number of the different alkane increases
from 3 to 5. A process for extrusion foaming of the
composition is also disclosed.
USA
Accession no.714255
Item 203
Plasticheskie Massy (USSR)
No.9, 1997, p.37-40
Russian
STUDY OF THE PROCESS OF FOAMING OF
POLYMER MELTS
Markov A V; Kuleznev V N; Vlasov S V; Salman I A;
Zavgorodnii V V
Moscow,Institute of Fine Chemical Technology
A study is described of the kinetic dependencies of the
solution and separation of gases and of their solubility in
melts of polymers under real conditions, in order to obtain
the appropriate conditions for the formation of the
required porous structure. The materials investigated were
compositions based on polyethylene, polypropylene,
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
 References and Abstracts
polystyrene, and poly(methyl methacrylate) containing
the chemical blowing agent azadicarbonamide Chkh-21.
8 refs. Articles from this journal can be requested for
translation by subscribers to the Rapra produced
International Polymer Science and Technology.
RUSSIA
Accession no.713965
Item 204
Cellular Polymers
17, No.5, 1998, p.309-26
CHALLENGE TO THE PRODUCTION OF LOW-
DENSITY, FINE-CELL HDPE FOAMS USING
CARBON DIOXIDE
Behravesh A H; Park C B; Venter R D
Toronto,University
The manufacture of low-density, fine-cell HDPE foams
by extrusion using carbon dioxide as a blowing agent was
investigated. The strategies adopted to produce low-
density, fine-cell HDPE foams were to generate a large
number of cells by a rapid pressure drop, to suppress cell
coalescence by strengthening the melt via melt temp.
control and to promote expansion by cooling the extrudate
surface and blocking the gas escape. A continuous
extrusion process was designed and implemented on the
basis of these strategies. The concept of promoting large
expansion while preventing cell coalescence to maintain
a high cell density was successfully demonstrated through
experiments. Low-density, fine-cell HDPE foams were
produced with an expansion ratio in the range 1.5 to 20
times, a cell density of the order of 100,000,000 cells/cc
and a cell size of the order of 50 micrometres. 29 refs.
CANADA
Accession no.713471
Item 205
Patent Number: US 5817705 A 19981006
SHORT TIME FRAME PROCESS FOR
PRODUCING EXTRUDED CLOSED CELL LOW
DENSITY PROPYLENE POLYMER FOAMS
Wilkes G R; Stimler J J; Bly K A; Dunbar H A;
Uhl E R
Tenneco Protective Packaging Inc.
A propylene polymer or copolymer or a blend thereof,
which exhibits sufficient strain hardening, viscoelastic
behaviour and melt ductility, is heated, melted and mixed
in an extruder with an organic or inorganic physical
blowing agent or a mixture of organic and inorganic
physical blowing agents and optional compatibilisers,
nucleating agents, stabilisers and miscellaneous additives.
This mixture is pressurised and then cooled at elevated
pressure, extruded through a die at rates in excess of 1,000
kg/hr to produce an expanded and dimensionally stable,
predominantly closed-cell propylene polymer foam
having a density of between 10 and 150 kg/cu.cm. and a
thickness in excess of 1.3 cm. The foams have a
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
foamability index greater than 1.9 and a specified
ebullation time.
USA
Accession no.710316
Item 206
Cellular Polymers
17, No.4, 1998, p.252-70
EXPERIMENTS AND MODELLING OF THE
EXPANSION OF CROSSLINKED
POLYETHYLENE FOAMS
Mahapatro A; Mills N J; Sims G L A
Manchester,University; UMIST
The density of chemically-blown LDPE foam was altered
by varying the amount of blowing agent, degree of
crosslinking of the polymer, and the foam expansion
temperature. A theory was proposed for the equilibrium
density, based on the gas pressures in a Kelvin foam
structure, and a rubber-elastic analysis of the biaxial
stretching of the cell faces. 20 refs.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; UK;
WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.705277
Item 207
Cellular Polymers
17, No.4, 1998, p.221-51
EFFECT OF TALC ON CELL NUCLEATION IN
EXTRUSION FOAM PROCESSING OF
POLYPROPYLENE WITH CARBON DIOXIDE
AND ISOPENTANE
Park C B; Cheung L K; Seung-Won Song
Toronto,University
The effect of talc on the cell density of extruded foams
was investigated when carbon dioxide or isopentane was
used as blowing agent. The critical materials and
processing parameters that affect PP foam morphology
were identified: the effects of type and concentration of
blowing agent, processing pressure, and pressure drop rate
on the foam structure were examined. In particular,
nucleation behaviour with talc for volatile carbon dioxide
was clearly contrasted with the nucleation behaviour for
a long-chain blowing agent isopentane. 32 refs.
CANADA
Accession no.705276
Item 208
Patent Number: US 5776993 A 19980707
THERMOPLASTIC PVC FOAM COMPOSITION
Bong Sub Shin; Jae Yeon Lee; Dong Keun Kim;
Seoun Jun Kim; Sung Ok Cho
Korea,Institute of Footwear & Leather Technology;
HS Corp.
This invention relates to a thermoplastic foam
composition and more particularly to the thermoplastic
71
 References and Abstracts
PVC foam composition suitable for a shoe material, which
is characterised by the following fabrication and
advantages. Some plasticiser and additive are added to
the PVC base, plasticised by dioctyl phthalate or epoxide
soybean oil to obtain the thermoplastic PVC foam
composition. Then one type of compound, selected from
a rubber thermoplastic compound and ethylene vinyl
acetate copolymer, was added to the mixture for
modification. The desired product, so formed, has certain
advantages such as (a) possible foaming by extruder and
injector, including heating press; (b) the composition, so
foamed, can be regenerated; (c) the desired product is
lightweight, due to its low specific gravity, and (d) its
physical properties, anti-slip, abrasion resistance and
adhesion to other materials are remarkable.
KOREA
Accession no.704680
Item 209
Patent Number: EP 872516 A1 19981021
FOAMABLE POLYMERIC COMPOSITION
Brzoskowski R; Sadeghi R; Wang Y
DSM NV
This comprises a thermoplastic elastomer based on a
polyolefin and a rubber. The polyolefin is a PP homo- or
copolymer having a specified weight-average molec.wt.
and elongational viscosity (measured at a temperature of
170C, a rate of elongation of 0.03 1/s and at a time of 10
s).
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION;
NETHERLANDS; WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.701309
Item 210
Journal of Polymer Science : Polymer Physics Edition
36, No.14, Oct.1998, p.2587-96
THERMAL EXPANSION OF CROSSLINKED
CLOSED-CELL POLYETHYLENE FOAMS
Rodriguez-Perez M A; Alonso O; Duijsens A; de Saja J A
Valladolid,Universidad; Sekisui Alveo BV
Crosslinked low-density polyethylene foams with a closed-
cell structure were investigated using differential scanning
calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy, density, and
thermal expansion measurements. At room temperature,
the coefficient of thermal expansion decreased as the
density increased. This was attributed to the influence of
gas expansion within the cells. At a given material density,
the expansion increased as the cell size became smaller. At
higher temperatures, the relationship between thermal
expansion and density was more complex, due to physical
transitions in the matrix polymer. Materials with high
density and thick cell walls were concluded to be the best
for low expansion applications. 16 refs.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION;
NETHERLANDS; SPAIN; WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.699627
72
Item 211
Patent Number: US 5747549 A 19980505
FOAMED PARTICLES OF POLYPROPYLENE
HOMOPOLYMER AND MOULDED ARTICLE OF
THE FOAMED PARTICLES
Tsurugai K; Tokoro H; Oikawa M
JSP Corp.
The moulded articles of foamed particles composed of a
polypropylene-based polymer, have had excellent
cushioning characteristics and impact resilience, but have
not always been satisfactory in stiffness such as
compressive strength. The invention is directed to foamed
particles comprising a polypropylene homopolymer as a
base resin and having a tensile modulus of 15000-25000
kg/sq.cm. and a crystal structure that an inherent peak
and a high-temperature peak appear as endothermic peaks
on a DSC curve. A moulded article of foamed particles is
obtained by using the foamed particles as described above
and moulding them, and has a density of 0.01-0.3 g/cu.cm.
and a tensile modulus of 15000-25000 kg/sq.cm. It has a
crystal structure that an inherent peak and a high-
temperature peak appear on a DSC curve obtained by its
differential scanning calorimetry like the case of the
foamed particles. As with the foamed particles, a quantity
of heat at the high-temperature peak is 30-60 J/g.
JAPAN
Accession no.698637
Item 212
Patent Number: US 5744231 A 19980428
COMPOSITE FOAM MOLDED ARTICLE,
PROCESS FOR PRODUCTION THEREOF
COMPOSITION
Igarashi T; Shinohara S; Tatsumi M; Hikasa T;
Mendori H
Sumitomo Chemical Co.Ltd.
An integrally moulded composite article comprised of (I)
a nonfoam layer formed from a thermoplastic elastomer
powder composition (A) and (II) a foam layer formed
from a foamable composition comprised of (i) (B) a
thermoplastic synthetic resin powder, and (C) a heat
decomposable foaming agent and (D) a liquid coating
agent, wherein the thermoplastic elastomer powder (A)
is comprised of a composition of an ethylene-alpha-olefin
copolymer rubber and a polyolefin resin or thermoplastic
elastomer powder comprised of a partially crosslinked
composition of an ethylene-alpha-olefin copolymer rubber
and a polyolefin resin, the thermoplastic elastomer powder
having a complex dynamic viscosity at 250 deg C and a
frequency of 1 radian/sec of not more than 1.5 x 1,000,000
poise and having a Newtonian viscosity index n,
calculated by a specific formula.
JAPAN
Accession no.697122
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
 References and Abstracts
Item 213
Cellular Polymers IV. Conference proceedings..
Shawbury, 5th-6th June, 1997, paper 15. 6124
DEFORMATION MECHANISMS IN LDPE
CLOSED CELL FOAMS
Mills N J; Gilchrist A
Birmingham,University
(Rapra Technology Ltd.)
The effect of gas compression on the uniaxial compression
stress-strain curve of closed-cell polymer foams was
analysed. The elastic contribution of cell faces to the
compressive stress-strain curve is predicted quantitatively,
and the effect on the initial Young’s modulus is said to be
large. The polymer contribution was analysed using a
tetrakaidecahedral cell model. It is demonstrated that the
cell faces contribute linearly to the Young’s modulus, but
compressive yielding involves non-linear viscoelastic
deformation. 3 refs.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; UK;
WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.696332
Item 214
Eureka
18, No.9, Sept.1998, p.48
ENGINEERED FOAM PUTS AN END TO
BREAKAGES
A leading maker of audio mixing desks wanted a
packaging solution which used end caps to protect its
equipment. Sealed Air’s Stratocell PE foam is elastomeric
so can be engineered with hinges, dovetail latches and
expanding concertina sections. The mixing desk end caps
could be made in a form which opened out using hinges,
so that the desk could be placed in them from above. They
may then be closed and latched together.
SEALED AIR LTD.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; UK;
WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.695835
Item 215
Polymer Engineering and Science
38, No.7, July 1998, p.1205-15
PROCESSING AND CHARACTERISATION OF
MICROCELLULAR FOAMED HIGH-DENSITY
POLYETHYLENE/ISOTACTIC
POLYPROPYLENE BLENDS
Doroudiani S; Park C B; Kortschot M T
Toronto,University
A study on the batch processing and characterisation of
microcellular foamed HDPE/isotactic PP blends is
reported. The blends were used to produce materials with
a variety of crystalline and phase morphologies to enhance
the subsequent microcellular foaming. Much finer and
more uniform foams were produced with the blends than
with neat HDPE and isotactic PP. The mechanical
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
properties and in particular the impact strength of the
blends were significantly improved by foaming. 45 refs.
CANADA
Accession no.694916
Item 216
International Polymer Processing
13, No.2, July 1998, p.129-35
GENERATION OF PARTIALLY CROSSLINKED
EXPANDED PP FILMS AND SHEETS
Fritz H G; Bolz U; Lu R
Stuttgart,University
A modified concept for the generation of partially
crosslinked expanded PP films and sheets for use in
automotive applications is presented. An optimised
formulation window for the organosilane crosslinking of
selected PP copolymers is described in detail. 5 refs.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY;
WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.694266
Item 217
Antec 98. Volume III. Conference proceedings.
Atlanta, Ga., 26th-30th April 1998, p.3527-32. 012
SHEAR AND PRESSURE EFFECTS ON
EXTRUDED FOAM NUCLEATION
Lee S-T; Kim Y
Sealed Air Corp.
(SPE)
Results of LDPE foam nucleation tests using a counter-
rotating twin-screw extruder equipped with a rod die are
presented. The foam rod shows increased cell nucleation
closer to skin compared to the centre area. The effects of
throughput rate and corresponding shear rate and pressure
drop are correlated. According to viscoelastic flow
measurements in the rod die, its surface experiences
higher shear over the centre, the nucleation of which is
primarily pressure gradient-controlled. Cell nucleation
density appears to be more sensitive to shear variation
than to pressure gradient. A cavity model is used to
describe the nucleation phenomena. 15 refs.
USA
Accession no.693727
Item 218
Journal of Macromolecular Science A
A35, Nos.7&8, 1998, p.1147-58
MORPHOLOGY AND ORIENTATION OF PP-
STRUCTURAL FOAM MOULDINGS
Djoumaliisky S; Christova D; Touleshkov N; Nedkov E
Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
Details are given of the interaction between the
macrostructure and morphology of PP structural foam
mouldings made by the gas-counter pressure process. The
morphology, orientation, and processes of non-isothermal
73
 References and Abstracts
phase transition were studied using polarised optical
microscopy, light scattering, DSC and birefringence.
12 refs.
BULGARIA; EASTERN EUROPE
Accession no.689383
Item 219
Journal of Macromolecular Science A
A35, Nos.7&8, 1998, p.1127-35
MORPHOLOGY OF PE FOAMED
CROSSLINKED SPECIMENS MADE BY HOT
MOULD INJECTION MOULDING
Kotzev G; Touleshkov N; Christova D; Nedkov E
Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
Foamed and crosslinked specimens of PE made by hot
mould injection moulding were investigated. The degree
of crosslinking was calculated by equilibrium strain
determined at 140C. The degree of crystallinity was
determined by DSC-kinetics of a nonisothermal melting
and crystallisation. Morphology was investigated by
polarised microscopy. 3 refs.
BULGARIA; EASTERN EUROPE
Accession no.689381
Item 220
Patent Number: US 5723507 A 19980303
FORMED GASKETS MADE FROM
HOMOGENEOUS OLEFIN POLYMERS
Markovich R P; Whetten A R
Dow Chemical Co.
These comprise at least one homogeneously branched
ethylene polymer and at least one blowing agent. They
are particularly suitable for sealing food and liquid
containers and do not contribute to taste and/or odour of
the packaged product.
USA
Accession no.688241
Item 221
Patent Number: US 5656675 A 19970812
AUTOMOTIVE MOLDED ROOF MATERIAL
AND PROCESS FOR PRODUCING THE SAME
Kobayashi T; Morita K; Suzuki S
Mitsui Petrochemical Industries Ltd.
A process for producing an automotive moulded roof
material is provided which comprises sheeting a foamable
sheet forming composition comprising a specified
propylene resin, a glass fibre, a radical initiator, a
crosslinking auxiliary and a foaming agent in specific
proportions into a foamable sheet, lining one side of the
foamable sheet with a backing sheet so as to integrate
these and irradiating the foamable sheet with ionising
radiation to thereby crosslink the propylene resin,
followed by heating the foamable sheet so as to cause the
foamable sheet to foam, placing a cover sheet on the other
74
side of the foamed sheet before the sheet cools to solidify
and press moulding the cover sheet on the foamed sheet
to cover. There is also provided an automotive moulded
roof material produced by the above process. An
automotive moulded roof material is obtained which can
be recycled, is lightweight and has high rigidity.
JAPAN
Accession no.688197
Item 222
Cellular Polymers
17, No.2, 1998, p.93-113
USE OF ONLINE RHEOMETRY TO
CHARACTERISE POLYMER MELTS
CONTAINING PHYSICAL BLOWING AGENTS
Gendron R; Correa A
Canada,National Research Council; Rheometric
Scientific Inc.
The application of online rheometry is considered with
particular reference to polymer melts plasticised by
physical blowing agents. Experimental investigations are
performed on PS containing 0-15 wt.% of HCFC-142b
or HFC-134a or 0-5 wt.% of carbon dioxide at various
temperatures and shear rates. It is shown that the results
could be used to indicate the solubility limit and related
to the glass transition temperature. Rheological modelling
and data fits are compared indicating that a time/
temperature composition (i.e. relative concentrations of
polymers/blowing agent mixtures) superposition principle
is valid. The model is extended to consider effects using
a semi-crystalline polymer (PP). It is concluded that an
online return-to-stream process control rheometer can
satisfactorily measure and monitor mixtures of polymers
and physical blowing agents used in thermoplastic foam
extrusion. Appropriate viscosity measurements can be
directly linked to a number of critical variables. 13 refs.
CANADA; USA
Accession no.688007
Item 223
Antec 98. Volume II. Conference proceedings.
Atlanta, Ga., 26th-30th April 1998, p.1987-900. 012
COMPRESSIVE STRESS RELAXATION OF
CLOSED-CELL, METALLOCENE-BASED
POLYOLEFIN FOAMS
Bhatt C U; Hwang C R; Khan S A
North Carolina,State University; Becton,Dickinson & Co.
(SPE)
Closed-cell foams made from metallocene-based
polyolefins (MPO) have potential for use in various
applications because of their uniform composition and
low toxicity. Compressive stress relaxation is used to
investigate the behaviour of these foams. In particular,
its behaviour is compared with open-cell PU foams, a
material MPO foams could possibly replace. The effect
of gamma radiation on MPO foam behaviour is also
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
 References and Abstracts
investigated. Step strain experiments reveal PU foam to
have an equilibrium relaxation modulus, whereas the non-
radiated MPO exhibits complete stress relaxation.
Radiation under vacuum, however, induces crosslinking
in the polyolefin to improve structural stability and stress
relaxation behaviour of the MPO foams significantly. The
presence of oxygen during radiation is detrimental as it
impedes the crosslinking process. 9 refs.
USA
Accession no.687558
Item 224
Antec 98. Volume II. Conference proceedings.
Atlanta, Ga., 26th-30th April 1998, p.1842-9. 012
PRODUCT AND PROCESS DEVELOPMENTS IN
THE NITROGEN AUTOCLAVE PROCESS FOR
POLYOLEFIN FOAM MANUFACTURE
Eaves D E; Witten N
Zotefoams plc
(SPE)
A review is presented of the nitrogen autoclave process
for the manufacture of crosslinked polyolefin foams.
Process and product developments over the last few years
are summarised and future possibilities are described.
Process developments include use of higher temperatures
and pressures to produce foams having densities as low
as 10 kg/cub.m. Product developments include foams
based on HDPE/LDPE blends, propylene copolymers and
metallocene-catalysed ethylene copolymers. The structure
and properties of these foams are compared with those of
foams produced by alternative processes. 5 refs.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; UK;
WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.687548
Item 225
Antec 98. Volume II. Conference proceedings.
Atlanta, Ga., 26th-30th April 1998, p.1832-6. 012
STRUCTURE/PROCESS/PROPERTY
RELATIONSHIPS IN MOULDED
POLYETHYLENE FOAMS
Sims G L A; Mahapatro A
UMIST
(SPE)
Structure, process and property relationships of moulded PE
foams are investigated. Two compression moulding
variations are used, namely single stage and heat and chill
processes. Using either process, crosslinking and chemical
blowing agent decomposition occur under identical
conditions followed by expansion at different temperatures.
Foam densities are correlated to degree of crosslinking and
tensile stress-strain curves of unfoamed crosslinked polymer
(of the same gel content) determined at temperatures
corresponding to those of foam expansion. 10 refs.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; UK;
WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.687546
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
Item 226
Antec 98. Volume II. Conference proceedings.
Atlanta, Ga., 26th-30th April 1998, p.1822-31. 012
ROTATIONAL MOULDING OF LOW-DENSITY
LLDPE FOAMS
Liu G; Park C B; Lefas J A
Toronto,University; WedTech Inc.
(SPE)
Plastic foam processing for the manufacture of LLDPE
foams in rotomoulding is presented. In order to better
understand the mechanisms of foaming, a fundamental
study on the foaming process in rotomoulding is
conducted. First, the decomposition behaviour of the
chemical blowing agents is studied by thermogravimetric
analysis (TGA). The rheological properties of zero-shear
viscosity and melt elasticity for LLDPEs are measured
using a rotational stress rheometer. Also, an optical
microscope with a hot stage is used to study the cell
nucleation, growth, coalescence and coarsening in LLDPE
melts, providing an improved understanding of the
foaming dynamics with a chemical blowing agent in
rotational moulding. Finally, the actual foaming behaviour
in rotomoulding is studied. The experimental results
indicate that the amount of blowing agent, the heating
time and the processing temperature play an important
role in determining the cell morphology in rotational foam
moulding. 27 refs.
CANADA
Accession no.687545
Item 227
Antec 98. Volume I. Conference proceedings.
Atlanta, Ga., 26th-30th April 1998, p.1161-5. 012
EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF FOAMED
POLYETHYLENE IN ROTATIONAL MOULDING
Liu S-J; Tsai C-H
Chang Gung,University
(SPE)
Rotational moulding of PE foams has increasingly become
an important process in industry because of their thicker
walls, lower sound transfer, higher stiffness and good
thermal insulation. However, the foaming process of PE
in rotational moulding has not been well studied. The
rotomouldability of foamed PE and moulded product
properties are examined. Characterisation of powder and
moulded part properties is performed. In addition, the role
of blowing agent on the process is discussed. 16 refs.
TAIWAN
Accession no.684694
Item 228
Foamplas 97. Conference proceedings.
Mainz, Germany, 4th-5th Nov.1997, p.277-89. 6124
NEW MODIFIED AZODICARBONIC ACID
DIAMIDE FOR CROSSLINKED POLYOLEFIN
FOAMS
75
 References and Abstracts
Facklam T
Bayer AG
(Schotland Business Research Inc.)
Crosslinked PE foam is widely used today in the
automotive, sport, leisure and packaging industries. The
role of azodicarbonic acid diamide (ADC) in its
manufacture is illustrated, showing possibilities of
improving the production quality of chemically
crosslinked PE foams by adding a modified azodicarbonic
acid diamide.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY;
WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.683837
Item 229
Foamplas 97. Conference proceedings.
Mainz, Germany, 4th-5th Nov.1997, p.181-208. 6124
PROCESSING INNOVATIONS FOR NEW
POLYMERS IN THE PHYSICAL FOAMING
PROCESS
Reimker M
Berstorff H.,Maschinenbau GmbH
(Schotland Business Research Inc.)
The extruder-based physical foaming process and special
requirements for new polymer foams made of PP,
thermoplastic elastomers and PETP are described.
Because of some different physical properties of these
polymers, the blowing agents and the product
characteristics, the machinery and equipment as well as
the recipe and process parameters need to be adapted
accordingly. The right selection of machine and line
components is essential for an economical and trouble-
free operation of a production line. For the physical
foaming process, the most important engineering details
are extruder design, barrel length, screw design, heating/
cooling system, blowing agent injection system, foam
extrusion head, calibrating and other downstream
equipment. Applications for new polymer foams can be
found in the automotive industry, for special packaging,
transportation and insulation purposes as well as many
other technical articles. 18 refs.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY;
WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.683831
Item 230
Foamplas 97. Conference proceedings.
Mainz, Germany, 4th-5th Nov.1997, p.149-62. 6124
HIGH MELT STRENGTH PP FOAMS FOR THE
AUTOMOTIVE AND PACKAGING INDUSTRIES
Van Calster M
Montell Polyolefins Co.
(Schotland Business Research Inc.)
Since Ziegler and Natta’s discovery of a catalyst system
to produce PP, this polymer has enjoyed formidable
growth. Today, the world market for PP is estimated at
76
20 million tons and overall growth rates are still close to
10%, higher than for most traditional polymers. At the
origin of this success is the remarkable combination of
properties offered by PP and the ability to modify these
properties within a broad spectrum. Tailored mechanical
properties, high service temperature, inertness in contact
with food, resistance to a broad range of chemicals and
ease of recycling are just a few of PP’s assets, making it
the polymer of choice for many applications in the
automotive and packaging industries. Through major
advances in both catalyst and reactor technology, Montell
has been instrumental in expanding the performance
envelope of PP. Several trends in today’s industry and
society favour the combination of PP properties and the
advantages offered by foam structures. The use of PP foam
in automotive and packaging applications, with some
emphasis on recyclability or waste reduction is discussed.
2 refs.
BELGIUM; EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION;
WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.683829
Item 231
Foamplas 97. Conference proceedings.
Mainz, Germany, 4th-5th Nov.1997, p.87-115. 6124
NEW POLYETHYLENE AND POLYSTYRENE
POLYMERS FOR FOAM APPLICATIONS
Kelusky E C
Nova Chemicals Ltd.
(Schotland Business Research Inc.)
Polyolefin foams are a growing application, buoyed in
part by the development of new polyolefins with
properties suitable for foam applications. Historically,
polyolefins have been used because they are flexible and
tough and show good resistance to abrasion and
chemicals. The advent of new families of polyolefins
based on new reactor, catalyst and copolymer technologies
have expanded the opportunities for polyolefins in foams.
Nova Chemicals has developed a wide range of products
for foam applications and is developing new technology
for these applications. The products include Arcel, a
mouldable PE/PS interpolymer; Dylite, an expandable PS;
Novapol LDPE, for foamed PE; and Advanced Sclairtech,
a new PE technology which is currently being
commercialised. Details are given.
CANADA
Accession no.683826
Item 232
Foamplas 97. Conference proceedings.
Mainz, Germany, 4th-5th Nov.1997, p.65-85. 6124
LABORATORY EVALUATION OF
METALLOCENE RESINS IN CROSSLINKED
POLYETHYLENE (XLPE) FOAM
Heck R L
Uniroyal Chemical Co.Inc.
(Schotland Business Research Inc.)
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
 References and Abstracts
Using a laboratory technique previously developed to
evaluate the performance of chemical foaming agents in
XLPE foam, metallocene polyolefins are evaluated at
various addition levels to branched LDPE to determine
their effect on general foam quality (cell size, density,
appearance). The laboratory method is discussed, and
conclusions on acceptable levels of the metallocene resins
are offered. 5 refs.
USA
Accession no.683825
Item 233
Blowing Agent Systems: Formulations and Processing.
Seminar proceedings.
Shawbury, 19th Feb.1998, paper 6. 57
GAS SOLUBILITY: A KEY FEATURE OF
CURRENT ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL
QUESTIONS FOR EXTRUDERS OF
THERMOPLASTIC FOAMS
Gale M
Rapra Technology Ltd.
(Rapra Technology Ltd.)
High density foams generally use conventional extrusion
lines, and the blowing agents are specially formulated
chemicals which decompose at the elevated temperatures
of molten polymers to liberate the necessary gas. Low
density foams, typically packaging and insulation
products, are foamed on special equipment using direct
injection of a physical blowing agent which does not
undergo any reaction. The most commonly used chemical
blowing agents (CBAs) liberate either carbon dioxide or
nitrogen plus miscellaneous gaseous and solid chemicals.
Physical blowing agents are usually either hydrocarbons
such as pentane or HCFCs. Carbon dioxide and nitrogen
liberated from chemical blowing agents cost about ten
times that used from cylinders. There are also problems
of variable amounts of gas evolved causing extrusion
problems as well as potential fire and respiratory problems
with some CBAs. The results of Rapra extrusion trials
using nitrogen, argon and carbon dioxide are presented.
14 refs.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; UK;
WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.683412
Item 234
Patent Number: US 5698604 A 19971216
DURABLE CASE FORMED FROM AN
EXPANDED HIGH-DENSITY POLYETHYLENE
Kiley D L
American Trading & Production Corp.
A case, such as an attache case or briefcase, has a cover
panel, back panel, front panel, top panel, bottom panel
opposing tabs and opposing side panels. It is made from
a unitary sheet of expanded PE, which is produced by
encapsulating a thermoplastic blowing agent
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
(azodicarbonamide) within an EVA carrier resin to form
a pelletised compound, which is combined with HDPE
and extruded. The melt temperature of the pelletised
blowing agent is lower than that of the PE and controls
the expansion of the polyethylene.
USA
Accession no.680439
Item 235
Patent Number: US 5698144 A 19971216
PROCESS FOR PRODUCING LOW DENSITY
POLYETHYLENIC FOAM WITH
ATMOSPHERIC GASES AND POLYGLYCOLS
OR POLYGLYCOL ETHERS
Wilkes G R; Dunbar H A; Bly K A; Uhl E R
Tenneco Protective Packaging Inc.
Polyglycols and polyglycol ethers exhibiting gas
absorption properties and plasticising effects in
polyethylenic extrudates are combined with physical
atmospheric blowing agents, such as nitrogen, argon,
carbon dioxide, water and blends thereof, to produce
uncrosslinked polyethylenic foams having densities as
low as 10 kg/cu.cm.
USA
Accession no.680333
Item 236
Advances in Polymer Technology
17, No.2, Summer 1998, p.87-106
GAS DIFFUSION IN DENSE PE FOAMS
Briscoe B J; Savvas T
Imperial College
An experimental and theoretical study of the degassing
of an LDPE high-density foam is presented.
Measurements of the mass, dimensions, and density as a
function of storage time are reported. A geometrical model
is described to represent the basic mass transport and
volume relaxation processes in a cellular system. Model
predictions were compared with experimental results.
12 refs.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; UK;
WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.679379
Item 237
New Plastics 98. Conference proceedings.
London, 21st-22nd Jan.1998, paper 19. 6
EMERGING APPLICATIONS AND
PERFORMANCE ATTRIBUTES OF ULTRA LOW
DENSITY METALLOCENE FOAMS
Smith S C
Sentinel Products Corp.
(European Plastics News)
For 30 years, conventional foams have been described as
rubber or plastic. With the advent of metallocene foams,
77
 References and Abstracts
there is no longer a relevant distinction between rubber
and/or plastic foams. The only difference between what
is commonly referred to as a rubber or plastic foam is the
stiffness or flexibility of the resultant foam. The emerging
applications and performance benefits of a technology
that has created new breeds of metallocene foams referred
to as ULMEs (Ultra Low Density Metallocene
Elastomers) and ULMPs (Ultra Low Density Metallocene
Plastomers) are described.
USA
Accession no.679273
Item 238
Journal of Applied Polymer Science
68, No.8, 23rd May 1998, p.1237-44
EFFECT OF ADDITION OF EVA ON THE
TECHNICAL PROPERTIES OF EXTRUDED
FOAM PROFILES OF LOW-DENSITY
POLYETHYLENE/EVA BLENDS
Rodriguez-Perez M A; Duijsens A; de Saja J A
Valladolid,Universidad; Sekisui Alveo BV
The static and dynamic mechanical properties, creep
recovery behaviour, thermal expansion and thermal
conductivity of low-density foams made of blends of
LDPE and EVA were studied as a function of the EVA
content of the blends. These properties were compared
with those of a foam made from a blend of EVA and
ethylene-propylene rubber. A knowledge of the way in
which the EVA content affects the behaviour of these
blend foam materials is fundamental to obtaining a wide
range of polyolefin foams, with similar density, suitable
for different applications. 9 refs.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION;
NETHERLANDS; SPAIN; WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.679109
Item 239
Patent Number: EP 839857 A2 19980506
POLYMERIC FOAM WITH ANTIBACTERIAL
AND MILDEWPROOFING FUNCTIONS
Mori S
This comprises a copolymer containing 72 to 95 wt.% of
ethylene and 28 to 5 wt.% of vinyl acetate and a small
amount of organic composite having a bactericidal action
contained therein, which is composed mainly of N,N-
d i m e t h y l - N ’ - p h e n y l - N ’ -
(fluorodichloromethylthio)sulphamide, 1,2-
benzisothiazoline-3-on, diiodomethyl-p-tolylsulphone
and methyl(benzimidazol-2-yl)carbamate. It is suitable
as cushioning material for floors and walls and as a
material for building blocks and babies’ toys.
JAPAN
Accession no.678704
78
Item 240
Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research
37, No.4, April 1998, p.1464-72
MODEL FOR FOAM DEVOLATILISATION IN
AN EXTRUDER
Yang C-T; Smith T G; Bigio D I; Anolick C
Maryland,University; DuPont de Nemours E.I.,&
Co.Inc.
Details are given of the development of a model for the
design of the devolatilisation section in an extruder which
was optimised with respect to foam growth and process
parameters. A statistical regression method and a
backpropagation neural network were used to develop
correlations. A case study for model demonstration is
given using PE/acrylic acid devolatilisation in a co-
rotating twin-screw extruder. 41 refs.
USA
Accession no.678613
Item 241
Cellular Polymers
17, No.1, 1998, p.31-6
LABORATORY EVALUATION OF
METALLOCENE RESINS IN CROSSLINKED
POLYETHYLENE FOAM
Heck R L
Uniroyal Chemical Co.Inc.
Using a laboratory technique previously developed to
evaluate the performance of chemical foaming agents in
crosslinked PE foam, metallocene polyolefins were
evaluated at various levels of addition to branched LDPE
to determine their effect on general foam quality, e.g. cell
size, density and appearance. The laboratory method is
discussed and conclusions on acceptable levels of the
metallocene resins are presented. 5 refs. (Foamplas ’97,
Mainz, Germany, Nov.1997)
USA
Accession no.677566
Item 242
Varmdo, 1998, pp.6. 30cms. 15/4/98
English; German; French
POLYPROPYLENE - THE FOAMS OF THE
FUTURE
Fagerdala World Foams AB
A trilingual brochure gives details of the polypropylene
foam product range of Fagerdala World Foams. The
materials offer modifiable product characteristics to suit
various needs, high temperature resistance, and complete
recyclability. Products include Fawolit extruded rolls and
sheets for industrial and packaging applications and
Fawocel semi-flexible moulded parts, blocks and sheets
with high energy absorption. The Fawotop range of
moulded and thermoformed parts features a sandwich
construction of extruded PP rolls or sheets and PP particle
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
 References and Abstracts
foam with improved toughness at low density. Brief
coverage is also given to the company’s range of
polyethylene foams.
SCANDINAVIA; SWEDEN; WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.676621
Item 243
Kobunshi Ronbunshu
55, No.2, 1998, p.74-82
Japanese
DYNAMIC COMPRESSION MODULUS OF
ELASTICITY IN OPEN-CELLED
POLYETHYLENE FOAMS
Adachi H; Hasegawa T; Kotani N
Nagoya Municipal Industrial Research Institute; Sanwa
Kako Corp.
The dynamic compression modulus values of elasticity
in some open-celled polyethylene foams were established
by measuring frequency and temperature characteristics
of viscoelasticity in compression mode. The dynamic
compression modulus values of elasticity were found to
be useful to evaluate compression characteristics of the
foam, as were other dynamic properties. 14 refs.
JAPAN
Accession no.676307
Item 244
Modern Plastics International
28, No.3, March 1998, p.92
PP FOAM
It is briefly reported that PP foam sheet from Convenience
Food Systems in thickness from 500 to 1800 micron is
thermoformable into chilled food packaging trays. Trays
made in TiroPak XPP, which is coextruded with an EVOH
barrier layer, can be taken from the freezer and heated to
90C in a microwave oven without loss of shape or
properties.
CONVENIENCE FOOD SYSTEMS BV
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION;
NETHERLANDS; WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.673014
Item 245
Journal of Polymer Science : Polymer Physics Edition
36, No.4, March 1998, p.617-27
ISOTACTIC POLYPROPYLENE FOAMS
CRYSTALLIZED FROM COMPRESSED
PROPANE SOLUTIONS
Whaley P D; Kulkarni S; Ehrlich P; Stein R S;
Winter H H; Conner W C; Beaucage G
Massachusetts,University; Cincinnati,University
Crystallisation of isotactic PP from homogeneous solution
in supercritical propane yielded open-cell foams of high
surface area. Their morphology usually consisted of
microspheres with a dense core and a porous periphery
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
of radiating fibrils. Pore radii covering the mesopore range
(2-50nm), making their largest contribution at 10-20 nm,
were calculated from nitrogen adsorption isotherms.
Surface areas of the correct order of magnitude were
obtained by assuming that gas adsorption took place on
the surfaces of lamellar crystals. Crystallisation of
isotactic PP from n-butane and n-heptane generated foams
of lower mesoporosity and smaller surface area. These
more ‘liquid-like’ solvents did not allow for formation of
an open network of mesopores or they promoted its
collapse upon their removal. 22 refs.
USA
Accession no.672015
Item 246
Plast 21
No.55, Oct.1996, p.117-20
Spanish
THERMOPLASTIC POLYESTER FOAMS FOR
THE MANUFACTURE OF SANDWICH PANELS
Madariaga L; Gomez J L; Mediavilla A
Gaiker
Results are presented of experiments undertaken by
Gaiker in the manufacture of sandwich panels containing
foam cores based on PETP recycled by a solid state
polyaddition process developed by M & G Ricerche.
Panels were produced with glass fibre-reinforced
unsaturated polyester and epoxy resin skins, and all-
thermoplastic panels with PE, PP, PS and glass fibre-
reinforced PETP skins were also produced. EVA hot melt
adhesives and thermoset adhesives were evaluated in
bonding glass fibre-reinforced PETP skins to the foam
cores. Data are presented for the mechanical properties
of the structures studied.
M & G RICERCHE SPA; BERSTORFF
H.,MASCHINENFABRIK GMBH; SISTEMA
COMPOSITI SPA; NAPLES,UNIVERSITY;
INSTITUT FUER CHEMIEFASERN
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY;
ITALY; SPAIN; WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.670869
Item 247
Patent Number: EP 823443 A2 19980211
FOAMED PARTICLES OF MODIFIED
POLYPROPYLENE RESIN AND METHOD OF
PREPARING SAME
Sasaki H; Sakaguchi M; Tokoro H
JSP Corp.
The foamed, non-crosslinked resin particles, which have
a bulk density of not greater than 0.045 g/cu.cm. and an
average cell diameter of at least 200 pm, include PP to
which a vinyl comonomer is graft polymerised in such
an amount that the weight ratio of the PP to the graft
polymer of the vinyl comonomer is in the range of 97:3
to 65:35. They are produced by graft polymerisation at a
79
 References and Abstracts
temperature of less than 90C in the presence of a specific
radical polymerisation initiator, which requires a
temperature of not higher than 70C to obtain a half life of
10 hours, to produce modified PP resin particles and then
expanding the particles.
JAPAN
Accession no.667930
Item 248
Revue Generale des Caoutchoucs et Plastiques
No.749, April 1996, p.38-9
French
FOAMABLE INSERTS FOR SOUNDPROOFING
CARS
Rimkus R
Ymos
A method developed by Ymos of Belgium for the
soundproofing and stiffening of vehicle shells based on a
process patented by Exxon is described. Preformed
foamable ethylene copolymer inserts formulated with
azodicarbonamide and sulphonhydrazide blowing agents
and peroxide curing agents are placed in cavities in the
bodywork on the assembly line, and foaming takes place
during passage through an oven at a temperature between
140 and 180C. Developments in this technology between
1991 and 1995 are reviewed.
EXXON CHEMICAL CO.
BELGIUM; EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION;
USA; WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.663524
Item 249
Macplas International
No.14, Nov. 1997, p.56
EXTRUSION ROUTE FOR POLYPROPYLENE
FOAMS
A review is presented of developments in the production
of polypropylene foam with particular reference to long
chain branching technology. This technology provides PP
foams with exceptional melt strength and strain hardening,
it is claimed, and allows for the commercial viable
production of PP foams by simple processes such as
extrusion. Advantages of foam extrusion are discussed,
together with details of applications, including automotive
and packaging.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; ITALY;
WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.662728
Item 250
Patent Number: US 5601766 A 19970211
METHOD OF MAKING A SUN VISOR FOR
MOTOR VEHICLES
Viertel L; Welter P
Happich GmbH
80
A sun visor has a generally board shaped body of dark
coloured PP particle foam with a depression in a main
surface thereof. A shaped light coloured body is inserted
into the depression and is pressed against the bottom of
the depression through simultaneous application of heat
and pressure, for compacting and reshaping the shaped
body to form a reflector. A mirror assembly is disposed
over the reflector, and an illuminating device may be
disposed there. Fastening pins and openings on the
reflector in the mirror assembly and the illuminating
device hold them together.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY;
WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.660664
Item 251
Patent Number: US 5554661 A 19960910
CLOSED CELL, LOW DENSITY ETHYLENIC
POLYMER FOAM PRODUCED WITH
INORGANIC HALOGEN-FREE BLOWING
AGENTS
Chaudhary B I; Eschenlauer G; Marks B S
Dow Deutschland Inc.
An uncrosslinked, closed cell, low density ethylenic
polymer foam having a density of less than 150 kg/cu.m
is prepared from, for example, uncrosslinked low density
polyethylene using inorganic blowing agents, such as
carbon dioxide, argon, or mixtures thereof. A process for
preparing such uncrosslinked, closed cell, low density
ethylenic polymer foam comprising extruding an
ethylenic polymer of suitable melt tension using a 100%
inorganic blowing agent, and the foams produced with
this process, are also disclosed.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY;
WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.657966
Item 252
Patent Number: US 5616627 A 19970401
POLYPROPYLENE RESIN COMPOSITION,
POLYPROPYLENE RESIN FOAMED MATERIAL
AND PROCESS FOR PRODUCING THE SAME
Sakurai T; Asao K; Sakamoto A
Sumitomo Chemical Co.Ltd.
This composition contains about 90 to 60 pbw of a PP
block copolymer and about 10 to 40 pbw of a PE. The
block copolymer contains about 99 to 90 wt.% of a
crystalline PP and about 1 to 10 wt.% of an amorphous
ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer and has a melt flow rate
of about 2 to 15 g/10 min and a die swell ratio, measured
by a capillary rheometer, of at least 1.7. Foamed materials
containing a fine and uniform foam are obtained from
this composition.
JAPAN
Accession no.657337
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
 References and Abstracts
Item 253
Cellular Polymers
16, No.4, 1997, p.271-83
AZOCARBONAMIDE AND SODIUM
BICARBONATE BLENDS AS BLOWING
AGENTS FOR CROSSLINKED PE FOAMS
Sims G L A; Sirithongtaworn W
UMIST
Thermal decomposition characteristics of chemical
blowing agents based on azodicarbonamide and sodium
bicarbonate were investigated. Their use in crosslinked
PE foam formulations are discussed. Density and in-
mould temperature profiles were interpreted in the light
of blowing agent system properties, detailed process
parameters and permeability of individual gaseous
decomposition products through PE. 11 refs.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; UK;
WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.655740
Item 254
Cellular Polymers
16, No.3, 1997, p.194-215
TIME DEPENDENCE OF THE COMPRESSIVE
RESPONSE OF POLYPROPYLENE BEAD FOAM
Mills N J
Birmingham,University
PP bead foams of a range of densities were compressed
using impact and creep loading in an Instron test machine.
The stress-strain curves were analysed to determine the
effective cell gas pressure as a function of time under
load. Creep was controlled by the polymer linear
viscoelastic response if the applied stress was low but, at
stresses above the foam yield stress, the creep was more
rapid until compressed cell gas took the majority of the
load. Air was lost from the cells by diffusion through the
cell faces, this creep mechanism being more rapid than
in extruded foams, because of the small bead size and the
open channels at the bead boundaries. The foam
permeability to air could be related to the PP permeability
and the foam density. 15 refs.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; UK;
WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.654866
Item 255
Journal of Applied Polymer Science
65, No.13, 26th Sept.1997, p.2679-89
FOAM STABILITY RELATED TO POLYMER
PERMEABILITY. I. LOW MOLECULAR
WEIGHT ADDITIVES
Bouma R H B; Nauta W J; Arnauts J E F;
Van Den Boomgaard T; Steuten J M; Strathmann H
Twente,University; DSM Research
In the production of PE foams by extrusion with alkanes
as a blowing agent, significant changes in the dimensions
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
of extruded products are encountered. The dimensional
stability of a foam with a structure of closed cells is
improved by blending the polymer with small amounts
of a low molecular weight additive. It is believed that the
dimensional stability is related to the ratio of the blowing
agent to air permeability. It is shown that the additive
reduces the blowing agent permeability more than it does
the air permeability only if the additive has migrated to
the surface of the polymer. The presence of the additive
at the polymer surface is confirmed by electron
microscopy and IR spectroscopy. The (partially) ordering
of the additive at the surface, as shown with wide-angle
X-ray diffraction, explains the low gas permeabilities of
the additive compared to the corresponding permeabilities
of PE. 11 refs.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION;
NETHERLANDS; WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.653182
Item 256
Patent Number: US 5567742 A 19961022
DIMENSIONALLY-STABLE POLYPROPYLENE
FOAM EXPANDED WITH INORGANIC
BLOWING AGENTS
Park C P
Dow Chemical Co.
A low density, dimensionally-stable, extruded propylene
polymer foam comprises an expanded propylene polymer
material where the foam has a blowing agent comprising
at least 15 wt % of one or more inorganic blowing agents.
The propylene polymer material comprises at least 15 wt
%. of propylene monomeric units. The foam has a density
of 10-150 kg per cubic metre. The foam has an average
cell wall thickness of less than 35 micrometres.
USA
Accession no.652233
Item 257
Patent Number: US 5605936 A 19970225
FOAMED ARTICLES COMPRISING HIGH
MELT STRENGTH PROPYLENE POLYMER
MATERIAL
DeNicola A J; Smith J A; Felloni M
Montell North America Inc.
The above polymer is produced by high energy radiation of
a normally solid, high molec.wt., linear propylene polymer
in a reduced active oxygen environment, maintaining the
irradiated material in such an environment for a specific
period of time and then deactivating free radicals in the
material. It has high melt strength due to strain hardening,
which is believed to be caused by free-end long chain
branches of the molecular chains forming the polymer and
is used in extensional flow operations, e.g. extrusion coating,
film production, foaming and thermoforming.
USA
Accession no.651216
81
 References and Abstracts
Item 258
Journal of Cellular Plastics
3, No.4, July/Aug.1997, p.304-17
STUDY OF REACTION KINETICS INVOLVED
IN CROSSLINKED LDPE FOAM
Tai H-J; Wang J B
KaoHsiung,Polytechnic Institute
The reaction kinetics of crosslinked LDPE foam systems
is investigated. Dicumyl peroxide (DCP) is used as the
crosslinker. The crosslinking reaction of LDPE/DCP
system is controlled by a first order decomposition of
DCP. The reaction kinetics of a chemical blowing agent,
azodicarbon amide (ADCA), and its kicker, zinc oxide
(ZnO), is also investigated. The rate of reaction of ADCA
is very fast, and a general nth-order reaction kinetics fails
to predict its conversion. A model combining a general
nth-order reaction kinetics and autocatalytic reaction
kinetics is adopted instead. The addition of ZnO into
ADCA not only lowers the decomposition temperature,
but also accelerates its decomposition. The reaction
kinetics of the LDPE/ADCA/ZnO system is also studied,
and is found to be similar to those of ADCA/ZnO system.
The numerical results serve as a framework for future
prediction and simulation of molecular structure changes
of a reactive polymeric foam system. 16 refs.
TAIWAN
Accession no.650853
Item 259
Polymer Engineering and Science
37, No.6, June 1997, p.959-65
DYNAMIC MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF
POLYOLEFIN FOAMS STUDIED BY DMA
TECHNIQUES
Rodriguez-Perez M A; Rodrigues-Llorente S; De Saja J A
Valladolid,Universidad
A preliminary study on the viscoelastic behaviour of
polyolefin foam sheets with different chemical (PE and
PP) and cellular structure by DMA, in the low frequency
and low compression ranges, is presented. DSC and SEM
are also used to determine the morphological parameters
of the samples. A connection between the morphological
properties (apparent degree of crystallinity), type of
cellular structure, homogeneity, cell size and shape, cell
wall thickness) and the viscoelastic behaviour, a basic
key for the development of mechanical and insulating
applications, has been established. 9 refs.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; SPAIN;
WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.650250
Item 260
Modern Plastics International
27, No. 9, Sept. 1997, p.112/7
PP FOAM SHEET EMERGES AS A CONTENDER
FOR A RANGE OF APPLICATIONS
82
Mapleston P
The advantages offered by PP foamed sheet are discussed,
with particular reference to its balance of strength and
light weight, and its potential applications in markets
ranging from car panels to cups. The fast developing
market sector is shown to be drawing materials suppliers
to develop high melt flow grades and equipment suppliers
to focus on extrusion lines for PP foam. These
developments from specific manufacturers and suppliers
are reviewed.
EUROPE-GENERAL; USA
Accession no.649430
Item 261
Croydon, 1996, pp.2. 30cms. 25/6/97
EVAZOTE ETHYLENE VINYL ACETATE
CONDUCTIVE FOAM 45 KG/M3, 80 KG/M3, 120
KG/M3
Zotefoams plc
This data sheet presents property details for three grades
of Evazote, a closed-cell, cross-linked EVA copolymer
foam available in sheet form. The grades - EV45CN,
EV70CN, and EVC120CN - are of varying densities and
are suitable for the protection of static sensitive devices
and assemblies, shorting out IC leads and cushion
packaging.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; UK;
WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.647076
Item 262
Polyurethanes Expo 96. Conference Proceedings.
Las Vegas, Nv., 20th-23rd Oct.1996, p.179-89. 43C6
LOW DENSITY ALL WATER-BLOWN RIGID
FOAM FOR POUR-IN-PLACE APPLICATIONS
Kaplan W A; Neill P L; Staudte L C; Brink C J
Stepan Co.
(SPI,Polyurethane Div.)
The dimensional stability of low density, water blown
rigid PU foams for pour-in-place thermal insulation
applications was improved by the use of a phthalic
anhydride based polyester polyol containing a dispersed
cell opening agent. The foam systems obtained allowed
some of the carbon dioxide to be released through the
cell windows immediately after filling of the cavity, and
to be rapidly replaced by air. Studies were made of the
flowability, density, open cell content, dimensional
stability, mechanical properties, thermal conductivity and
adhesion (particularly to flame treated PE) of these foams.
These properties were examined in comparison with those
of HCFC-141b blown foams. 21 refs.
USA
Accession no.643053
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
 References and Abstracts
Item 263
British Plastics and Rubber
July/Aug.1997, p.24
BLOW MOULDED FOAM TECHNOLOGY GOES
INTO PRODUCTION FOR PALLETS
Krupp Kautex’ BFT, blowmoulding foam technology, has
reached commercial fruition and its first industrial-scale
application will be at a new company, BFT Plastics in
Northern Ireland, where a machine to mould pallets and
transport boxes will be installed later this year. The BFT
process uses a chemical blowing agent to foam HDPE to
increase rigidity and impact resistance and improve heat
insulation.
BFT PLASTICS
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; UK;
WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.642816
Item 264
Patent Number: US 5576080 A 19961119
POLYETHYLENIC FOAMING COMPOSITIONS
AND MOULDED FOAMS
Sugimoto H; Igarashi T; Nakatsuji Y; Tatsumi M;
Chikanari K; Funakoshi S
Sumitomo Chemical Co.Ltd.
This invention provides a polyethylenic foaming
composition comprising (a) 100 pbw of an ethylenic
copolymer having glycidyl groups consisting of 20-99.9%
by weight of ethylene units, 0.1-30% by weight of a unit
of a glycidyl ester of an unsaturated carboxylic acid or an
unsaturated glycidyl ether, and 0-50% by weight of
ethylenically unsaturated ester units other than a glycidyl
ester, (b) 0.1-30 pbw of a carboxylic acid having 2 or
more carboxyl groups and a molecular weight of 1500 or
less, and (c) 0.1-20 pbw of a foaming agent of a thermal
decomposition type. The invention also provides a
polyethylenic foam moulded from the foaming
composition. In addition, the invention provides a
moulded composite foam having a foam layer moulded
from a powder of the foaming composition and a non-
foam layer moulded from a composition powder
containing a certain thermoplastic elastomer, as well as a
multilayer moulded article containing the moulded
composite foam. A foam having excellent lightness in
weight, excellent cleanness, uniformly foamed cells, high
expansion ratio, and excellent impact resilience can be
obtained.
JAPAN
Accession no.640891
Item 265
Patent Number: US 5580503 A 19961203
CONTINUOUS PROCESS FOR EXPANDING
THERMOPLASTIC MINIPELLETS
Hall T N; Trivedi Y C
BASF Corp.
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
Minipellets, particularly PP minipellets, are continuously
expanded by continuously charging and mixing water and
minipellets in a slurry tank to form a slurry, which is
subsequently pressurised. A blowing agent, such as
butane, is entrained into the pressurised slurry flow and
the slurry is heated by a heating means, such as a shell
and tube heat exchanger, to the softening point of the
minipellets. The heated minipellets are given the time
necessary for impregnation by permitting them to flow
through one or more impregnation vessels. The
impregnated minipellets are released through an orifice
into an expansion vessel where the blowing agent flashes
off, thereby expanding the minipellets.
USA
Accession no.640634
Item 266
Journal of Cellular Plastics
33, No.3, May/June 1997, p.264-92
CREEP AND RECOVERY OF POLYOLEFIN
FOAMS - DEFORMATION MECHANISMS
Mills N J; Gilcrist A
Birmingham,University
The effects of gas compression and Poisson’s ratio on the
compressive stress-strain curves of closed cell foams were
analysed. The contributions of hardening, polymer
viscoelasticity and gas escape on creep were examined.
The foam diffusivity for air was predicted from the
polymer permeability and the foam density. Diffusivity
values, derived from fitting creep curves of LDPE and
EVA foams, were of the correct order of magnitude. Creep
was dominated by the polymer viscoelasticity if the stress
was less than the yield stress, but at higher stresses gas
compression took an increasing proportion of the load.
Gas escape was a creep mechanism operating on a
timescale that depended on the size of the foam block.
The consequences of the high gas diffusivity for the creep
design for polyolefin foams are discussed. 17 refs.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; UK;
WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.638782
Item 267
Antec 97. Volume II. Conference proceedings.
Toronto, 27th April-2nd May 1997, p.2060-4. 012
MICROCELLULAR CROSSLINKED EVA FOAM
BY INJECTION MOULDING PROCESS
Lee J J
AT Plastics Inc.
(SPE)
The injection moulding process for producing a
microcellular crosslinked EVA has several advantages
over the conventional compression moulding process:
reduced cycle time, labour and scrap. The presence of
skin adds aesthetic value and ability to engrave logos in
one step. However, the injection moulding process has
83
 References and Abstracts
not been widely accepted particularly in such applications
as shoe soles, where precise size control is of utmost
importance. This has been due to lack of precision
compounds as well as high quality injection moulding
machines. Recent progress in injection moulding and
compounding technology has made it possible to replace
the compression moulding process in producing foams
for the most demanding applications. The injection
moulding process, moulding compounds and resultant
foam properties are reviewed.
USA
Accession no.638341
Item 268
Antec 97. Volume II. Conference proceedings.
Toronto, 27th April-2nd May 1997, p.2000-4. 012
CHARACTERISATION OF CROSSLINKED
POLYETHYLENE FOR FOAM EXPANSION
USING BUBBLE MACHINE
Park C P
Dow Deutschland Inc.
(SPE)
A simple bubble machine is devised and successfully
applied in characterising lightly crosslinked PE resins for
foam expansion. The biaxial stress-strain relationship is
deduced from the air injection rate and pressure. The
effects of strain rate, temperature and crosslinker level
on the stress-strain behaviour are investigated. Uniaxial
extension experiments are also performed and compared
with biaxial extension data. 5 refs.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY;
WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.638329
Item 269
Polymer Plastics Technology and Engineering
36, No.2, 1997, p.257-71
STRUCTURE OF PP STRUCTURAL FOAM
MOULDINGS MADE BY THE GAS-COUNTER-
PRESSURE PROCESS
Djoumaliisky S; Touleshkov N; Kotzev G
Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
An experimental study was carried out to investigate the
gas counter-pressure process by egress of a part of the
polymer melt from the core of the moulded body towards
the accumulator. A systematic study of bubble
morphology development and structural parameters of
structural foam mouldings was conducted. The structural
foam samples were produced on a two-stage moulding
machine with passively-transporting accumulator and on
an in-line injection moulding machine with FIFO-type
accumulator, the melt temp. being varied in the range 473
to 533K. The polymer used was isotactic PP into which
chemical blowing agent (azodicarbonamide) was added.
The structural properties studied were overall density,
local density and density distribution. It was found that
84
the distance from the sprue to the extreme of flow and
the melt temp. had a significant effect on the bubble sizes
and their distribution. It was established that the use of
the two types of accumulator caused significant
differences in the structural organisation of the structural
foam mouldings. 8 refs.
BULGARIA; EASTERN EUROPE
Accession no.632816
Item 270
Cellular Polymers
16, No.2, 1997, p.87-109
EFFECTS OF HEAT TRANSFER AND
POISSON’S RATIO ON THE COMPRESSIVE
RESPONSE OF CLOSED-CELL POLYMER
FOAMS
Mills N J; Gilchrist A
Birmingham,University
Gas compression in closed-cell polymer foams was
analysed, and the effect on the uniaxial compression
stress-strain curve predicted. Results were compared with
experimental data for ‘a’ foams with a range of cell sizes,
and the heat transfer conditions inferred from the best fit
with the simulations. The lateral expansion of the foam
must be considered in the simulation, so in subsidiary
experiments Poisson’s ratio was measured at high
compressive strains. 13 refs.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; UK;
WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.632133
Item 271
International Polymer Science and Technology
23, No.11, 1996, p.T/100-6
SELECTED PROPERTIES OF CELLULAR
POLYETHYLENE
Sikora S L
A study was made of the effects of processing conditions
and of blowing and nucleating agents and external
lubricants on the apparent density, mechanical properties,
linear thermal expansion coefficient and surface
roughness of extruded cellular MDPE. Based on the
results, recommendations were formulated for the
properties of cellular MDPE pipes for the protection of
light conducting cables. 16 refs. (Translation of Polimery,
Tworzywa Wielkoczasteczkowe, No.10, 1996, p.580).
EASTERN EUROPE; POLAND
Accession no.629936
Item 272
Journal of Thermal Insulation
20, Jan.1997, p.206-26
BARRIER EIFS CLAD WALLS: RESULTS FROM
A MOISTURE ENGINEERING STUDY
Brown W; Ullett J; Karagiozis A; Tonyan T
Canada,National Research Council; USG Research Center
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
 References and Abstracts

Details are given of water penetration and moisture Toronto,University

characteristics of barrier Exterior Insulation Finish
An investigation of the cell nucleation of polypropylene
Systems clad walls. The study includes results from a field
foams in extrusion was conducted. A linear grade of PP
investigation, laboratory experiments and computer
was processed with hydrocerol as a nucleating agent and
simulations. The system includes a PE vapour retarder
isopentane as a blowing agent. Blends of PP with various
and PS foam. 2 refs.
hydrocerol contents (0.1%, 0.5%, 1% and 2% by weight)
CANADA; USA
were prepared. The isopentane contents were
Accession no.629796 approximately 1%, 3% and 6% by weight. The effects of
the isopentane and hydrocerol content and the pressure
Item 273 on the cell-population density were investigated. Results
Polymer Engineering and Science and possible nucleation mechanisms are discussed. 29
37, No.1, Jan.1997, p.1-10 refs.
STUDY OF CELL NUCLEATION IN THE CANADA
EXTRUSION OF POLYPROPYLENE FOAMS Accession no.625218
Park C B; Cheung L K
Toronto,University
Item 276
Cell nucleation and initial cell growth were studied in Journal of Vinyl and Additive Technology
the extrusion of foams based on linear and branched PP 2, No.4, Dec.1996, p.339-344
using carbon dioxide and isopentane as blowing agents. USE OF INERT GASES IN EXTRUDED MEDIUM
The cell density generally increased with increased DENSITY POLYPROPYLENE FOAMS
blowing agent content. The effect of processing pressure Dey S K; Natarajan P; Xanthos M; Braathen M D
on cell density was distinct when carbon dioxide was used, Hoboken,Polymer Processing Institute; Borealis SA
whereas no pressure effect was observed with isopentane.
Carbon dioxide gas was used as a physical blowing agent
The cell morphologies for the two types of PP were
to produce medium density polypropylene foam sheets
significantly different. A slightly lower density of nuclei
using a single screw extruder. The mechanical properties
was observed in branched PP foams than in linear PP
of the foam were similar in the machine direction and in
foams, but cell coalescence was observed much less in
the transverse direction. A better surface finish and a lower
branched PP foams. Most cells in the branched PP foams
density was produced by using a commercial wrapping
were closed, while in the linear PP foams they were
film as a cap layer. The process conditions and the die
connected to each other. Experimental results indicated
design data are presented and an attempt made to relate
that the branched structure played an important role in
them to the product characteristics. 4 refs.
determining cell morphology through its effects on melt
NORWAY; SCANDINAVIA; USA; WESTERN EUROPE
strength and/or melt elasticity. 40 refs.
CANADA
Accession no.625216
Accession no.629140
Item 277
Polymers, Laminations and Coatings Conference. Book
Item 274
2. Conference Proceedings.
Patent Number: US 5527573 A 19960618
Boston, Ma., 4th-7th Sept.1990, p.589-94. 6A
EXTRUDED CLOSED-CELL POLYPROPYLENE
EXTRUSION COATING OF POLYETHYLENE
FOAM
FOAM ONTO A WOVEN CLOTH WEB
Park C P; Malone B A
DeCoste L D
Dow Chemical Co.
Lowell,University
A closed-cell polypropylene foam, with at least 80% (TAPPI)
closed cells and a foamability characteristic of less than
This paper examines in some detail the method of
about 1.8 is disclosed. Also described are several methods
extrusion coating PE foam onto a woven cloth. An
for making such closed-cell polypropylene foams.
experiment is described in which the feasibility of foam
USA
extrusion coating was examined in order to produce a
Accession no.625586 cost effective product. 4 refs.
USA
Item 275 Accession no.614938
Journal of Vinyl and Additive Technology
2, No. 4. Dec.1996, p.349-357
EXTRUSION OF POLYPROPYLENE FOAMS
WITH HYDROCEROL AND ISOPENTANE
Behravesh A H; Park C B; Cheung L K; Venter R D

© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited 85

 References and Abstracts
Item 278
Journal of Vinyl and Additive Technology
2, No.3, Sept.1996, p.258-62
COMPATIBILISER SYSTEM FOR EXTRUDED
PE FOAM AND FILM
Lee S-T
Sealed Air Corp.
The processing/product benefits of adding additives to
extruded PE foam and film are discussed. Mention is made
of the addition of metal oxide and fatty acid ester to
improve foam product quality. 7 refs.
USA
Accession no.614214
Item 279
Machine Design
68, No.19, 24th Oct.1996, p.53-6
FOAM GOES FROM BUMPERS TO BIKE
HELMETS
Luhtanen M
BASF Corp.
The advantages offered by the use of expanded
polypropylene in automotive bumper cores and other
applications are considered, and its properties are
compared with other materials traditionally used in such
applications in terms of impact strength, energy
absorption, resilience, and compressive strength.
USA
Accession no.609411
Item 280
Antec 96. Volume II. Conference proceedings.
Indianapolis, 5th-10th May 1996, p.1955-8. 012
USE OF INERT GASES IN EXTRUDED MEDIUM
DENSITY POLYPROPYLENE FOAMS
Dey S K; Natarajan P; Xanthos M; Braathen M D
Polymer Processing Institute; Borealis AS
(SPE)
Carbon dioxide gas was used as a physical blowing agent
to produce medium density PP foam sheets using a single
screw extruder. The mechanical properties of the foam
were similar in the machine direction and in the transverse
direction. A better surface finish and a lower density foam
was produced by using a commercial wrapping film as a
cap layer. The process conditions and die design data are
presented in an attempt to relate to product characteristics.
4 refs.
NORWAY; SCANDINAVIA; USA; WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.607211
Item 281
Antec 96. Volume II. Conference proceedings.
Indianapolis, 5th-10th May 1996, p.1948-54. 012
COMPATIBILISER SYSTEM FOR EXTRUDED
86
POLYETHYLENE FOAM AND FILM
Lee S-T
Sealed Air Corp.
(SPE)
The processing/product benefits derived by adding
additives to extruded polyethylene (PE) foam and film
are discussed. LLDPE (over 30 times expansion) requires
an adequate cooling to stabilise the melt/gas system for
optimal foaming efficiency. The presence of a small
portion of high melting PEs (i.e. LLDPE, HDPE) causes
flow instability after cooling to make surface defects in
finished products. It was found that an addition of metal
oxide and fatty acid ester improved processing latitude
and foam product quality. This formula was also tested
in film process on various ratios of LDPE/LLDPE and
MDPE with promising results. It appears that this formula
can allow us to accommodate post consumer resin (PCR)
and to take advantage over PE price variation. 7 refs.
USA
Accession no.607210
Item 282
Antec 96. Volume II. Conference proceedings.
Indianapolis, 5th-10th May 1996, p.1941-7. 012
EFFECT OF BRANCHED STRUCTURE ON THE
CELL MORPHOLOGY OF EXTRUDED
POLYPROPYLENE FOAMS. I. CELL
NUCLEATION
Cheung L K; Park c B; Behravesh A H
Toronto,University
(SPE)
An investigation of the cell nucleation and initial growth
behaviours in the foam processing of the linear PP and
the branched high-melt-strength PP has been performed.
These materials were foamed in extrusion with two
blowing agents, namely C02 and isopentane. In general,
an increasing trend in the cell density was observed as
the content of the blowing agent, either C02 or isopentane,
was used. However, the cell morphologies for the two
materials were quite different. A slightly lower cell
population density was observed in the branched PP foams
than in the linear VP foams. On the other hand, the
phenomenon of cell coalescence was observed to be less
significant in the branched PP foams. Most cells in the
branched PP foams were closed, whereas in the linear PP
foams they were connected to each other. Therefore, one
can conclude that the stabilisation of cell structure in PP
foams was achieved through branching in the polymer
chain molecules. The experimental results indicated that
the branched structure of PP played an important role in
determining the cell morphologies through its effect on
the melt strength, the melt elasticity, and the surface
tension. 41 refs.
CANADA
Accession no.607209
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
 References and Abstracts
Item 283
Antec 96. Volume II. Conference proceedings.
Indianapolis, 5th-10th May 1996, p.1931-6. 012
DEVELOPMENTAL HDPE FOAM RESIN
Firdaus V; Tong P P; Cooper K K
Mobil Chemical Co.
(SPE)
The rheological characteristics of LDPE resins are well
suited for producing foams. The high levels of long-chain
branching provide excellent melt tension at relatively low
viscosities. However, the low density of these resins is a
limiting factor in certain applications where high stiffness
may be needed. On the other hand, HDPE resins typically
lack sufficient melt tension to provide a reasonable cell
structure at the viscosities required for processing ease.
Data are presented on a modified HDPE resin that
approaches the excellent processability and foamability
of HP-LDPE resins, while retaining the desirable physical
properties of linear high density resins. Experiments on
lab-scale as well as commercial scale equipment indicate
that the processing and foaming behaviour of this
developmental HDPE foam resin is significantly better
compared to standard LLDPE or HDPE resins, and is
similar to LDPE resins. The flexural modulus and break
strength of the HDPE foam is more than twice that of the
LDPE foam. 6 refs.
USA
Accession no.607207
Item 284
Antec 96. Volume II. Conference proceedings.
Indianapolis, 5th-10th May 1996, p.1862-7. 012
EXTRUSION OF POLYPROPYLENE FOAMS
WITH HYDROCEROL AND ISOPENTANE
Benhravesh A H; Park C B; Cheung L K; Venter R D
Toronto,University
(SPE)
An experimental investigation was conducted to research
the cell nucleation behaviour in the extrusion foam
processing of PP using hydrocerol and isopentane. While
the hydrocerol and isopentane are considered to function
as the nucleating agent which determines the cell population
density and as the blowing agent to control the volume
expansion ratio respectively, both agents affected the cell
population density. In addition, synergistic effects of these
agents on the cell density were observed. In foam
processing with hydrocerol, a higher cell population density
was noted at lower processing pressures and at higher
polymer flow rates. This phenomena is of interest since
the cell density in general increases as the processing
pressure is used in the foam processing. The results indicate
that the nucleation in the foam processing with hydrocerol
is governed by a heterogeneous mechanism; also, the
quality of the mixing of the polymer and the agents as well
as the amount of gas lost during the plastication of the
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
pellets in the barrel exerts a strong influence on the resulting
cell density. 27 refs.
CANADA
Accession no.607196
Item 285
Journal of Applied Polymer Science
62, No.1, 3rd Oct.1996, p.75-80
INVESTIGATION OF RADIATION-
CROSSLINKED FOAM OF LDPE/EVA BLENDS
Siqin Dalai; Chen Wenxiu
Beijing,Normal University
LDPE/EVA blend was irradiated using gamma-irradiation
and then expanded by heat as a foamed material. The EVA
content in the blend was optimised to form a gel. The
effects of atmospheres and of irradiation dose rate were
studied. The FTIR spectra of the foam revealed the
oxidation level. The relations between gel fraction of
LDPE/EVA blend, expansion ratio, apparent density,
average cell diameter and tensile properties of the foam
are discussed. 8 refs.
CHINA
Accession no.607059
Item 286
Cellular Polymers
15, No.4, 1996, p.229-49
RE-ENTRANT TRANSFORMATION METHODS
IN CLOSED CELL FORMATION
Martz E O; Lee T; Lakes R S; Goel V K; Park J B
Iowa,University
The transformation of closed cell polymethacrylimide and
LDPE foams are described in an attempt to impose re-
entrant structures on them. New methods of achieving
permanent, triaxial compression were developed. 9 refs.
USA
Accession no.603815
Item 287
Plastics and Rubber Weekly
No.1653, 13th Sept.1996, p.10
OMAM’S FOAMED PP PROCESSES LIKE PS
Thermoformable foamed PP sheet that processes with the
same drawdown, sag and cycle times as PS has been
manufactured by Omam using new PP blends and Safoam
carbon dioxide blowing agents from Reedy International.
Oman has already produced monolayer PP sheet with a
40% density reduction and three layer sheet with a 50%
density reduction. The trials have been carried out using
blends of conventional PP and a new high melt strength
PP grade developed by Montell. The Omam line used to
produce the foamed PP sheet is conventional apart from
87
 References and Abstracts
the die design which has been modified to ensure
sufficient pressure is maintained on the melt.
OMAM SPA
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; ITALY;
WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.602644
Item 288
Journal of Vinyl and Additive Technology
2, No.2, June 1996, p.167-9
MICROCELLULAR FOAMING OF
POLYPROPYLENE CONTAINING LOW GLASS
TRANSITION RUBBER PARTICLES IN AN
INJECTION MOULDING PROCESS
Chicheng Wang; Cox K; Campbell G A
Clarkson University
Microcellular foams in PP containing rubber particles
were produced in an injection moulding process. The
foams were generated because of the thermodynamic
instability and were controlled by the formation process.
The effect of processing parameters on microcellular
foaming was investigated in the injection moulding
process. Injection speed and pressure were found to be
less important factors but packing pressure played an
important role in controlling the foam density. A critical
packing pressure, about 5,000,000 Pa, was found to
generate microcellular foams in the PP material system
studied. Rubber particles inside the PP appeared to
stabilise the microcellular foams. 13 refs.
USA
Accession no.600853
Item 289
Patent Number: WO 9520622 A1 19950803
Japanese
EXTRUDED PROPYLENE POLYMER RESIN
FOAM
Fukasawa Y; Hashimoto S
Asahi Kasei Kogyo KK
An extruded propylene polymer resin foam having a wall
thickness of 20 mm or above, a density of 0.005-0.03 g/
cu.cm, an average cell diameter of 0.4-2.0 mm, and a
closed cell content of 80% or above is disclosed. It has a
large number of closed cells and is produced from a
propylene polymer resin having such high viscoelastic
characteristics that the biaxial elongation viscosity and
the biaxial strain curing rate as defined by an equation
are of given values. The foam is lightweight and has high
cushioning characteristics and excellent mechanical
strength. Hence it is cut into various forms and utilised in
the fields of cushioning packaging materials, floating
materials and heat insulation.
JAPAN
Accession no.598791
88
Item 290
Patent Number: US 5459169 A 19951017
UNCROSSLINKED POLYETHYLENE
PARTICLES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF
EXPANDED PARTICLES AND
UNCROSSLINKED POLYETHYLENE
EXPANDED PARTICLES
Tokoro H; Tsurugai K; Sasaki H; Oikawa M
JSP Corp.
Uncrosslinked polyethylene particles are disclosed for the
production of expanded particles that can easily and
securely produce expanded particles which can be
moulded without applying a special internal pressure, are
excellent in mouldability, such as secondary expansion,
fusion and dimensional accuracy, and have a high
expansion rate. Also disclosed are uncrosslinked
polyethylene expanded particles made of the
uncrosslinked polyethylene particles. The uncrosslinked
polyethylene particles are obtained by impregnating the
above resin particles with an expanding agent, dispersing
the resin particles in a dispersing agent in a closed vessel,
and discharging the resin particles and the dispersing
medium from the vessel at a temperature equal to or over
the softening temperature of the resin particles into a low-
pressure region.
JAPAN
Accession no.596620
Item 291
Kunststoffe Plast Europe
86, No.6, June 1996, p.26-8
EXTRUDED PP PARTICLE FOAM
Lesca C; Pohl M
Despite its impressive potential, expanded polypropylene
was until recently limited to specialist applications. The
unstable foaming behaviour of conventional PP and its
narrow processing window exclude the use of the
conventional foaming technologies typically used for
other polymers, such as polystyrene or low-density
polyethylene. The autoclave process, which is suitable
for foaming PP-based materials, on the other hand,
requires centralised, complex, and expensive production
facilities, which increases the costs for the prefoamed
particle to a level that restricts the number of applications.
Advances in foaming technology have resulted in a new
group of PP-based materials (Higran, produced and
developed by Montell) that can be foamed with
conventional technologies. This permits a wide range of
products to be produced.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY;
ITALY; WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.596176
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
 References and Abstracts
Item 292
Plastics Formulating & Compounding
2, No.2, March/April 1996, p.6
COMPOUNDING WITH METALLOCENE PE
MAKES NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR PP
Schut J H
Some of the biggest commercial successes so far for
metallocene-based polyolefins are said to be in alloys,
blends and compounds, where they offer unique
performance properties. Dissimilar polymers may be
physically mixed with compatibilisers or chemically
reacted during extrusion. One such compound combines
two metallocene-catalyst PEs at different stages with
conventional PP to make a highly flexible foam. The foam
is FMP-2 (flexible metallocene-modified polyolefin) made
by Sentinel Products based on a compound, developed for
the application by Ferro. The latter’s compound uses an
elastomeric mPE (below 0.89 density). This compound is
then combined with other proprietary compounds and
chemical cross-linked and foamed to give strength in a
patent-pending Sentinel process. Details are given.
SENTINEL PRODUCTS CORP.; FERRO CORP.
USA
Accession no.595986
Item 293
Patent Number: WO 9516732 A1 19950622
Japanese
CROSSLINKED FOAM AND PROCESS FOR
PRODUCING THE SAME
Matsumoto M; Okada K; Matsuo Y; Uchiumi A
Mitsui Petrochemical Industries Ltd.
The foam is produced by two-stage vulcanisation and
foaming of a rubber compound comprising a chlorinated
ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer rubber having a chlorine
content of 20 to 40 wt.% and a Mooney viscosity (ML1-
4 at 121C) of 10 to 190, a triazinethiol, as a vulcaniser,
an alkylammonium halide, as a vulcanisation accelerator,
and a hydrazide blowing agent in such a manner that the
vulcanisation temperature and time in the first stage are
120 to 140C and 5 to 10 min., respectively, while those
in the second stage are 125 to 160C (at least 5C higher
than that in the first stage) and 5 to 20 min., respectively,
and the expansion ratio is 3 to 10. The foam can be
brilliantly coloured, has excellent weather resistance,
flexibility, appearance and shape retention and is
particularly suitable for wet suits.
JAPAN
Accession no.595838
Item 294
Patent Number: US 5462974 A 19951031
EXPANDABLE COMPOSITION AND PROCESS
FOR EXTRUDED THERMOPLASTIC FOAMS
Lee S-T
Sealed Air Corp.
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
An expandable thermoplastic composition is disclosed
for extrusion foaming wherein the composition comprises
a polyethylene resin; a blowing agent, which is either
ethane or a blend of carbon dioxide and either normal
butane, isobutane, propane, ethane, or a mixture of any
two or more of these hydrocarbons in admixture with the
resin in a ratio of about one part blowing agent to about
10 parts resin; nucleation agent in an amount of from about
0.05-0.5 kg/100 kg of the resin; and glycerol monostearate
ageing modifier in an amount of from about 0.5-5kg/100
kg of the resin. A process for extrusion foaming of the
composition is also disclosed.
USA
Accession no.594424
Item 295
Low Density Cellular Plastics: Physical Basis of
Behaviour.
London, Chapman & Hall, 1994, p.270-318. 6124
IMPACT RESPONSE
Mills N J
Birmingham,University
Edited by: Hilyard N C; Cunningham A
(Sheffield,Hallam University; ICI,Polyurethanes Group)
This comprehensive chapter supplies a detailed analysis
of the types of cellular material where the impact
properties are the main reason for their use, such as foams
used for protective purposes in packaging and other
applications, e.g. protective helmets. The chapter includes
detailed information and discussion on such aspects as:
macroscopic deformation geometry; cell geometry and
deformation mechanisms; impact properties and the
relation of impact properties to microstructure, packaging
design and complex impacts. 36 refs.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; UK;
WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.593838
Item 296
Polyurethanes 95. Conference Proceedings.
Chicago, Il., 26th-29th Sept.1995, p.459-63. 43C6
ADVANCES IN FOAM ADHESION TO
REFRIGERATOR LINERS AND OTHER
SUBSTRATES
Nichols J B; Bonekamp J; Miller R C
Dow Chemical Co.
(SPI,Polyurethane Div.)
A study was made of the effects of foam formulation and
process conditions and liner composition on the adhesion
of HCFC-141b blown rigid PU foam thermal insulation
to refrigerator liner protective layers made of ABS, high-
impact PS (HIPS), PE and blends of HIPS and PE
containing a compatibiliser and adhesion promoter. A
tensile test was used to quantify the level of adhesion
before and after thermal cycling, and the Brett mould was
used for laboratory simulations of foam adhesion within
89
 References and Abstracts
a refrigerator. Loss of adhesion was shown to occur after
samples were repeatedly thermally cycled from a cold to
a hot environment for several days. Levels of adhesion
were found to vary in different parts of a refrigerator
cabinet, but these variations could be minimised by the
use of an adhesion promoter in the liner protective layer.
7 refs.
USA
Accession no.592109
Item 297
Polyurethanes 95. Conference Proceedings.
Chicago, Il., 26th-29th Sept.1995, p.390-6. 43C6
POLYURETHANE: THE MATERIAL OF
CHOICE FOR OCCUPANT PROTECTION AND
ENERGY MANAGEMENT
Yu-Hallada L C; Kuczynski E T; Weierstall M
BASF Corp.; Woodbridge Foam Corp.
(SPI,Polyurethane Div.)
A comparative study is made of the properties of energy
absorbing foams used in passenger protection in cars, with
particular reference to dynamic impact and compression
strength. Materials examined include polyurethanes, PP,
PS and polyphenylene oxide/PS. 7 refs.
USA
Accession no.592098
Item 298
Patent Number: EP 710697 A1 19960508
PROCESS FOR PREPARING EXPANDED
ARTICLES BASED ON ETHYLENE-
CHLOROTRIFLUOROETHYLENE
COPOLYMERS
Vita G; Pozzoli M
Ausimont SpA
This involves mixing the copolymer with 0.5 to 2 wt.%
of boron nitride, extruding the blend at 260 to 300C,
injecting into the molten blend nitrogen at 50 to 150
atmospheres and lowering the pressure. The articles have
high dielectric properties.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; ITALY;
WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.591406
Item 299
Polyurethanes 95. Conference Proceedings.
Chicago, Il., 26th-29th Sept.1995, p.314-23. 43C6
FIVE YEAR FIELD STUDY CONFIRMS
ACCELERATED THERMAL AGEING METHOD
FOR POLYISOCYANURATE INSULATION
Christian J E; Desjarlais A; Graves R; Smith T L
Oak Ridge National Laboratory; US,National Roofing
Contractors Association
(SPI,Polyurethane Div.)
Permeably faced polyisocyanurate foam laminated board
insulation blown with HCFC-141b and CFC-11 was
90
subjected to continuous field thermal performance
monitoring for 5.5 years. Thin sliced specimens were
prepared from these boards and laboratory k-factors were
periodically measured on these core foam specimens. An
accelerated method was developed for predicting full
thickness lifetime thermal conductivities (in-service R-
values) of permeably faced boards. The predictions of
the accelerated ageing procedure are compared to the
actual field performance of loose-laid boards under EPDM
membranes in a low sloped roof installed in a Roof
Thermal Research Apparatus at Oak Ridge National
Laboratory. 33 refs.
USA
Accession no.588968
Item 300
Patent Number: EP 702032 A2 19960320
CROSSLINKED FOAM STRUCTURES OF
ESSENTIALLY LINEAR POLYOLEFINS AND
PROCESS FOR MANUFACTURE
Hurley R F; Kozma M L; Feichtinger K A
Sentinel Products Corp.
Disclosed are compositions utilising crosslinked
polyolefin copolymers and exhibiting improved strength,
toughness, flexibility, heat resistance and heat sealing
temperature ranges as compared to conventional LDPE
compositions. They also show processing improvements
over LLDPE. The polyolefins, which are essentially linear,
comprise ethylene polymerised with at least one alpha-
unsaturated C3 to C20 olefinic comonomer and,
optionally, at least one C3 to C20 polyene, and exhibit,
in an uncrosslinked sense, a resin density in the range of
about 0.86 to 0.96 g/cu.cm., a melt index in the range of
about 0.5 to 100 dg/min, a MWD in the range of from
about 1.5 to 3.5 and a composition distribution breadth
index greater than about 45%
USA
Accession no.587814
Item 301
Plastics Technology
42, No.4, April 1996, p.51
MOULD EPP BEAD FOAM WITH AN INTEGRAL
SKIN
Naitove M
The article describes the process of producing expanded
polypropylene foam parts with a solid integral skin on
one side, citing a bicycle helmet moulded from BASF’s
Neopolen EPP bead, as an illustration. The self-skinning
EPP process requires some modification of standard bead-
moulding equipment, needing an extra steam chamber.
Automotive interior trim is a potential application for the
process.
BASF CORP.
USA
Accession no.587430
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
 References and Abstracts
Item 302
Modern Plastics International
26, No.4, April 1996, p.27-8
PP BEAD GETS “BOUNCE” FROM MARKET,
TECHNOLOGY SHIFTS
Leaversuch R D
In the past decade, expandable PP bead has made a visible
impact in automobile bumper cores, flotation devices and
protective shape markets. Now the industry is bent on
extending the rigid foam’s reach into automobile interiors,
where impact and sound dampening protection are high
priorities. BASF says EPP offers cost, energy-efficiency,
handling and weight benefits. European OEMs are
developing all-PP vehicle interior systems that include
EPP padding, for example knee bolsters, headliners,
pillars, side bodies and instrument panel systems. EPP’s
benefits in shape packages include cushioning equal to
that of PUR, precise conformity to shapes and 20% higher
temperature performance than solid PP.
BASF AG; KANEKA CORP.
JAPAN; USA
Accession no.587310
Item 303
Handbook of Polymeric Foams and Foam Technology.
Munich, Carl Hanser Verlag, 1991, p.187-242. 6124
POLYOLEFIN FOAM
Park C P
Dow Chemical Co.
Edited by: Frisch K C; Klempner D
(Polymer Technologies Inc.; Detroit,University)
Expansion and crosslinking processes and blowing agents
used in the preparation of low density polyolefin foams
are examined. Properties of these foams are reviewed and
related to structure, and major application areas are
described. 148 refs.
USA
Accession no.586709
Item 304
Cellular Polymers
15, No.1, 1996, p.1-13
COMPRESSION MOULDED ETHYLENE
HOMO- AND COPOLYMER FOAMS. I. EFFECT
OF FORMULATION
Sims G L A; Khunniteekool C
Manchester,University; UMIST
PE and EVA foams were manufactured by a two-stage
heat and chill compression moulding technique, which
allowed more efficient utilisation of the platen area than
other compression moulding process variants and which
was suited to low density foam production. The
interrelationships of base polymer type, crosslinking and
blowing agent concentrations and physical properties of
resultant foams were investigated. 13 refs.
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; UK;
WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.586353
Item 305
Patent Number: US 5446072 A 19950829
EMULSION COMPOSITIONS FOR
FLAMEPROOF FOAM SHEET
Mitsutake T; Narisawa S
Sumitomo Chemical Co.Ltd.
These comprise components A to C, the amount of
component B being 5 to 50 pbw per 100 pbw of A (based
on solid content) and the amount of C being 50 to 350
pbw per 100 pbw of A (based on solid content). A is an
emulsion of ethylene-vinyl ester copolymer, which is
composed of 5 to 35 wt.% of ethylene and 95 to 65 wt.%
of vinyl ester, and has a Tg of -25 to +15C and a toluene-
insoluble part of 30 wt.% or more. B is a thermal
expansive hollow microbead and C is an inorganic filler.
The emulsion has superior mechanical strength, crack
resistance, water resistance, alkali resistance, blocking
resistance, foaming property, embossing property and
superior flame resistance and can be used for flameproof
foam sheet for wallpaper.
JAPAN
Accession no.585617
Item 306
Cellular Polymers III. Conference proceedings.
Coventry, 27th-28th April 1995, paper 23. 6124
BALANCE OF FORMULATION, PROCESSING
Sims G L A; Sirithongtaworn W
UMIST
(Rapra Technology Ltd.)
The foaming of crosslinked PE with three exothermic
blowing agent formulations and an endothermic blowing
agent is investigated by a variety of compression moulding
processes and under free atmospheric expansion.
Processing conditions are varied and internal temperature
profiles determined as a function of time and compared
to decomposition characteristics of the individual blowing
agents from gas evolution curves and differential scanning
calorimetry. Resultant foams are characterised by density,
gel content and cell structure. It is shown that blowing
agent and process conditions should be selected to
optimise expansion according to the processing method,
and that carbon dioxide is a much less efficient blowing
agent than nitrogen in crosslinked PE. Blowing agent
system requirements for atmospheric expansion rely on
using essentially unmodified azodicarbonamide to delay
the onset of gas evolution until a significant level of
crosslinking has built up in order to contain the gas and
improve foaming efficiency. 10 refs.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; UK;
WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.583898
91
 References and Abstracts
Item 307
Cellular Polymers III. Conference proceedings.
Coventry, 27th-28th April 1995, paper 14. 6124
INFLUENCE OF LOW MOLECULAR
ADDITIVES ON GAS TRANSPORT
PROPERTIES IN POLYETHYLENE FILMS AND
FOAMS
Nauta W J; Bouma R H B
Twente,University; DSM Research BV
(Rapra Technology Ltd.)
During the extrusion of LDPE foams with isobutane as a
blowing agent, substantial foam shrinkage can be
encountered. A solution to the problem has been proposed
and involves addition of specific additives to the material.
The principles underlying this approach are discussed. It
is shown that the additive, after migration to the foam
cell surface, acts as a diffusion barrier, especially with
respect to isobutane. 4 refs.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION;
NETHERLANDS; WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.583889
Item 308
Cellular Polymers III. Conference proceedings.
Coventry, 27th-28th April 1995, paper 13. 6124
CELL STRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT IN
COMPRESSION MOULDED CROSSLINKED
POLYETHYLENE AND ETHYLENE-VINYL
ACETATE FOAM
Sims G L A; Khunniteekool C
UMIST
(Rapra Technology Ltd.)
Crosslinked PE and EVA are produced by single- and two-
stage heat and chill compression moulding techniques.
In all cases, blowing agent concentrations are maintained
constant and crosslinking agent concentrations adjusted
to give similar gel contents independent of base polymer.
Relative density measurements of fully expanded foams
produced either by single stage of the heat and chill
process do not show any great variation with vinyl acetate
content. However, relative density of partially expanded
material after the first stage of the heat and chill process
show a considerable decrease at higher vinyl acetate
contents, resulting in a consequent lower expansion factor
in the second stage. Cell structures of foams from single
stage expansion, and after the cooling cycle of the first
and second stage final expansion of the heat and chill
process, are observed by scanning electron microscopy.
Resultant micrographs are analysed to give mean cell size
and cell distribution data. 10 refs.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; UK;
WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.583888
Item 309
Advanced Materials Newsletter
92
18, No.3, 12th Feb.1996, p.2
PLASTIC HONEYCOMB FINDING USES IN
TRANSPORTATION, STORAGE AND
AEROSPACE
Also widely used in boat building, an extruded PP
honeycomb, designated Nida-Core, has cost and
fabricating advantages over competitive core materials.
Nida-Core, developed in France and now available in the
USA from Nida-Core Corporation, is produced by an
extrusion method and therefore differs from most other
honeycombs. Brief details are noted.
NIDA-CORE CORP.
USA
Accession no.581422
Item 310
Journal of Applied Polymer Science
59, No.9, 28th Feb.1996, p.1489-92
NEW METHOD FOR PREPARATION OF
LIGHTWEIGHT ULTRAHIGH MOLECULAR
WEIGHT POLYETHYLENE (UHMWPE) FOAM
Aydinli B; Tincer T
Middle East,Technical University
UHMWPE foam with an average density of 0.11 g/cu.cm.
was obtained by extracting the solvent xylene with
alcohol. The foams were characterised by density
measurement and thermal and SEM analysis. 6 refs.
TURKEY
Accession no.580933
Item 311
British Plastics and Rubber
Jan.1996, p.4-5
DIRECT GAS FOAMING GIVES PP A
PERFORMANCE EDGE OVER EPS
Wirz R; Berghaus U
Foamed PP film has potential for packaging applications
requiring temperatures beyond those achievable with
expanded PS. Thermoforming film in EPP is used to make
containers and cups which combine high rigidity with
relatively light weight. These characteristics, combined
with excellent temperature stability, permit easier
handling in situations involving filling with hot liquids
or reheating of the contents. The physically-induced
foaming process from Reifenhauser, which is based on
direct gas injection technology, enables EPS and EPP
products to be made on the same extrusion line. With this
process the density of the film can be reduced substantially
compared with conventional processes such as chemical
blowing. A further advantage of the technology is the
opportunity it affords for producing multilayer EPP films
by coextrusion.
REIFENHAUSER GMBH & CO.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY;
WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.578164
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
 References and Abstracts
Item 312
Plastics World
54, No.1, Jan.1996, p.44/50
LOSING WEIGHT, GAINING FLEXIBILITY
Schut J H
Krupp Kautex’s revolutionary coextrusion foam blow
moulding process reduces part density by 5-50%, saving
material and adding strength. The process makes parts
with two or three layers of foam and skin, using two or
three extruders. Typically, skin and foam are of the same
material, HDPE or PP, so flash can be reused in the product
again. Krupp has worked with Borealis to tailor
compounds of PE and PP with an endothermic blowing
agent, Hydrocerol. Blow moulding machines on show at
K’95 included a machine that can be configured either
for packaging or for technical parts, a three-axis blow
moulder, robotic manipulation of a 3-D parison, and a
host of reheat stretch-blow moulding machines. Several
machine makers stretch-blew PP bottles at K with
extraordinary clarity.
WORLD
Accession no.578125
Item 313
Cellular Polymers
14, No.6, 1995, p.461-83
EVALUATION OF FOAMS FOR HORSE RIDERS’
BODY PROTECTORS
Mills N J; Gilchrist A
Birmingham,University
A detailed account is given of impact tests on body
protectors, and prediction of the forces in body protector
tests, including impact tests in the BETA 1 specification
and in the BETA 2 standard. 18 refs.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; UK;
WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.577619
Item 314
Antec 95. Vol.II. Conference Proceedings.
Boston, Ma., 7th-11th May 1995, p.2217-24. 012
GAS LOSS DURING FOAM SHEET
FORMATION
Lee S T; Ramesh N S
Sealed Air Corp.
(SPE)
The non-isothermal viscoelastic cell model was used to
study foam growth in the continuous extrusion of low
density foam sheet. Surface escape of blowing agent was
successfully incorporated to describe the foaming
efficiency. Reasonable agreement was obtained with
experimental data for HCFC-22 blown LDPE foam in
the sub-centimetre thickness domain. 11 refs.
USA
Accession no.571311
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
Item 315
Antec 95. Vol.II. Conference Proceedings.
Boston, Ma., 7th-11th May 1995, p.2183-8. 012
EFFECT OF MORPHOLOGY ON
MICROCELLULAR FOAMING OF SEMI-
CRYSTALLINE POLYMERS
Doroudiani S; Park C B; Kortschot M T; Cheung L K
Toronto,University
(SPE)
The effect of crystalline morphology on the microcellular
foaming of HDPE and PP and on the structure of the
resulting foams was investigated. The results indicated
that the morphology of semi-crystalline polymers has a
great influence on the solubility and diffusivity of blowing
agents and the cellular structure of the foam in
microcellular processing. 33 refs.
CANADA; USA
Accession no.571304
Item 316
Antec 95. Vol.II. Conference Proceedings.
Boston, Ma., 7th-11th May 1995, p.2178-82. 012
PHYSICOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF
POLYMERS USED IN THE LOST FOAM
CASTING PROCESS
Shivkumar S Y; Celotto M A
Worcester,Polytechnic Institute
(SPE)
A study was made of the thermal degradation behaviour
of PS foams used as patterns in the lost foam process for
metal casting. The data indicated that the thermal
degradation of the pattern had a strong effect on mould
filling and casting quality. The use of other types of foam
such as PE, PP, PMMA and styrene-methyl methacrylate
copolymers to overcome problems encountered with PS
foam patterns is discussed. 7 refs.
USA
Accession no.571303
Item 317
Macplas International
Aug.1995, p.111-2
SINTERED POLYPROPYLENE FOAM FOR
PASSIVE SAFETY ON CARS
Romanini D; Addeo A
Montell; CSI
The ability to modify their structure and the good cost/
performance ratio makes polyolefins technically and
commercially attractive for mechanical energy absorption.
This is especially true for High Melt Strength (HMS) PP
which allows continuous extrusion foaming. Physical
expansion of PP, properties of foamed PP, and application
examples are considered in detail, mechanical properties
in particular being compared with other polymer foams.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; ITALY;
WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.571201
93
 References and Abstracts

Item 318 GENERATION OF CUSHION CURVES FROM

Patent Number: WO 9510447 A1 19950420 ONE SHOCK PULSE
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE STRUCTURAL Burgess G
COMPOSITION OF CHEST-TYPE Michigan,State University
SURFBOARDS
Three methods for generating performance information
Reidl B M
relative to the shock absorbing ability of cushioning
Inducel LTDA
materials are discussed. Data are given for drop tests for
The improved structure comprises elongate members PE foam. 6 refs.
extruded from expanded PE structural foam and joined USA
laterally to one another by means of a thermal fusion Accession no.567696
bonding process, which compacts the expanded PE, thus
forming, at the laterally adjoining walls of the members,
a corresponding number of rigid films oriented at right Item 321
angles to bending stress applied to an upper or lower Patent Number: US 5416129 A 19950516
surface of the joined members, thus acting as girders CLOSED CELL, LOW DENSITY ETHYLENIC
having their greater direction of strength opposing the POLYMER PRODUCED WITH INORGANIC
bending stress. A thermally laminated skin is disposed HALOGEN-FREE BLOWING AGENTS
on both upper and lower surfaces of the joined members, Chaudhary B I; Eschenlauer G; Marks B S
forming a sandwich assembly, which is subsequently Dow Chemical Co.
subjected to complementary operations of coating the top, An uncrosslinked foam having a density of less than 150
bottom and side edges, as well as surface finishing and kg/cu.m. is prepared from, e.g. uncrosslinked LDPE, using
other customary operations. The sandwich assembly inorganic blowing agents, such as carbon dioxide, argon
exhibits improved rigidity and elasticity with no increase or mixtures thereof. The ethylenic polymer with a suitable
of weight over conventional chest-type boards because melt tension is extruded using 100% inorganic blowing
the density of the foam forming the elongate members is agent.
about 20 Kg/cu.m., less than in conventional boards, while USA
the density of the foam forming the skins is about 140
Accession no.567481
Kg/cu.m., much greater than that of conventional boards.
The average density is, thus, in the region of conventional
boards (36 to 42 Kg/cu.m.). Item 322
BRAZIL International Polypropylene Conference. Conference
Proceedings.
Accession no.568881
London, 24th-25th Oct.1994, p.156-64. 42C12
FOAM SANDWICH FOR AUTOMOTIVE BODY
Item 319 PANELS
Patent Number: US 5407965 A 19950418 Atkinson P; Bagdatlioglu I
CROSS-LINKED ETHYLENIC POLYMER FOAM BASF UK Ltd.; Plastic Design Solutions UK
STRUCTURES AND PROCESS FOR MAKING (Institute of Materials; BASF AG; European Chemical
Park C P; Chum P S; Knight G W News; Montell Polyolefins)
Dow Chemical Co.
Foam sandwich has seemed for many years to have had
Disclosed is a crosslinked ethylenic polymer foam structure much to offer, and yet has rarely been exploited
of an ethylenic polymer material of a crosslinked, commercially. Details are given of how a foam sandwich
substantially linear ethylenic polymer. The ethylenic polymer bootlid for the Ford Escort CE14 Cabriolet was designed,
in an uncrosslinked state has (a) a melt flow ratio greater manufactured and tested. During the project, much was
than or equal to 5.63; (b) a molecular weight distribution learned about the injection process as well as the
defined by a given equation; and (c) a critical shear rate at properties and failure modes of composite foam sandwich
onset of surface melt fracture of at least 50% greater than panels.
the critical shear rate at the onset of surface melt fracture of FORD MOTOR CO.
a linear ethylenic polymer having about the same melt flow EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; UK;
ratio and molecular weight distribution. Further disclosed is WESTERN EUROPE
a process for making the above foam structure. Accession no.564893
USA
Accession no.567861 Item 323
Patent Number: WO 9508433 A1 19950330
Item 320 German
Packaging Technology & Science PROCESS FOR MAKING ARTICLES FROM EPP
7, No.4, July-Aug.1994, p.169-73 FOAM

94 © Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited

 References and Abstracts
Simon R H; Weidler D
Mankiewicz Gebr.& Co.
A process is described for making foam mouldings of
polyolefins, especially articles of expanded polypropylene
particle foam (EPP) by welding the foam particles at
temperatures above the softening region of the polyolefin
using a device consisting of mould halves surrounding a
mould shape, a filler, and steam chambers and steam
nozzles in which an additional mould component with a
perforated structure is inserted into the mould shape
bearing in particular on the inside of the mould half away
from the filler and which is permeable to steam and
distributes it with the most uniform surface structure
possible. The mould component is, in particular, a sieve,
grid or non-woven.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY;
WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.564062
Item 324
Cellular Polymers II. Conference proceedings.
Edinburgh, 23-25th March 1993, paper 29. 6124
SHAPE MOULDABLE POLYPROPYLENE
PARTICLE FOAMS: PROGRESS REVIEW
Cousin J R
BASF plc
(Rapra Technology Ltd.)
The European demand for expanded PP has grown
considerably. New raw material and moulding capacity
has come on stream, and further additions are announced
for early 1994 start-up. The automotive industry has seen
the strongest growth followed by reusable transit
packaging, disposable packaging for very fragile goods,
and leisure. Processing technology has been improved.
The development of the European market since 1991 is
described, with particular emphasis on processing
technology and marketplace applications. Recycling is
also discussed, and future prospects reviewed.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; UK;
WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.562737
Item 325
Cellular Polymers II. Conference proceedings.
Edinburgh, 23-25th March 1993, paper 21. 6124
PREDICTION OF PACKAGING CUSHION
CURVES AND HELMET LINER RESPONSES
Loveridge P; Mills N J
Birmingham,University
(Rapra Technology Ltd.)
A method for the prediction of cushion curves for polymer
packaging foams from a single impact stress-strain curve
is proposed. The method is valid if there is a master curve
for the increasing stress part of the stress-strain curve.
For closed-cell polymer foams that deform by yielding
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
or brittle fracture there is a master curve. For viscoelastic
polyolefin foams, the divergence from the master curve
is under 10%. Consequently, there exists a rapid method
of evaluating the cushioning properties of any new cellular
foam. More complex geometry foam impacts are
analysed, and it is shown that a simple linear loading
relationship is a good approximation to the force-
deformation curve. 15 refs.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; UK;
WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.562733
Item 326
Cellular Polymers II. Conference proceedings.
Edinburgh, 23-25th March 1993, paper 10. 6124
STRUCTURAL CHARACTERISATION OF
EXTRUDED POLYOLEFIN FOAMS MADE
USING A CHEMICAL EXPANSION SYSTEM
Shishesaz M R; Hornsby P R
Brunel University
(Rapra Technology Ltd.)
The structural characterisation of extruded foam profile
made from PP and PP/PE blends containing chemical
blowing agents is considered. Emphasis is given to the
influence of blowing agent concentration on the melt
rheology of foamable compositions combined with the
effects of die geometry and processing conditions on the
resultant density in the foamed state, before and after
cooling of the melt. Cellular structure is discussed in terms
of the relative levels of open and closed cell content, the
uniformity of cell distribution, determined by mercury
penetration, porosimetry and microscopic techniques, and
microstructural characterisation of the semi-crystalline
polymeric phase. 7 refs.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; UK;
WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.562723
Item 327
Patent Number: US 5405883 A 19950411
ETHYLENE POLYMER FOAMS BLOWN WITH
ISOBUTANE AND 1,1-DIFLUOROETHANE AND
A PROCESS FOR MAKING
Park C P
Dow Chemical Co.
Disclosed is an ethylene polymer foam structure having
enhanced processing and physical properties. The foam
structure comprises an ethylenic polymer material and a
blowing agent of isobutane and 1,1-difluoroethane.
Further disclosed is a process for making the foam
structure.
USA
Accession no.562424
95
 References and Abstracts
Item 328
Patent Number: US 5399592 A 19950321
ETHYLENE POLYMER FOAMS BLOWN WITH
ISOBUTANE AND 1,1,1-TRIFLUOROETHANE
OR 1,1,1,2-TETRAFLUOROETHANE AND A
PROCESS FOR MAKING
Park C P
Dow Chemical Co.
Disclosed is an ethylene polymer foam structure having
enhanced processing and physical properties. The foam
structure comprises an ethylenic polymer material and a
blowing agent. The blowing agent has a primary blowing
agent of isobutane and a secondary blowing agent of 1,1,1-
trifluoroethane, 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane, or a blend of
the two. Further disclosed is a process for making the
foam structure.
USA
Accession no.562349
Item 329
Antec 95. Volume I. Conference proceedings.
Boston,Ma., 7th-11th May 1995, p.406-10. 012
MICROCELLULAR FOAMING OF
POLYPROPYLENE CONTAINING LOW GLASS
TRANSITION RUBBER PARTICLES IN AN
INJECTION MOULDING PROCESS
Wang C; Cox K; Campbell G A
Clarkson University
(SPE)
The effect of processing parameters on microcellular
foaming in the injection moulding process is investigated.
Injection speed and pressure are less important factors,
but packing pressure plays an important role in controlling
the foam density. A critical packing pressure - about
5X106 Pa - is found to generate microcellular foams in
the PP material system. Rubber particles inside the PP
seem to stabilise the microcellular foams. 13 refs.
USA
Accession no.558858
Item 330
Patent Number: WO 9502632 A1 19950126
ETHYLENE POLYMER FOAMS BLOWN WITH
ISOBUTANE
Park C P
Dow Chemical Co.
These comprise an ethylenic polymer and a blowing agent,
which contains a primary blowing agent of isobutane and
a secondary blowing agent of 1,1,1-trifluoroethane,
1,1,12-tetrafluoroethane or a blend thereof. They exhibit
enhanced processing and physical properties.
USA
Accession no.558493
96
Item 331
Plastics Industry News (Japan)
41, No.7, July 1995, p.5
LLDPE FORMED MATERIAL
JSP has started marketing a cushioning material based
on non-crosslinked LLDPE, which is easy to recycle. A
non-fluoride foaming agent is used. LLDPE is inflated
by about 38 times using carbonate gas and air as the
foaming agent. JSP has installed large-scale foaming
equipment to cut the cost of production. The electric
appliance and automotive sectors have started using the
recyclable cushioning material. This abstract includes all
the information contained in the original article.
JSP CORP.
JAPAN
Accession no.557876
Item 332
Patent Number: US 5391581 A 19950221
PRODUCTION METHOD OF FOAMED
PARTICLES OF UNCROSSLINKED ETHYLENE-
BASED RESIN
Kuwabara H; Tsurugai K; Oikawa M; Sasaki H; Shioya S
JSP Corp.
The foamed particles, which have a high expansion ratio
and are free from the formation of fine cells, are made by
dispersing particles of the resin obtained using, as a base
resin, an ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer containing, as
a comonomer component, 1.0 to 10 wt.% of an alpha-
olefin having 4 to 10 carbon atoms, in a dispersion
medium in the presence of a foaming agent in a closed
vessel, heating the resulting dispersion to impregnate the
resin particles with the foaming agent and then releasing
the resin particles into a region of pressure lower than the
internal pressure of the vessel at a foaming temperature
not lower than the softening temperature of the resin
particles, thereby expanding the resin particles. An
aliphatic hydrocarbon and/or alicyclic hydrocarbon and
carbon dioxide are used in admixture as the foaming agent
in amounts satisfying specific equations.
JAPAN
Accession no.557412
Item 333
Patent Number: US 5387620 A 19950207
CROSS-LINKED ETHYLENIC POLYMER FOAM
STRUCTURES AND PROCESS FOR MAKING
Park C P; Chum P-W S; Knight G W
Dow Chemical Co.
A foam structure of crosslinked, linear ethylenic polymer
is disclosed. The linear ethylenic polymer in an
uncrosslinked state has a melt flow ratio of greater than
or equal to 5.63, a molecular weight distribution of 4.63,
and a critical shear rate at onset of surface melt fracture
that is at least 50% greater than that of a linear ethylenic
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
 References and Abstracts
polymer having the same melt flow ratio and molecular
weight distribution. Further disclosed is a process for
making the above foam structure.
USA
Accession no.557033
Item 334
Patent Number: EP 662493 A1 19950712
POLYETHYLENIC FOAMING COMPOSITIONS
AND MOULDED FOAMS
Sugimoto H; Igarashi T; Nakatsuji Y; Tatsumi M;
Chikanari K; Funakoshi S
Sumitomo Chemical Co.Ltd.
The compositions comprise 100 pbw of an ethylenic
copolymer having glycidyl groups consisting of 20 to 99.9
wt.% of an ethylene unit, 0.1 to 30 wt.% of the unit of a
glycidyl ester of an unsaturated carboxylic acid or
unsaturated glycidyl ether and 0 to 50 wt.% of an
ethylenically unsaturated ester unit other than glycidyl ester,
0.1 to 30 pbw of a carboxylic acid having 2 or more
carboxyl groups and a molec.wt. of 1500 or less and 0.1 to
20 pbw of a foaming agent of the thermal decomposition
type. Foams produced therefrom are lightweight and have
excellent cleanness, uniformly foamed cells, high
expansion ratio and excellent impact resilience. Composite
foams having a foam layer moulded from a powder of the
composition and a non-foam layer moulded from a
composition powder containing a certain thermoplastic
elastomer and multilayer moulded articles containing the
moulded composite foam are also disclosed.
JAPAN
Accession no.556365
Item 335
Patent Number: WO 9425255 A1 19941110
ETHYLENE POLYMER FOAMS BLOWN WITH
1,1-DIFLUOROETHANE AND METHOD OF
MAKING SAME
Tusim M H; Park C P; Malone B A
Dow Chemical Co.
Processes for making olefin polymer foam structures with
1,1-difluoroethane (HFC-152a) are disclosed. One foam
structure is comprised of an ethylene polymer material,
and is blown with a mixture of isobutane and 1,1-
difluoroethane. Another foam structure has a cross section
of 2 inches (5 cm) or greater in one dimension and 18
inches (46 cm) or greater in the other dimension, and is
blown with 75 mol % or more HFC-152a. Another foam
structure is in coalesced strand form with a density of 16-
48 kg/cu.m, and is blown with a first blowing agent of
20-90 mol % 1,1-difluoroethane and 80-10 mol % of a
second blowing agent selected from isobutane, n-butane,
and propane.
USA
Accession no.552295
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
Item 336
Patent Number: US 5369136 A 19941129
FOAM STRUCTURES OF ETHYLENIC
POLYMER MATERIAL HAVING ENHANCED
TOUGHNESS AND ELASTICITY AND PROCESS
FOR MAKING
Park C P; Stevens J C; Knight G W
Dow Chemical Co.
The ethylenic polymer material contains a linear ethylenic
polymer having a specified melt flow ratio, a defined
MWD and a critical shear rate at onset of surface melt
fracture of at least 50% greater than the critical shear rate
at the onset of surface melt fracture of a linear olefin
polymer having similar characteristics. The foam
structures have toughness and elasticity similar to those
formed from conventional LLDPE without the poor
dimensional stability and foam quality associated with
those structures. They also have foam quality similar to
those made with conventional LDPE but with enhanced
toughness and elasticity. The foam structure may also be
made in a foam bead form.
USA
Accession no.552175
Item 337
Patent Number: US 5366675 A 19941122
FOAMABLE POLYETHYLENE-BASED
COMPOSITION FOR ROTATIONAL
MOULDING
Needham D G
A foamable composition useful for rotational moulding
is described, which advantageously includes an ethylene
vinyl ester copolymer as an additive. The additive
beneficially has a higher melt index than the base resin
of the composition.
USA
Accession no.550649
Item 338
Rothrist, c.1995, pp.4. 12ins. 17/2/95. 42C11-6124
German; French; Spanish; English
AIROFOM. ECONOMY WITH POLYETHYLENE
FOAM
Airofoam AG
Airofom PA 230 is a non-crosslinked PE foam which
while having a slightly lower temperature resistance than
crosslinked types, is claimed to be substantially cheaper
to process. It has a closed-cell structure and is available
in rolls, sheets and fabricated products, or as a self-
adhesive backed or laminated to other materials. A sample
of the foam is included.
SWITZERLAND; WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.550136
97
 References and Abstracts
Item 339
Antec 94. Conference Proceedings.
San Francisco, Ca., 1st-5th May 1994, Vol.II, p.2197-8.
012
EFFECT OF PHYSICAL BLOWING AGENTS ON
CRYSTALLISATION TEMPERATURE OF
POLYMER MELTS
Dey S K; Jacob C; Biesenberger J A
Polymer Processing Institute
(SPE)
An experimental apparatus and procedure were developed
to determine the crystallisation temperature reduction of
semi-crystalline polymers in the presence of physical
blowing agents in solution. Results for LDPE showed that
carbon dioxide was more effective in lowering the
crystallisation temperature than argon. Since the
molecular weights of both blowing agents are not far apart,
it could be concluded that carbon dioxide was more
soluble than argon in the LDPE melt. Therefore carbon
dioxide would be a preferred choice as a blowing agent
for LDPE foam production. 3 refs.
STEVENS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
USA
Accession no.549430
Item 340
Patent Number: US 5354402 A 19941011
METHOD OF PRODUCING A
THERMOPLASTIC FOAM SHEET
Luetkens M L; Pischke R D; Schubert J C
Amoco Corp.
A method of producing a thermoplastic foam sheet is
described, comprising the step of foaming, by extrusion,
a mixture of polystyrene and a thermoplastic reclaim
material obtained from a multi-layer sheet manufacturing
process, in which the thermoplastic reclaim material
comprises polystyrene and a thermoplastic barrier resin
selected from the group consisting of (a) copolymers of
ethylene and vinyl alcohol, and (b) polymers comprising
a copolymer of acrylonitrile, to produce a foam sheet
having an upper and lower surface.
USA
Accession no.549179
Item 341
Plastics & Rubber & Composites Processing &
Applications
23, No.3, 1995, p.193-200
MORPHOLOGY AND PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
OF CLOSED CELL MICROCELLULAR
ETHYLENE-PROPYLENE-DIENE
TERPOLYMER(EPDM) RUBBER
VULCANISATES - EFFECT OF SILICA FILLER
AND BLOWING AGENT
Guriya K C; Tripathy D K
Indian Institute of Technology
98
The morphologies of the microcellular EPDM rubber
vulcanisates were studied from SEM photomicrographs
as a function of blowing agent concentrations. The results
showed that nucleation occurred through zinc oxide and
filler surfaces. The number of cells and their distribution
varied with the incorporation of silica filler and changes
in blowing agent concentration. Physical properties such
as TS, EB, modulus, tear strength and specific gravity
changed with blowing agent concentration. 25 refs.
INDIA
Accession no.547299
Item 342
Patent Number: US 5348984 A 19940920
EXPANDABLE COMPOSITION AND PROCESS
FOR EXTRUDED THERMOPLASTIC FOAMS
Lee S-T
Sealed Air Corp.
An expandable thermoplastic composition is disclosed
for extrusion foaming in which the composition comprises
a polyethylene resin; a blowing agent comprising a blend
of about 50 wt.% carbon dioxide and about 50 wt.% of
either normal butane, isobutane, propane in admixture
with the resin in a ratio of about one part blowing agent
to about 10 parts resin; zinc oxide nucleation agent in an
amount of about 0.05-0.5 kg/100kg of resin; and glycerol
monostearate ageing modifier in an amount of about 0.5-
5.0 kg/100 kg of resin. A process for extrusion foaming
of the composition is also disclosed.
USA
Accession no.547027
Item 343
Patent Number: US 5350544 A 19940927
METHOD OF PREPARING A CROSSLINKED,
POLYETHYLENE FOAM PRODUCT BY
SURFACE EXPANSION OF A FOAM
Bambara J D; Glydon J A
Earth & Ocean Sports Inc.
A rigid foam sheet product is made by heating at least
one surface of a crosslinked PE foam sheet material to a
temp. sufficient to cause a slight surface post-expansion
of the sheet material and contacting the heated, post
expanded foam surface with a cold metal element to form
a product with the desired, accurate thickness or having a
desired three-dimensional design on the sheet material.
USA
Accession no.546898
Item 344
Antec 94. Conference Proceedings.
San Francisco, Ca., 1st-5th May 1994, Vol.II, p.1992-7.
012
MORE EXPERIMENTS ON THERMOPLASTIC
FOAM NUCLEATION
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
 References and Abstracts
Lee S T
Sealed Air Corp.
(SPE)
A study was made of nucleation in PE foams produced in
a counter-rotating extruder using talc powders and
masterbatches as nucleating agents and CFC and HCFC
blowing agents. The results indicated the importance of
shear force in nucleation, as proposed in the lump cavity
nucleation model and demonstrated by melt temperature
effects observed in these experiments. It was shown that
shear enhancement via lump break-up was not a vital
mechanism in nucleation. 6 refs.
USA
Accession no.546556
Item 345
Antec 94. Conference Proceedings.
San Francisco, Ca., 1st-5th May 1994, Vol.II, p.1946-
50. 012
APPROXIMATE CELL-TO-CELL DIFFUSION
MODEL FOR POLYETHYLENE FOAM
Kundu D; Princell C; Haji-Sheikh A
IMCOA; Texas,Arlington University
(SPE)
The mass diffusivity coefficient of isobutane blowing
agent from LDPE foam was found using a one-
dimensional diffusion model of two concentric cylinders
with Dirichlet boundary conditions. An average mass
diffusivity coefficient was used to calculate the mass of
isobutane remaining in the foam for different boundary
conditions. The influence of temperature and additives
on diffusion was also examined. The use of the mass
diffusivity coefficient in assessing the flammability of PE
foam in the post-extrusion period is discussed. 2 refs.
USA
Accession no.546547
Item 346
Patent Number: US 5340840 A 19940823
FOAM STRUCTURES OF ETHYLENIC
POLYMER MATERIAL HAVING ENHANCED
TOUGHNESS AND ELASTICITY AND PROCESS
FOR MAKING
Park C P;Stevens J C;Knight G W
Dow Chemical Co.
The polymer material contains a linear ethylenic polymer
having a melt flow ratio, I10I2, of 5.63 or above, a MWD,
Mw/Mn, defined by the equation Mw/Mn less than or
equal to (I10/I2)-4.63 and a critical shear rate at onset of
surface melt fracture of at least 50% greater than that of a
linear olefin polymer having about the same I2 and Mw/
Mn. The foam structures have toughness and elasticity
similar to those formed from conventional LLDPE
without the poor dimensional stability and foam quality
associated with those structures and foam quality similar
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
to those made with conventional LDPE but with enhanced
toughness and elasticity. The foam may be made in a foam
bead form.
USA
Accession no.545839
Item 347
Patent Number: WO 9417133 A1 19940804
EXPANDABLE COMPOSITION AND PROCESS
FOR PRODUCING EXTRUDED
THERMOPLASTIC FOAM
Lee S-T
Sealed Air Corp.
An expandable thermoplastic composition is disclosed
for extrusion foaming which comprises a polyethylene
resin; a blowing agent comprising a blend of about 50
wt.% of carbon dioxide and about 50 wt.% of either
normal butane, isobutane, propane, or a mixture of any
two or all three hydrocarbons in admixture with the resin
in a ratio of about one part blowing agent to about 10
parts resin; zinc oxide nucleation agent in an amount of
from about 0.05 to 0.5 kg per 100 kg of the resin; and
glyceryl monostearate ageing modifier in an amount of
from about 0.5 to 5 kg per 100 kg of the resin. A process
for extrusion foaming of the composition is also disclosed.
USA
Accession no.545767
Item 348
Plastics and Rubber Weekly
No.1577, 17th March 1995, p.7
PLASTAZOTE LD 18
Plastazote LD 18 closed cell PE foam from Zotefoams
lies at the heart of new life jackets from Seadog Lifesaving
Appliances. The range is designed to pack down into a
very small space. Using Plastazote means that the life
jackets can be stored for a number of years with no
deterioration in buoyancy, it is claimed. The LD 18 foam
meets Solas Regulation 4. This abstract includes all the
information contained in the original article.
ZOTEFOAMS
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; UK;
WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.545410
Item 349
Patent Number: WO 9421717 A1 19940929
PROCESS FOR MAKING ETHYLENIC
POLYMER FOAM STRUCTURES
Park C P; Stevens J C; Knight G W
Dow Chemical Co.
The polymer is a linear ethylenic polymer having a melt
flow rate of 5.63, a specified MWD and a critical shear
rate at onset of surface melt fracture of at least 50% greater
than that at the onset of surface melt fracture of a linear
99
 References and Abstracts
olefin polymer having the same MWD. The foam has
toughness and elasticity similar to those of foam formed
from conventional LLDPE without the poor dimensional
stability and foam quality associated therewith and has
foam quality similar to that of conventional LDPE but
with enhanced toughness and elasticity. The foam is
produced in bead form.
USA
Accession no.543530
Item 350
Patent Number: US 5324753 A 19940628
PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF
FOAMED PROPYLENE POLYMER ARTICLES
Lesca G; Romanini D; Vezzoli A
Himont Inc.
Foamed propylene polymer articles are prepared by
subjecting pre-foamed beads, that consist essentially of
propylene polymers having a melt strength from 5 to 40
cN, to thermoforming by sintering.
USA
Accession no.541003
Item 351
Patent Number: US 5373027 A 19941213
DRY EXPANSIBLE SEALANT AND BAFFLE
COMPOSITION AND PRODUCT
Hanley J L; Boos R C
Sika Corp.; DuPont de Nemours E.I.,& Co.Inc.
A sealant and baffle component is disclosed for sealing
and providing an acoustic baffle for cavities in the hollow
structural components of a vehicle body or the like, which,
during manufacture, is conveyed through a bake oven at
an elevated temp. The component is made up of a metal
ion neutralised ethylene/alpha beta ethylenically
unsaturated carboxylic acid copolymer (ionomer), a
blowing agent and a tackifier and, optionally, an additive
polymer and a crosslinking agent. The blowing agent is
selected to be activated at the temp. of the bake oven so
that the shaped and formed component expands in the
body cavity to seal the cavity and prevent ingress of
moisture, dust and other contaminating materials and
particles, as well as to form a sound barrier therein.
USA
Accession no.539171
Item 352
Plastverarbeiter
45, No.12, Dec.1994, p.86/90
German
ALTERNATIVES FOR PE INSULATING FOAM
PRODUCTION
Henzler W
CFC-based blowing agents used to date in the production
of PE insulating foam must be replaced by alternative
100
blowing agents, generally hydrocarbons, in order to meet
the stricter environmental pollution control regulations.
This means adapting the polymer chemistry as well as
the plant, mould and process technology, but also mental
habits to meet the new situation. The most important
modifications necessary to achieve these aims are
described.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY;
WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.538982
Item 353
Patent Number: US 5314926 A 19940524
HYDROFLUOROCARBON COMPOSITIONS AS
BLOWING AGENTS FOR CELLULAR
PLASTICS
Robin M L; Iikubo Y; Register W D; Rose R S
Great Lakes Chemical Corp.
Blowing agents for use in foamable plastics such as
polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene and other
non-polyisocyanate-based foams are described,
comprising a mixture of 1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoropropane
in combination with one or more hydrocarbons or partially
halogenated alkanes. In one aspect of the invention the
hydrocarbon adjuvant is selected from the group
consisting of propane, butane, isobutane, n-pentane, i-
pentane, neopentane, n-hexane, 2-methylpentane, 3-
methylpentane and 2,2-dimethylbutane. In another aspect
of the invention the halogenated alkane is selected from
the group consisting of ethyl chloride, HCFC-123, HCFC-
141b, HCFC-142b, HCFC-124, HCFC-225ca, HCFC-
225cb, HFC-152a, HFC-143a, HFC-134a, HFC-134,
HFC-245ca, HFC-236ea, and HFC-245ea.
USA
Accession no.536254
Item 354
Patent Number: US 5278196 A 19940111
HYDROFLUOROCARBON COMPOSITIONS AS
BLOWING AGENTS FOR CELLULAR
PLASTICS
Robin M L; Iikubo Y; Register W D; Rose R S
Great Lakes Chemical Corp.
Blowing agents for use in foamable plastics such as
polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene and other
non-polyisocyanate-based foams are described,
comprising a mixture of 1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoropropane
in combination with one or more hydrocarbons or partially
halogenated alkanes. In one aspect of the invention the
hydrocarbon adjuvant is selected from the group
consisting of propane, butane, isobutane, n-pentane, i-
pentane, neopentane, n-hexane, 2-methylpentane, 3-
methylpentane and 2,2-dimethylbutane. In another aspect
of the invention the halogenated alkane is selected from
the group consisting of ethyl chloride, HCFC-123, HCFC-
141b, HCFC-142b, HCFC-124, HCFC-225ca, HCFC-
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
 References and Abstracts
225cb, HFC-152a, HFC-143a, HFC-134a, HFC-134,
HFC-245ca, HFC-236ea, and HFC-245ea.
USA
Accession no.535697
Item 355
Patent Number: US 5091435 E 19940510
CROSS-LINKABLE FOAMABLE POLYOLEFIN
RESIN COMPOSITION
Suzuki T; Kitagawa S; Nakayama T; Kuno T
Tonen Chemical Corp.
(This patent is a reissue (RE 34607). The composition
described, capable of forming foams with excellent
mechanical properties and heat resistance, is made of (a)
14-80 wt.% of a propylene-ethylene random copolymer
having an ethylene content of 1.5-6 wt.%, (b) 10-60 wt.%
of a propylene-ethylene random copolymer having an
ethylene content of 0.2-1.0 wt.%, (c) 10-60 wt.% of a linear
low-density polyethylene, and (d) 1-30 pbw, per 100 pbw
of the above resin composition, of a foaming agent.
JAPAN
Accession no.535371
Item 356
1993 Polymers, Laminations and Coatings Conference:
Book 2. Conference Proceedings.
Chicago, Il., 29th Aug-2nd Sept.1993,p.403-6. 6A
MULTILAYER EXTRUSION DIE GEOMETRY
FOR THERMOFORMED POLYPROPYLENE
FOAM SHEETS AND BIAXIALLY ORIENTED
FOAM FILMS
Raukola J; Savolainen A
Tampere,University of Technology
(TAPPI)
Because of the environmental demands of CFC-foamed
products, and also in attempting to replace PS with more
environmentally friendly and with more heat resistant
polyolefins, development of a new foam technology was
commenced. The intention was to develop a new two-
stage blown film line which could be used for both
thermoformed PP foam sheets as well as for biaxially
oriented PP foam films. In order to reach the accepted
level of quality of foamed film and sheet, it is necessary
to homogenise the material. This can be accomplished
by effective mixing in the die. For this purpose, a rotor-
stator die has been developed. After its exit from the die,
thermoformable foam tube is first rapidly cooled down
prior to reheating for orientation. The results are
encouraging: a homogeneous foam structure (bubble
diameter of under 100 microns), no stripes, smooth solid
skins (multilayer structure) and low density. 1 ref.
FINLAND; SCANDINAVIA; WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.532433
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
Item 357
Patent Number: WO 9413460 A1 19940623
OPEN CELL POLYPROPYLENE FOAM AND
PROCESS FOR MAKING SAME
Park C P
Dow Chemical Co.
A low density, dimensionally stable, open-cell, extruded
propylene polymer foam is disclosed. It comprises an
expanded propylene polymer material, the polymer
comprising more than 50 wt.% of propylene monomeric
units based upon the total weight of the propylene polymer
material. The foam has a density of 96 kilograms or less
per cubic meter and is greater than 20% open cell. The
blowing agent comprises more than 85 wt.% of one or
more organic blowing agents based upon the total weight
of the blowing agent.
USA
Accession no.532250
Item 358
Patent Number: WO 9413459 A1 19940623
EXTRUDED CLOSED-CELL PROPYLENE
POLYMER FOAM AND METHODS OF MAKING
THE SAME
Park C P; Malone B A
Dow Chemical Co.
The foam has at least 80% closed cells and a foamability
characteristic of less than 1.8.
USA
Accession no.532249
Item 359
Antec 93. Conference Proceedings.
New Orleans, La., 9th-13th May 1993, Vol.III, p.3033-
6. 012
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS ON
THERMOPLASTIC FOAM SHEET FORMATION
Lee S T; Ramesh N S; Campbell G A
Sealed Air Corp.; Clarkson,University
(SPE)
Temperature variations during the formation of LDPE
foam sheet were investigated. A thermal model was
coupled with a viscoelastic growth model, and an iterative
finite difference technique was used to solve unsteady
heat transfer equations and viscoelastic growth equations.
The heat transfer characteristic time became comparable
to the expansion time when the sheet thickness decreased
to the millimetre range, during which foam thickness and
density became sensitive to temperature effects. 12 refs.
USA
Accession no.528849
101
 References and Abstracts
Item 360
Patent Number: US 5276064 A 19940104
COLOURED EXTRUDED FOAM CROSS-
LINKED BACKER ROD
Hartman S
Industrial Thermo Polymers Ltd.
The formation of extruded foam products from
polyethylene such as backer rods is disclosed in this
patent. Diazo condensation colour pigments have been
found to be especially suitable as relatively fast cross-
linking occurs after extrusion. It has also been found that
using traditional inorganic colour pigments substantially
impedes the cross-linking mechanism. A methodology for
the production of these cross-linked products is also given.
CANADA
Accession no.527812
Item 361
Patent Number: US 5304580 A 19940419
EXPANDABLE POLYOLEFIN RESIN
COMPOSITIONS
Shibayama K; Ogasa M; Arai T; Takahashi E
Sekisui Chemical Co.Ltd.
These comprise 40 to 100 wt.% of PP having a melt index
of 0.5 to 12, 0 to 60 wt.% of PE having a melt index of 2
to 50, 0.5 to 10 pbw of a di(meth)acrylate of an aliphatic
dihydric alcohol having a methylene group with 2 to 18
carbon atoms between the (meth)acryloyloxy groups at
both ends per 100 pbw of the combination of the two
resins and 1 to 50 pbw of a thermally decomposable
blowing agent. They also preferably comprise 0.5 to 5
pbw of a monofunctional monomer. Foams produced
therefrom exhibit excellent heat resistance, toughness and
mouldability and are homogeneous in appearance.
JAPAN
Accession no.526299
Item 362
Patent Number: US 5296182 A 19940322
METHOD FOR MAKING FORMED LAMINATE
Thary C
Creme Art Corp.
A formed laminate is made by relative movement of first
and second contoured mould surfaces toward each other
to compress a flexible sheet and vertically spaced film
with a foamable liquid mixture therebetween that has
substantially completed expansion but not yet
substantially cured so as to form the flexible sheet and
provide a collapsed foam layer bonded to the sheet. The
flexible sheet is preferably porous cloth, vinyl or leather.
A film which is preferably a nonadherent plastic such as
PE is preferably positioned in a vertically spaced
relationship with the flexible sheet either above or below
the sheet with the foamable liquid mixture received
therebetween for the expansion prior to the compression
that provides the formed laminate. The formed laminate
102
can be used for clothing and is preferably made by a quick
reacting type foamable liquid mixture which expands in
about 8-25 seconds, preferably in about 10-15 seconds.
USA
Accession no.519334
Item 363
Polymer Engineering and Science
34, No.10, May 1994, p.794-8
EFFECT OF PRELOADING ON THE
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF POLYMERIC
FOAMS
Ozkul M H; Mark J E
Istanbul,Technical University; Cincinnati,University
Rigid foam PS, PU, and phenolic resin, and the semirigid
foam of PE were examined with regard to their mechanical
properties. The effects of preloading the foams on their
mechanical properties are discussed.
TURKEY; USA
Accession no.517604
Item 364
Patent Number: US 5292465 A 19940308
PROCESS FOR PREPARING LIGHTWEIGHT,
RIGID COMPOSITE FOAMED MOULDED
ARTICLE
Kobayashi T; Watari M; Inoue T
Mitsui Petrochemical Industries Ltd.
The foamed article is made by placing a skin material in
an upper mould for stamping mould kept at a temperature
of 10 to 50C, feeding molten PP containing a foaming
agent kept at a temperature of not lower than the
decomposition temp. of the foaming agent and within the
range of 180 to 240C onto a surface of a lower mould for
stamping mould kept at a temp. of 30 to 80C and closing
the mould within 10 sec after feeding of the composition
to clamp the moulds at a pressure of 20 to 70 kg/sq.cm.
The upper mould is then lifted before a thickness of each
of the hardened layers formed on both surfaces of the
composition layer reaches 1.0 mm to open the mould at a
distance between the upper mould and lower mould of
1.1 to 2 times of the thickness of a flat portion having
neither boss nor rib in the layer thereby to foam the
composition and the foamed substrate is then cooled.
JAPAN
Accession no.515834
Item 365
British Plastics and Rubber
May 1994, p.4-5
GAS INJECTION REPLACES BLOWING
AGENTS FOR FOAMED CABLE INSULATION
Siebe Engineering has developed a process for foaming
cable insulation without chemical blowing agents. In the
Siebe process the melt is foamed by dispersing nitrogen
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
 References and Abstracts
or carbon dioxide into it and allowing the gas to expand
freely. The company claims material cost savings,
improved product quality and faster line speeds. The
physical foaming process takes place in an extruder with
a conventional feed zone followed by a two-flighted
barrier section and precise barrel temperature control.
Immediately following the barrier section is a lower
pressure zone where the gas injection takes place. A
sophisticated process control loop is required to handle
all the variables required to control the process.
SIEBE ENGINEERING
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; GERMANY; WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.514682
Item 366
Japan Chemical Week
35, No.1773, 28th April/5th May 1994, p.12
EXPANDABLE PP-BEAD CAPACITY TO BE
DOUBLED OVERSEAS
Details are given of planned capacity increases in
expandable polypropylene by the JSP Group, in both the
US and Europe. A doubling of combined production
capacities is planned for the material which is used in the
foam of automotive bumper core materials.
JSP GROUP; JSP CORP.; JSP INTERNATIONAL
EUROPE-GENERAL; USA
Accession no.511975
Item 367
Patent Number: US 5288762 A 19940222
CROSSLINKED ETHYLENIC POLYMER FOAM
STRUCTURES AND PROCESS FOR MAKING
Park C P; Chum P-W S; Knight G W
Dow Chemical Co.
The ethylenic polymer has, in the uncrosslinked state,
specified melt flow ratio, MWD and critical shear rate at
the onset of surface melt fracture.
USA
Accession no.510202
Item 368
Revista de Plasticos Modernos
67, No.452, Feb.1994, p.185-91
Spanish
NEW POSSIBILITIES WITH POLYPROPYLENE
Jung N E
BASF Espanola SA
Developments by BASF in high-impact propylene
copolymers produced by reactive blending, random
propylene copolymers, glass fibre-reinforced PP
composites and PP foams are reported. Properties and
applications of these materials are described. 4 refs.
BASF AG
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; GERMANY; SPAIN; WESTERN
EUROPE
Accession no.510131
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
Item 369
Patent Number: EP 588321 A1 19940323
PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF
FOAMED PROPYLENE POLYMER ARTICLES
Lesca G; Romanini D; Vezzoli A
Himont Inc.
Pre-foamed beads consisting essentially of propylene
polymer having a melt strength of from 5 to 40 cN are
thermoformed by sintering.
USA
Accession no.509845
Item 370
Patent Number: US 5286428 A 19940215
POLYPROPYLENE RESIN FOAMED SHEET
FOR THERMOFORMING AND PROCESS FOR
PRODUCING THE SAME
Hayashi M; Doi T; Matsuoka K
Sekisui Kaseihin Kogyo KK
The sheet contains 10 to 50 wt.% of an inorganic fine
powder, has a density of 0.2 to 1.2 g/cm and a thickness
of 0.2 to 3 mm. It also has a percent shrinkage of 5 to
30% in each of the longitudinal and crosswise directions
on heating at 190C for 30 min., the ratio of residual rate
in the longitudinal direction to that in the crosswise
direction being from 1:0.7 to 1:1.1. The sheet is produced
by extruding and foaming a compounded resin from a
ring die of an extruder and taking off the extruded tubular
foamed sheet along a cylindrical drum, whose diameter
is 2.0 to 3.0 times that of the ring die.
JAPAN
Accession no.508761
Item 371
Patent Number: EP 585148 A1 19940302
ULTRA LOW DENSITY POLYOLEFIN FOAM
HAVING A DENSITY OF ABOUT 0.6 TO 1.5
POUNDS PER CUBIC FOOT, FOAMABLE
POLYOLEFIN COMPOSITIONS AND PROCESS
FOR MAKING THE SAME
Rogers J E; Kisner R D
Astro-Valcour Inc.
The foam comprises a heat-plastified mixture of a non-
elastomeric ethylene homopolymer or copolymer or a
propylene homopolymer, about 3 to 30 pbw of an
elastomer, about 1 to 15 pbw of PS, a stability control
agent, which is a partial ester of a long chain fatty acid
with a polyol, higher alkyl amine, fatty acid amide or
olefinically unsaturated carboxylic acid copolymer, and
a hydrocarbon blowing agent having from 1 to 6 carbon
atoms and a boiling point between -175 and 50C.
USA
Accession no.507763
103
 References and Abstracts
Item 372
Patent Number: EP 585147 A1 19940302
LOW DENSITY POLYOLEFIN FOAM HAVING A
DENSITY OF ABOUT 0.9 TO 25 POUNDS PER
CUBIC FOOT, FOAMABLE POLYOLEFIN
COMPOSITIONS AND PROCESS FOR MAKING
THE SAME
Kisner R D
Astro-Valcour Inc.
The compositions consist of a heat-plastified mixture of
an ethylene homopolymer or copolymer, about 3 to 30
pbw of an elastomer, a stability control agent, which is a
partial ester of a long chain fatty acid with a polyol, higher
allyl amine, fatty acid amide or olefinically unsaturated
carboxylic acid copolymer, and a hydrocarbon blowing
agent having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms and a boiling point
between -175 and 50C.
USA
Accession no.507762
Item 373
Patent Number: US 5281376 A 19940125
METHOD FOR PRODUCING PP RESIN
ARTICLE HAVING SKIN MATERIAL LINED
WITH FOAMED LAYER
Hara T; Matsumoto M; Usui N; Matubara S
Sumitomo Chemical Co.Ltd.
The multi-layer article is made using moulds between
which a cavity clearance is freely set. A skin material lined
with foam is placed between the upper and lower moulds
and molten PP containing a chemical blowing agent is
supplied through a resin melt conduit in the lower mould
when the cavity clearance is between (C plus 15) mm
and (C plus 50) mm, where C is the thickness of the skin
material lined with the foam. The upper mould is lowered
at a specific rate and the molten resin is pressed at a
specific pressure to fill the cavity ends with the molten
resin to complete the moulding of the resin body. The
body is pressed for a certain time to form a skin layer, the
upper mould is lifted up to decrease the compression
pressure of the skin material lined with the foam to a
pressure lower than the blowing pressure of the PP resin
to form and solidify the foamed body, the upper mould is
lowered to apply pressure to the moulded article and
finally the article is cooled in the mould.
JAPAN
Accession no.505424
Item 374
Journal of Applied Polymer Science
51, No.5, 31st Jan.1994, p.841-53
PREPARATION OF FLAME-RETARDANT
POLYETHYLENE FOAM OF OPEN-CELL TYPE
BY RADIATION GRAFTING OF VINYL
PHOSPHONATE OLIGOMER
Kaji K; Yoshizawa I; Kohara C; Komai K; Hatada M
104
Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute; Sanwa Kako Co.
Flame retardant PE foam was successfully obtained by
grafting a vinyl phosphonate oligomer onto PE foam of
an open-cell type using a simultaneous radiation grafting
technique. The foam was impregnated with the oligomer
and irradiated in a nitrogen atmosphere with an electron
beam. The grafted foam thus obtained was found to pass
the three most severe flammability tests that have to be
cleared when the foam is to be used for materials where
high flame-retardant property is required. No hydrogen
cyanide was detected in burning exhaust gas of the grafted
foam. 6 refs.
JAPAN
Accession no.502456
Item 375
Polyurethanes 92. Conference Proceedings.
New Orleans, La., 21st-24th Oct.1992, p.400-9. 43C6
ROOF SYSTEM EFFECTS ON IN-SITU
THERMAL PERFORMANCE OF HCFC
POLYISOCYANURATE INSULATION
Christian J E; Desjarlais A O; Courville G; Graves R
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
(SPI,Polyurethane Div.)
A long term research project to determine the long term
thermal performance differences between
polyisocyanurate foamed with CFC-11 and
polyisocyanurate foamed with HCFC-123, HCFC-141b
and two blends of HCFCs. Part of the work is to assess
whether tests of less than a year on 10mm slices are useful
in predicting the 12-20 year performance of 38-50 mm
laminated polyisocyanurate boardstock. Also investigated
were the effects of EPDM membrane above the insulation
boards, i.e. whether it was black or white, loose laid,
mechanically attached, asphalted, fully adhered by
neoprene adhesive, or part of a built-up roof. The adhesive
and built-up roof caused the greatest loss in R-value. 13
refs.
USA
Accession no.498993
Item 376
Fire & Flammability Bulletin
Oct.1993, p.5
FLAME-RESISTANT SPONGE DOES NOT
PRODUCE POISONOUS GAS
A method for producing a polyethylene sponge that is
flame resistant and does not produce any poisonous gases
when burned has been developed by the Research
Development Corp. of Japan. The article supplies brief
details of the product and its applications.
RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT CORP.
JAPAN
Accession no.497464
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
 References and Abstracts
Item 377
Plastics in Telecommunicatons VI. Conference
Proceedings.
London, 16th-18th Sept.1992, p.3/1-3/10. 6E
IMPROVED METHOD FOR MEASURING THE
STABILITY OF POLYOLEFINS
Kuck V J
AT & T Bell Laboratories
(PRI)
The laboratory-to-laboratory reproducibility of the
isothermal oxidative stability procedure for measuring the
oxidative stability of polyolefin insulation used in
telecommunications applications has been improved from
approximately 45% to approximately 85%. The improved
protocol is described in some detail. 12 refs.
USA
Accession no.496020
Item 378
Plastics in Telecommunications VI. Conference
Proceedings.
London, 16th-18th Sept.1992, p.1/1-1/10. 6E
ADVANCES IN THE PRODUCTION OF HIGHLY
EXPANDED LOW DIELECTRIC LOSS
POLYOLEFIN INSULATION FOR CATV AND
DATA TRANSMISSION
Francis P C; Lips J; Tot B
BP Chemicals Ltd.; BP Chemicals Belgium SA;
Alcatel-Cablerie Seneffoise
(PRI)
This paper discusses the latest advances in manufacturing
Community Antenna Television (CATV) cables via the
gas injection process. Developments in polymer
technology are discussed which have led to the
production, by gas injection, of highly expanded, ultra
low dielectric loss PE cable insulation for CATV and data
transmission 3 refs.
BELGIUM; EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; UK; WESTERN
EUROPE
Accession no.496018
Item 379
Fire & Flammability Bulletin
July 1993, p.5
POLYETHYLENE SPONGE IS NON TOXIC IN
FIRES
An inflammable PE sponge that does not release any toxic
gas when in contact with fire has been developed by
Sanwa Kako Co.Ltd. The inner side of the polyethylene
is chemically coated with a flame retardant using electron
beam technology. The material is claimed to be suitable
for use in car seats, furniture and cushions. Commercial
production of the material is planned for late 1993. This
abstract includes all the information contained in the
original article.
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
SANWA KAKO CO.LTD.
JAPAN
Accession no.488396
Item 380
Cellular Polymers
12, No.3, 1993, p.171-93
ARRESTED DIFFUSION PHENOMENON IN
DENSE POLYETHYLENE FOAMS
Briscoe B J; Chaudhary B I; Savvas T
Imperial College
The diffusion of gases from a polymeric matrix containing
a dispersed and non-interconnected gaseous phase at a
pressure higher than ambient was studied. Specifically, a
dense LDPE foam expanded using high pressure nitrogen
was characterised in terms of its mass and density changes
as a function of time and its behaviour at triaxial
(hydrostatic) compression. This foam was found to be
degassing when stored at ambient temperature and
pressure, but this process apparently occurred at a slow
rate and was accompanied by a volume contraction of
the material, leading to an increase in its apparent density.
A decrease in compressibility was also observed with
lapsed storage time, indicating a decrease in the void
volume it contained. A model was used to simulate the
mass transport process of the gas and the volume
relaxation of the solid. 9 refs.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; UK; WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.486089
Item 381
Plastics Industry News (Japan)
39,No.2,Feb.1993,p.20-1
NEW POLYMER APPLICATIONS
Sekisui Kaseihin Kogyo Co. has developed a crystalline
PETP based foam, Cell Pet, which exhibits high thermal
resistance. Applications include packaging of food stuffs.
The company’s PP-homopolymer foamed sheetings are
used for producing food containers and daily/sundry
goods packaging. PP foamed plates are used in industrial
applications for insulating materials and cores. A modified
PPO foam sheeting was recently produced and
applications are being developed.
SEKISUI KASEIHIN KOGYO KK
JAPAN
Accession no.471956
Item 382
Journal of Cellular Plastics
28,No.6,Nov/Dec.1992,p.509-10
DOW INTRODUCES RECYCLED-CONTENT
ETHAFOAM POLYETHYLENE FOAM THAT
MEETS CONSISTENT QUALITY STANDARDS
A brief report is presented on Dow’s Ethafoam 220 RP, a
foam plank product which contains at least 15% recycled
105
 References and Abstracts

PE from recovered material, has a nominal 2.2 lb/cu ft CONDUCTORS

density and is designed for protective cushion packaging Chan M G; Kuck V J
as well as general cushioning applications. Graphical AT & T Bell Laboratories
information is provided on the dynamic cushioning
Results are presented of studies of the oxidation of cable
performance of the foam.
insulation consisting of a solid PE skin and PE foam in
DOW CHEMICAL CO. contact with a copper conductor. Measurements were
USA
made of the stability of PE containing stabilisers and metal
Accession no.470680 deactivators in the presence of blowing agents and
hydrocarbon oils, and interactions between stabilisers and
Item 383 blowing agents were analysed.
Cellular Polymers USA
11,No.6,1992,p.429-49 Accession no.466463
STRUCTURE-PROPERTY RELATIONSHIPS IN
THERMOPLASTIC FOAMS
Item 386
Clutton E Q; Rice G N
Japan Chemical Week
BP Chemicals Ltd.
33,No.1677,4th June 1992,p.8
The applicability of the Gibson and Ashby approach to PRODUCTION BASE FOR EXPANDED PP TO BE
structure-property relationships, particularly deformation COMPLETED IN US
mechanisms, is discussed in relation to a series of
JSP is due to complete in June a 120 t/y moulding plant for
thermoplastic foams. The foams examined were based
vehicle bumper cores based on P-Block expanded PP on
on LDPE, EVA, and a propylene copolymer. A full range
the plant site of its US subsidiay J&V Foam Products. JSP
of foam mechanical properties is discussed. 8 refs.
has also begun to build a 1, 200 t/y expanded PP beads
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; UK; WESTERN EUROPE
plant on the same site, scheduled to start up in January.
Accession no.469053 The products will be marketed in Mexico and the US.
JSP CORP.
Item 384 USA
Rubber Chemistry and Technology Accession no.450912
65,No.5,Nov./Dec.1992,p.932-55
INFLUENCE OF COMPOSITION AND
Item 387
PROCESSING HISTORY ON THE CELLULAR
Antec 91.Conference Proceedings.
MORPHOLOGY OF THE FOAMED OLEFINIC
Montreal,5th-9th May 1991,p.1304-7. 012
THERMOPLASTIC ELASTOMERS
SHEAR EFFECTS ON THERMOPLASTIC FOAM
Dutta A; Cakmak M
NUCLEATION
Akron,University
Lee S T
Foam extrusion of a series of dynamically vulcanised PP/ SEALED AIR CORP.
EPDM blends (Santoprene from Monsanto) by use of (SPE)
chemical blowing agents was studied. The results
Shear enhancement effects in foam formation can be
indicated that foaming occurred only within the
understood through the modified cavity model. Shear
thermoplastic phase and, for each composition, a limiting
force behaves as ‘catalyst’ to reduce energy barrier to
density existed which controlled the maximum volume
allow a quik path from stable gas cavity to unstable bubble
expansion. This limiting density was controlled only by
phase. It can be concluded that both shear rate and
the composition and was independent of the blowing agent
viscosity contribute to foam nucleation in the continuous
concentration, extrusion conditions and geometry. For the
foam extrusion process. Therefore, proper die opening
softest and hardest blends, maimum volume expansion
and process conditions will help to optimise the foam
was found to be about 20 and 100%, respectively.
product. 11 refs.
Significant differences in cell structure were also observed
USA
with change in the blend composition. 18 refs.
Accession no.448550
MONSANTO CO.
USA
Accession no.467855 Item 388
Antec 91.Conference Proceedings.
Montreal,5th-9th May 1991,p.1330-3. 012
Item 385
DEVELOPMENT OF MULTI LAYER FOAMED
Macplas International
SHEET
May 1992,p.89-90
Egashira A;Yazaki T
POLYETHYLENE FOAM FOR COPPER

106 © Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited

 References and Abstracts

MITSUBISHI PETROCHEMICAL CO.LTD. Item 392

(SPE) Modern Plastics International
21,No.9,Sept.1991,p.24
A multi-layer foamed PP sheet was developed which
UNIQUE STRAND STRUCTURE PERMITS
efficiently inherits both characteristics of compounded
TAILORED CUSHIONING PROPERTIES
and foamed material. Structure, manufacturing
Leaversuch R D
techniques, properties and applications of multi-layer
foamed sheet are discussed. 3 refs. Strandfoam, developed by Dow, is said to be an easy to
JAPAN shape polyolefin foam consisting of thousands of joined
Accession no.448188 strands of foam. The structure is said to improve
cushioning and insulation properties and may replace
some open cell PU applications. The process is briefly
Item 389 described and utilises ethylene-acrylic acid in a PE carrier.
Urethanes Technology
DOW EUROPE SA
8,No.3,June/July 1991,p.26
SWITZERLAND; WESTERN EUROPE
NEW RETICULATION SYSTEM ON OFFER
Accession no.432164
CPL Hartmeyer is offering its reticulation process for
making open-celled rigid and flexible foams based on PU
as well as PE and polyimide. The reticulation process is Item 393
outlined. It is particularly useful for making mattresses International Polymer Science and Technology
and related products from the new CMHR (combination 17,No.11,1990,p.T/50-1
modified high resilience) foams. The company has also HEAT STABILITY OF RADIATION
developed a method of reticulating foams which have been CROSSLINKED PE FOAM
impregnated with activated carbon. These products are Demaent’ev A G;Matyukhian G N;Kulikov Yu
used to remove impurities from waste-water streams. The A;Belova E V; Preobrazhenskaya A A;Khramtsova T V
company’s other foam technologies are mentioned. Full translation of Plast.Massy,No.7,1990,p.34. 7 refs.
CPL HARTMEYER EASTERN EUROPE; USSR
GERMANY; SWITZERLAND; WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.431362
Accession no.445095

Item 394
Item 390
Progress in Rubber and Plastics Technology
Plastics Industry News (Japan)
7,No.1,1991,p.38-58
37,No.10,Oct.1991,p.149
STRUCTURE-PROPERTY RELATIONSHIPS IN
FOAMED PP SHEET
THERMOPLASTIC FOAMS
Japan Synthetic Paper has developed a PP foaming process. Clutton E Q;Rice G N
The non-crosslinked PP is continuously extruded to produce BP CHEMICALS LTD.
foamed sheeting and the sheet is further vacuum moulded
The applicability of the Gibson and Ashby approach,
by the conventional process. The foamed PP is
whereby deformation mechanisms are identified, to a
recommended for thermal insulation of hot water pipes,
range of thermoplastic polymer foams is explored. LDPE,
air conditioning plumbing and wire coverings.
EVA and PP foams were produced by the BXL Plastizote
JAPAN SYNTHETIC PAPER CO. nitrogen expansion process. A full range of mechanical
JAPAN
properties is discussed from the simpler aspects of
Accession no.435233 modulus and strength to the complexities of creep and
recovery performance. 8 refs.
Item 391 EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; UK; WESTERN EUROPE
Japan Chemical Week Accession no.430327
32,No.1646,31st Oct.1991,p.5
HEAT RESISTANT PETP/PP FOAM PIONEERED
Item 395
Sekisui Plastics is reported to have developed two types Plastics Industry News (Japan)
of heat resistant plastics foam; one is PETP foam, capable 37,No.7,July 1991,p.102
of resisting temps. of up to 220C and the other is closed- REACTIVE POLYMER
cell PP foam, resistant to temps. of up to 145C. Brief
details are noted. Mitsubishi Petrochemical has developed a new type of
reactive polymer, a copolymer of olefin and diene, for
SEKISUI PLASTICS CO.LTD.
JAPAN
crosslinking of PP. By applying the reactive polymer, PP
foam is easily produced and the polymer has improved
Accession no.435211

© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited 107

 References and Abstracts

adhesion, printability and coating. The reactive polymer Item 399

also makes the polyolefin moulded products recyclable. Cellular Polymers.Conference Proceedings.
MITSUBISHI PETROCHEMICAL CO.LTD. London,20th-22nd March 1991,Paper 34. 6124
JAPAN RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN SHAPE
Accession no.428192 MOULDABLE PARTICLE POLYOLEFIN FOAMS
Cousins J R;Domas F
BASF AG; BASF PLC
Item 396 (Rapra Technology Ltd.)
Antec 90.Plastics in the Environment:Yesterday,Today
& Tomorrow.Conference Proceedings. Developments in mouldable particle PP foams are
Dallas,Tx.,7th-11th May 1990,p.717-20. 012 described, using the BASF product range as a basis. The
NOVEL FOAMABLE PP moulding process is detailed, physical properties of
Bradley M B;Phillips E M mouldings produced from Neopolen P at densities of 20
HIMONT USA INC. to 60 kg/cu.m. are detailed and major end-use applications
(SPE) are indicated. The moulding sequence is also illustrated.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; GERMANY; UK; WESTERN
Demonstrations are given of the importance of extensional EUROPE
or elongational viscosity in the foam process. New Accession no.421170
polypropylenes are compared in extensional flow and it
is shown how rheological differences allow the production
of low density foam on tandem extrusion equipment. 6 Item 400
refs. Cellular Polymers.Conference Proceedings.
USA London,20th-22nd March 1991,Paper 28. 6124
MECHANISM OF THE RECOVERY OF
Accession no.427660
IMPACTED HDPE FOAM
Loveridge P;Mills N J
Item 397 BIRMINGHAM,UNIVERSITY
Japan Chemical Week (Rapra Technology Ltd.)
32,No.1628,27th June 1991,p.2
A study was made of the impact and recovery behaviour
NEW POLYMER EASILY PRODUCES PP FOAM
of three HDPE closed-cell foams with varying densities.
WITH IMPROVED PROPERTIES
Impact stress-strain curves were measured using a falling
Mitsubishi Petrochemical is reported to have developed striker impact rig and the recovery monitored from 10s
a new type of reactive polymer permitting the crosslinking after the impact. Cell deformation was observed during
of PP, which has so far been difficult. The material is a compression and recovery using SEM. Recovery was
copolymer of olefin and diene, with the polyolefin side- found to occur by the viscoelastic straightening of the
chain having an unsaturated group. Very brief details are buckled faces and to be incomplete due to plastic
noted. deformation in the structure. 6 refs.
MITSUBISHI PETROCHEMICAL CO.LTD. EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; UK; WESTERN EUROPE
JAPAN Accession no.421166
Accession no.425651
Item 401
Item 398 Cellular Polymers.Conference Proceedings.
Japan Chemical Week London,20th-22nd March 1991,Paper 5. 6124
32,No.1622,16th May 1991,p.1 NOVEL FOAMABLE PP POLYMERS
JSP EXPANDS MARKET FOR PP FOAM Bradley M B;Phillips E M
JSP Corp. is expanding market applications for P-Block, HIMONT USA INC.
a non-crosslinked PP foam, as an automotive bumper core (Rapra Technology Ltd.)
material. An ambitious market development plan will be A comparison is made between a 3.5 melt flow
undertaken this autumn following full-scale start-up of conventional polypropylene homopolymer (Profax 6523)
its new plant currently under construction. P-Block is also and a 7.0 melt flow, high-melt-strength, foamable PP
being used as protective packaging for computers and homopolymer in extensional flow. The importance of
other precision machinery. extensional or elongational viscosity in the foam process
JSP CORP. is demonstrated and the way in which the rheological
JAPAN differences permit the production of low-density foam
Accession no.424549 on tandem extrusion equipment is shown. 6 refs.
USA
Accession no.421140

108 © Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited

 References and Abstracts

Item 402 Item 405

Plastics Engineering Plastics Industry News (Japan)
47,No.3,March 1991,p.82-4 37,No.1,Jan.1991,p.5
NOVEL POLYPROPYLENES FOR FOAMING ON CROSSLINKED PE FOAM
CONVENTIONAL EQUIPMENT
Hitachi Chemical is considering developments of new
Bradley M B;Phillips E M
applications for its crosslinked PE foam. It has been used
HIMONT USA INC.
as roofing material, cushioning and insulation. It is a
Polypropylene’s low elongational viscosity and poor melt closed-cell type and does not absorb moisture or water, is
strength have prevented its widespread use in extruded, chemical resistant and highly shock absorbant. It is easy
low-density foams. However, significant improvements to handle and may be processed using conventional
in PP technology have made possible the production of equipment. Applications are expected to widen to meet
low-density foam on conventional equipment. This article future needs.
demonstrates the importance of extensional or HITACHI CHEMICAL CO.
elongational viscosity in the foam process, compares new JAPAN
and conventional PPs in extensional flow, and shows how Accession no.414468
these rheological differences allow production of low-
density foam on tandem extrusion equipment.
USA Item 406
Accession no.420001 Plaste und Kautschuk
37,No.2,Feb.1990,p.60-2
German
Item 403 ANISOTROPY OF INJECTION MOULDED
Watford, 1990, pp.6. 12ins. 19/7/90. 42C11-6124-6L3 POLYOLEFIN FOAMS
CLIMATUBE PIPE INSULATION Christova T V;Natov M A
BRITISH BOARD OF AGREMENT; NMC- SOFIA,HIGHER CHEMICOTECHNOLOGICAL
KENMORE (UK) LTD. INSTITUTE
Agrement Board.Certificate 90/2403
Using the manufacture of PP battery cases as an example,
This certificate relates to Climatube extruded foam PE the authors show how to produce thin-walled (2-5mm),
pipe insulation. It is used in the thermal insulation of water foamed articles with good surface properties by means
supply pipes and heating pipework. The insulation is semi- of low pressure injection moulding. Neopor 35 was used
split for ease of fitting, and polychloroprene adhesive and as the blowing agent. 5 refs.
climatape adhesive tape are supplied for sealing cut ends BULGARIA; EASTERN EUROPE
and joints. Thermal conductivity data are tabulated.
Accession no.411136
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; UK; WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.416051
Item 407
New Materials/Japan
Item 404
Nov.1990,p.15
Journal of Cellular Plastics
FOAM EXPANSION TECHNOLOGY REQUIRES
26,No.2,March/April 1990,p.118-22
NO CHLOROFLUOROCARBONS
PREPARATION AND POTENTIAL
APPLICATIONS OF EVACUATED CLOSED- JSP has developed a PP expansion moulding technology
CELL PLASTIC FOAMS employing a mixture of carbon dioxide and air as the
Jewett D M foaming agent, in place of chlorofluorocarbons. It reports
MICHIGAN,UNIVERSITY that the method produces stable, high quality PP foam at
a low cost. By the end of 1990, JSP plans to introduce the
The manufacture of evacuated closed-cell PE foam and
technology into its expandable PP bead production plant
potential applications of these foams and of gas-
at its Kanuma factory in Tochigi Prefecture. This abstract
exchanged foams, which were exposed to fluorine in
includes all the information contained in the original
helium after evacuation, are described. The evacuated
article.
foams were prepared by rapid evacuation in a chamber to
a pressure of 5 to 10mm Hg, during which the foam JSP CORP.
JAPAN
segments initially expanded and then rapidly relaxed to
about their original dimensions as gas diffused out. Accession no.410168
Thermal insulation is considered to be a potential end-
use. 3 refs.
USA
Accession no.415674

© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited 109

 References and Abstracts

Item 408 Himont’s PP resins with melt strength high enough to allow
Plastics Technology extrusion into foamed sheet on conventional lines may
36,No.7,July 1990,p.27 constitute the first serious alternative to foamed PS sheet. They
HIGH-MELT-STRENGTH PP PERMITS FOAM may also be used to replace foamed PE; details are given.
SHEET EXTRUSION HIMONT INC.
Gabriele M C USA

Himont is to commercialise later in 1990 a new PP grade Accession no.409284

designed to overcome the material’s traditional melt
strength weakness, which has largely precluded its Item 412
application in extruded low density foams. The material Kunststoffe German Plastics
does not, as yet, have a trade designation; details are given. 80,No.8,Aug.1990,p.17-8
HIMONT INC. BEHAVIOUR OF POLYPROPYLENE FOAMED
USA PLASTIC DURING RAPID DEFORMATION
Accession no.410147 Drumm R;Klipfel W;Giesen K
BASF AG
Item 409 A crash test rig was developed to simulate the high loads on
Packaging (USA) components in and on street vehicles in the case of a collision.
35,No.11,Sept.1990,p.63 It provides profiles of deformation, energy dissipation and
CUSHIONING SYSTEM PRODUCES TRANSIT retardation as a function of time. The effect of test velocity
DAMAGE and temp. on the behaviour of PP foam (Neopolen P) samples
Larson M of various density was examined. 2 refs.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; WEST GERMANY; WESTERN
A furniture company is using sheets of PP foam, supplied
EUROPE
by Ametek Microfoam, to protect upholstered furniture
in transit. The sheeting is taped into pouches and used to Accession no.407856
surround the furniture before it is packed into corrugated
cases. The company has reduced its corrugated use by Item 413
60%. Japan Chemical Week
AMETEK CORP.,MICROFOAM DIV. 31,No.1590,4th Oct.1990,p.2
USA PS/PE-COPOLYMER-BEAD FOAM ADOPTED
Accession no.409408 AS ENERGY ABSORPTION MATERIAL FOR
BUMPER

Item 410 Sekisui Plastics’ PS/PE copolymer-bead foam has been

Plastics World adopted as energy absorption material for use in
48,No.12,Nov.1990,p.19 automobile bumpers. The foam combines the stiffness of
POLYOLEFIN FOAM OUTPERFORMS PUR PS with the toughness of PE. The material will be
Lodge C marketed as a replacement for PP.
SEKISUI PLASTICS CO.LTD.
Dow Plastics is to unveil a new resilient polyolefin foam,
JAPAN
Strandfoam, which offers packagers of lightweight
electronic equipment and components reduced package Accession no.406839
size, and savings in materials and shipping costs.
Strandfoam is made of a special blend of PE and is Item 414
produced by a proprietary extrusion process that yields Japan Chemical Week
fused strands of closed-cell foam with a network of air 31,No.1589,27th Sept.1990,p.14
channels parallel to the foam strands. Strandfoam provides CFC-FREE FOAMING PROCESS FOR PP BEADS
the required levels of protection with substantially smaller DEVELOPED: JSP CORP.
volumes of foam compared to urethane.
JSP Corp. has established a CFC-free foaming process
DOW PLASTICS for non-crosslinked expandable PP beads, trade named
USA
P-Block. An air/carbon dioxide-based foaming agent is
Accession no.409379 used which causes no environmental problems. P-Block
has strong thermal and oil resistance and has high-level
Item 411 repeated compressive strength. It has been used as core
Modern Plastics International material for car bumpers and shock absorbing packaging.
20,No.12,Nov.1990,p.40/2 JSP CORP.
PP FOAM SHEET CAN BE EXTRUDED ON JAPAN
CONVENTIONAL EQUIPMENT Accession no.406660

110 © Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited

 References and Abstracts

Item 415 USA

Kunststoffe German Plastics Accession no.400897
79,No.10,Oct.1989,p.101-3
POLYPROPYLENE FOAMED PLASTIC - A
Item 418
PACKAGING MATERIAL WITH SPECIAL
Polymer Degradation and Stability
PROPERTIES
24,No.4,1989,p.327-33
Haardt U G
PROPERTY CHANGES IN INJECTION
BASF AG
MOULDED POLYPROPYLENE STRUCTURAL
(For German version see Kunststoffe,79,No.10, FOAM
Oct.1989,p.1036-9). Polypropylene foams exhibit good Touleschkov N;Djoumaliisky S;Kotzev G
cushioning behaviour, low density, high energy absorption BULGARIA,ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
and damping properties as well as good design potential.
Isotactic PP (Buplen 7523) with AIBN (Genitron EPA)
This article describes their processing characteristics and
blowing agent was injection moulded on an in-line
possible application areas. 1 ref.
injection moulding machine KuASY 800/250 and on a
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; WEST GERMANY; WESTERN
two-stage Siemag Structomat 2000/7. Melt temp. was
EUROPE
varied from 200 to 260C. The properties studied were
Accession no.405378 density distribution, flow index and mechanical properties
(TS, impact strength and residual deformation). Injection
Item 416 moulding caused specific structural changes in the PP
Polymer Engineering and Science including strong crosslinking, which affected the
30,No.13,Mid-July 1990,p.783-97 properties of the structural foam components. 5 refs.
LOW DENSITY FOAMS PRODUCED FROM BULGARIA; EASTERN EUROPE
SHEARED ULTRA-HIGH-MOLECULAR- Accession no.399065
WEIGHT POLYETHYLENE GELS
Matthews F M;Hoffman D M
LAWRENCE LIVERMORE NATIONAL Item 419
LABORATORY Cellular Polymers
8,No.4,1989,p.259-76
Low density foam (0.02-0.09 g/cc) was produced from MULTIPLE-IMPACT PERFORMANCE OF
gels of ultra high molec.wt. PE (GUR and UHMW-1900) HIGH-DENSITY POLYETHYLENE FOAM
in solvents with melting points above ambient. Solvents Mills N J;Hwang A M H
were bibenzyl, naphthalene, durene, p-xylene, decalin, BIRMINGHAM,UNIVERSITY
1-chloronaphthalene and tetralin. The hot solutions were
stirred at high speed to induce extended chain crystalline Strains in the 80-90% region are found to cause some
gels. These gels were cooled to solidify the solvent and permanent buckling of the cell walls, but the majority of
then the solvent was extracted with alcohol or sublimed. the deformation recovers with 24h. A criterion for the
Crystal structures were studied. Use of small particles of performance of the foam in protective helmets is
tungsten or carbon black as nucleating agents was proposed. With HDPE foam the performance can
investigated. 71 refs. deteriorate by 30% in a single severe impact, but even
so, this is better than the PS foam widely used. 8 refs.
USA
Accession no.405340 BXL PLASTICS LTD.; COURTAULDS ADVANCED
MATERIALS
UK; WESTERN EUROPE
Item 417 Accession no.397457
Packaging Technology & Science
3,No.2,April/June 1990,p.117-22
EFFECTS OF MULTIPLE IMPACTS ON THE Item 420
CUSHIONING PROPERTIES OF CLOSED-CELL Modern Plastics International
FOAMS 20,No.3,March 1990,p.12/4
Totten T L;Burgess G J;Singh S P AIR DUCTS IN PP FOAM
MICHIGAN,UNIVERSITY Hoechst have developed a process that sucks the parison
Details are given of the change in cell structure of a close- onto the mould walls in blow moulding equipment, thereby
cell foam due to multiple impacts and the range of producing lightweight hollow parts with good insulation
application of cushion curves as they relate to reusable properties. The process was developed for foamed PP air
packaging. Cushion curves and stress-strain curves for ducts for cars. A description is given in the article.
up to 15 compressions were generated for three different HOECHST AG
moulded closed-cell PE foams. WEST GERMANY; EUROPEAN COMMUNITY
Accession no.394381

© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited 111

 References and Abstracts

Item 421 (For German version see Kunststoffe,79,March

Plaste und Kautschuk 1989,p.256-9). Polypropylene foams exhibit high energy
36,No.6,June 1989,p.204-7 absorption over a wide temp. range, high temp. stability
German and good resilience and have a density which is circa 40-
INCREASING THE DIMENSIONAL STABILITY 50% lower than that of other plastics foams with
OF PRODUCTS MADE FROM FOAMED AND comparable properties. These characteristics make PP
FILLED THERMOPLASTICS BY THE USE OF very attractive for use in the car industry. This paper
GAS COUNTERPRESSURE INJECTION considers its use for energy absorbing foam cores in
MOULDING bumper systems.
Piperov N L WEST GERMANY; EUROPEAN COMMUNITY
BULGARIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES Accession no.389949
The manufacture of products, e.g. containers and lids,
made from filled foamed PE by gas counter pressure Item 425
injection moulding was studied with special reference to Composites Plastiques Renforces Fibres de Verre
the effect of production conditions on dimensional Textile
stability. Results obtained are discussed and evaluated. 7 29,No.3,May/June 1989,p.371-3
refs. French
BULGARIA; EASTERN EUROPE OPTIMISED USE OF OMEGA REINFORCING
Accession no.393737 MATERIALS
Auge J M
Item 422 Examples are given of the use of extruded PE foam
Modern Plastics International sections in conjunction with other polymeric materials in
20,No.2,Feb.1990,p.12-3 the production of triangular, semicircular, rectangular and
AIR DUCTS ARE VACUUM-FORMED ON A trapezoidal profiles, e.g. beam-like structures in which
BLOW MOULDING MACHINE the rigid support may be of GRP. The foam can be bonded
with thermally-fusible adhesives or two-sided self
Hoechst has developed a method moulding PP foam
adhesive tape affixed to the foam prior to fabricating. A
automobile air ducts that optimise air flow and also
standard range of the foam products is available, but other
provide good sound and heat insulation. Machines are
types can be tailor-made.
adapted to suck the parison onto the mould walls rather
than to blow mould it. The process also uses a blowing SICOMIN
pin operating in reverse mode to create a partial vacuum Accession no.387436
inside the moulding in order to roughen its inner surface.
HOECHST AG Item 426
WEST GERMANY; EUROPEAN COMMUNITY Midland,Mi., c.1988, pp.12. 11ins. 3/11/89. Form
Accession no.392333 No.172-1246-88 AMS. 42C11-6124
DESIGN ENGINEER’S GUIDE TO ETHAFOAM
POLYETHYLENE FOAMS. HOW A UNIQUE
Item 423
COMBINATION OF PROPERTIES OFFERS
International Polymer Science and Technology
HUNDREDS OF PRODUCT DESIGN
16,No.8,1989,p.T/65-7
SOLUTIONS
PROPERTIES OF A PLASTIC FOAM BASED ON
DOW CHEMICAL CO.
A MIXTURE OF HDPE AND LDPE
Petrun’kin E B;Petrun’kina N V;Berlyant S The properties and characteristics of Ethafoam
M;Pleshanov V P polyethylene foam are described. It is a tough, lightweight,
closed cell PE foam, which is available in plank, sheet
2 refs. (Full translation of Plast.Massy,No.2,1989,p.16).
and round configurations, in a variety of strengths,
USSR; EASTERN EUROPE
densities and in three colours, white, blue and black and
Accession no.390618 a pink antistatic form. Fire retardant grades are also
available. Applications are illustrated which include
Item 424 cushioning, lining and sealing in the transport industry,
Kunststoffe German Plastics insulating and sealing in the construction industry,
79,No.3,March 1989,p.25-7 buoyancy aids and recreational protective applications,
POLYPROPYLENE FOAMED PLASTIC and packaging and materials handling.
Haardt U G USA
BASF AG Accession no.386346

112 © Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited

 References and Abstracts

Item 427 Item 431

Journal of Applied Polymer Science Plastics in Building Construction
37,No.8,April 1989,p.2153-64 13,No.1,1988,p.4
PREPARATION OF HYDROPHILIC POLYETHYLENE OUTER PIPE AND
POLYETHYLENE FOAM OF OPEN CELL TYPE POLYURETHANE FOAM PROTECT STEEL
BY RADIATION GRAFTING OF ACRYLIC ACID HOT STEAM PIPE IN MOSCOW DIRECT
Kaji K;Hatada M;Yoshizawa I;Kohara C;Komai K HEATING SYSTEM
JAPAN,ATOMIC ENERGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE;
Four complete extrusion lines for the manufacture of PE
SANWA KAKO CO.
pipes are described which are to be supplied by Battenfeld
4 refs. for Moscow’s district heating system. The heating system
JAPAN utilises freely layable steel pipes the conveying the
Accession no.382196 superheated steam, the steel pipes being protected and
insulated by means of the PE pipes. The cavity is filled
with an insulating layer of PU foam.
Item 428
Rubber World BATTENFELD EXTRUSIONSTECHNIK GMBH
USSR; WEST GERMANY
200,No.1,April 1989,p.51
BLACK EXPANDED POLYPROPYLENE Accession no.378283
A brief description is given of two new black grades of
Arpro expanded PP from Arco Chemical they are Arpro Item 432
5313 and 5319 and are destined for use in electronics and Cellular Polymers
military materials handling applications. 7,No.4,1988,p.297-308
ETHYLENE HOMO- AND COPOLYMER FOAMS
ARCO CHEMICAL CO.
USA
Eaves D E
BXL PLASTICS LTD.
Accession no.379841
The production and properties of ethylene homo- and
Item 429 copolymer foams with densities less than 50 kg/cu.m. are
Plastics in Building Construction reviewed. A brief historical summary is given, followed
13,No.1,1988,p.4 by a discussion of six key parameters as they relate to the
POLYETHYLENE FOAM BACKER ROD FOR properties and form of the foam. The diversity of the
PAVEMENT AND HIGHWAY JOINT SEALANT manufacturing processes available for foam production
BACKUP is illustrated by three distinct operating techniques. Stress-
strain curves are used to demonstrate the wide spectrum
Two types of PE foam backer rod, available from Applied of properties obtainable and examples of applications are
Extrusion Technologies, are briefly described. Type HBR given. 11 refs.
XL is for concrete pavements and type HBR is for highway
UK
use. The use of a backer rod in the joint, below the surface,
limits the depth of sealant placed on top of it, helps prevent Accession no.375768
excessive sealant use and prolongs sealant service life.
APPLIED EXTRUSION TECHNOLOGIES INC. Item 433
USA International Polymer Science and Technology
Accession no.378414 14,No.8,1987,p.T/63-5
SOLUBILITY OF GASES IN A POLYETHYLENE
MELT AND ITS IMPORTANCE FOR THE
Item 430
PREPARATION OF PLASTICS FOAMS BY A
Plastics in Building Construction
PHYSICAL METHOD
13,No.6,1989,p.3-7
Kolmacka J;Smilek P;Hanak J
EPS BASIS FOR STRUCTURAL SYSTEM
GOTTWALDOV,RESEARCH INST.FOR RUBBER &
The availability of an expanded PS sandwich panel PLASTICS
construction for structural floor and roof elements in the
1 ref. (Full translation of Plasty a Kaucuk,24,No.3,1987,
USA, under licence from Plastedil SA, is announced.
p.65)
Details of the Plastbau System are outlined and the
CZECHOSLOVAKIA
strength and energy saving features are noted. Diagrams
showing installation methods are also included. Accession no.373916
INVESTMENT HOLDINGS GROUP LTD.;
PLASTEDIL SA
USA
Accession no.378362

© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited 113

 References and Abstracts

Item 434 abstract includes all the information contained in the

International Polymer Science and Technology original article.
14,No.8,1987,p.T/89 BXL PLASTICS LTD.; DUNLOP SLAZENGER
USE OF PE FOAM AS A HEAT- AND MOISTURE- INTERNATIONAL LTD.
INSULATING ENVELOPE FOR A HEAT- UK
CONDUCTIVE SYSTEM (SUCH AS HOT-WATER Accession no.368684
PIPES)
Kudryashov V P;Kulikov Yu A;Dubyaga E G;
Item 438
Mikheeva N P
Kunststoffe
1 ref. (Full translation of Plast.Massy,No.3,1987,p.59A) 78,No.3,March 1988,p.237-41
USSR German
Accession no.373606 TECHNOLOGY FOR A FLEXIBLE
LIGHTWEIGHT MASS-PRODUCIBLE CAR
FRONT END
Item 435 Rodewald H L;Pauly A
International Polymer Science and Technology IAV INGENIEURGES.FUER AGGR.&
14,No.8,1987,p.T/88 VERKEHRS.MBH
INFLUENCE OF THE TYPE OF PHYSICAL
The passive protection of pedestrians from car front ends
BLOWING AGENT ON THE PROCESS OF
can be considerably improved, compared with present day
FOAM FORMATION FROM PE MELT
conventional constructions, by the use of a PE foam core
Kudryashov V P;Kulikov Yu A;Pavlov Yu N;
with a PU self-skinning foam jacket for this car
Mikheeva N P;Andreevskaya L V
component. The values achievable with such a flexible
1 ref. (Full translation of Plast.Massy,No.3,1987,p.58) front end as well as the effects on a dummy representing
USSR a pedestrian are investigated for an impact speed of 45
Accession no.373451 km/h. 3 refs.
WEST GERMANY
Accession no.366507
Item 436
Plastics and Rubber Weekly
Item 439
No.1266,17th Dec.1988,p.6
Plaste und Kautschuk
RUMPELSTILTSKIN (TEXAS STYLE)
35,No.2,Feb.1988,p.69-70
Dempster D
German
PE foams containing gold particles which can be moulded THERMAL STABILITY OF THIN-WALLED
or machined into shapes are being developed for INTEGRAL FOAM PRODUCTS
applications where atomic particle reflectance or Ivanov G;Gateva M;Colakova N;Sulamski K
absorption is needed. Uses in neutron radiation SOFIA,RESEARCH CENTER FOR
environments and in ion implantation technology are CONSTRUCTION POLYMERS
envisaged. Uses may also develop from the high electrical
A study was made of the effect of density of injection
conductivity of gold.
moulded, thin-walled, integral foam products made of
TEXAS A & M UNIVERSITY propylene copolymers, containing 20% PE, on their low-
USA
temperature properties. Results are discussed and
Accession no.370202 evaluated. 5 refs.
BULGARIA
Item 437 Accession no.364819
Plastics and Rubber Weekly
No.1260,5th Nov.1988,p.13 Item 440
PE FOAMS CUT GOALIE DISCOMFORT ANTEC 88.Proceedings of the 46th Annual Technical
Dunlop Slazenger’s ‘High Profile’ kickers for hockey Conference.
goalkeepers are made from three different grades of BXL Atlanta,18-21 April 1988,p.719-22. 012
Plastics’ closed cell foam. The inner, comfort layer is of PRODUCTION OF MICROCELLULAR FOAMS
Evazote ethylene copolymer foam; the middle layer is of IN SEMICRYSTALLINE THERMOPLASTICS
Plastazote closed-cell PE foam for energy absorption; and Colton J
the outer layer is of a denser Plastazote foam for strength GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
and durability. The kickers, which fit over conventional (SPE)
hockey boots, are said to be the lightest available and Difficulties in producing microcellular foams from
were used by the British Olympic hockey team. This semicrystalline polymers are discussed and nucleation

114 © Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited

 References and Abstracts
theory is considered. It is shown that microcellular foams
can be produced from PP (a semicrystalline polymer) by
processing above its m.p. (thereby producing an
amorphous material) and adding appropriate nucleating
agents. The nucleation theory is found to predict quite
well the number of cells produced and the effects of
processing parameters. Production of microcellular foams
from semicrystalline polymers is shown to require
accurate temp. control to assure that the nucleated cells
will not grow too large or too quickly. 15 refs.
USA
Accession no.363915
Item 441
ANTEC 88.Proceedings of the 46th Annual Technical
Conference.
Atlanta,18-21 April 1988,p.733-7. 012
STRUCTURE-PROPERTY RELATIONSHIP AND
ITS CORRELATION WITH THERMAL
BEHAVIOUR OF CROSSLINKED EXPANDED
EVA FORMULATION
Hadjiandreou P;Zitouni F
ALGERIAN INSTITUTE OF PETROLEUM
(SPE)
Using TGA, a correlation was established between the
rates of crosslinking and decomposition of
azodicarbonamide blowing agent in expanded EVA
preparation. The relationship between processing
conditions, properties and structure of cured EVA foams
was also examined. 11 refs.
ALGERIA
Accession no.363897
Item 442
Plastics Engineering
44,No.8,Aug.1988,p.53-5
MAKING MICROCELLULAR FOAMS FROM
CRYSTALLINE POLYMERS
Colton J S
GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
Microcellular foams are reported to offer superior
mechanical properties, while retaining the insulation
properties of conventional foams. Low gas solubility
resulting from the rigidity of the crystal lattice has
precluded their production in semi-crystalline polymers,
but a new process is said to have been experimentally
proven in PP. Aspects covered include production
difficulties, experimental details, results and conclusions.
USA
Accession no.360550
Item 443
International Polymer Science and Technology
12,No.12,1985,p.T51-3
RHEOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
EXTRUSION OF ARTICLES FROM FOAMED
THERMOPLASTICS
Nikolaeva N E;Sabsai O Yu;Malkin A Ya;Fridman M L
11 refs. Full translation of Plast.Massy,No.7,1985,p.33.
USSR
Accession no.359719
Item 444
Plastics and Rubber International
13,No.3,June 1988,p.3
BXL LAUNCHES NEW PE FOAMS FOR
ELECTRONICS
BXL Plastics’ ERP Division is to introduce new grades
of antistatic and conductive closed-cell crosslinked PE
and ethylene copolymer foam at the Internepcon
Exhibition to meet a growing demand from the electronics
industry, for ways of minimising the effect of static
electricity on circuits embodying static-sensitive devices,
particularly using metal oxide/silicone technology. Very
brief details are noted of Evazote C conductive closed-
cell, crosslinked ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer foam.
BXL PLASTICS LTD.,ERP DIV.
UK
Accession no.357352
Item 445
Plastics World
46,No.7,July 1988,p.62-5
TAKE-OUT FOOD: THE APPETITE FOR
PLASTICS GROWS
Lodge C
Changing lifestyles are reported to have created a 1.2
billion US dollars/wk. market for take-away foods, that
is growing at 18%/yr. The demand for proven take-away
food packaging, specifically oriented PS sheet and PS
foam, and crystallised PETP sheet, is continuing to grow
at a high rate. Although plastic is the dominant and fastest-
growing packaging material in the take-away food
business, it use is threatened by a variety of pending
legislation. Details are given of products available from
Amoco Foam Products, Amoco Chemical, Fina Oil &
Chemical, General Electric Plastics, Mobil Chemical and
Himont USA.
AMOCO CHEMICALS CORP.; AMOCO FOAM
PRODUCTS CO.; FINA OIL & CHEMICAL;
GENERAL ELECTRIC PLASTICS; HIMONT USA
INC.; MOBIL CHEMICAL CO.
USA
Accession no.357280
115
 References and Abstracts
Item 446
Plastics Industry News (Japan)
34,No.5,May 1988,p.67
HEAT RESISTANT PP SHEET
Furukawa Electric has commenced marketing a
lightweight heat insulating PP low foamed sheeting. It is
prepared by extrusion, and foaming 2-4 times by an inert
gas blowing agent. It can be used in temps of 120C, with
no resultant effects; it has a high mechanical strength.
Sheet thickness is controlled in the range 1-6mm;
maximum width is 1350mm. Food packaged by this film
may be heated in its package inside an electronic heater,
and served immediately. This abstract includes all the
information contained in the original article.
FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO.LTD.
JAPAN
Accession no.356580
Item 447
Modern Plastics International
18,No.6,June 1988,p.43-4
POLYOLEFIN FOAMS ARE SET TO TAKE ON
MORE PERFORMANCE JOBS
Mapleston P
Recent trends in new types of polyolefin foams are
highlighted. New grades include Alveolit TP PP foam
sheet from Alveo, Eperan PP expandable foam bead from
Kaneka for automotive applications, a physically
crosslinked PE foam with a thermoplastic elastomer
coating (Volex), Opcel open-cell PE foam from Alveo
for sound insulation and electrical applications, Evazote
C conductive crosslinked EVA foam from BXL,
Plastazote AS antistatic PE foam for cushion packaging
and Dyna-No-Motion PE foam for medical applications.
ALVEO AG; BXL PLASTICS LTD.;
KANEKAGAFUCHI CHEMICAL INDUSTRY
CO.LTD.
USA
Accession no.356440
Item 448
Plastics Industry News (Japan)
34,No.4,April 1988,p.51
PE THIN SHEETING
Brief details are presented on a PE multiporous thin
sheeting of open cell foam structure. Planned production
of the sheeting by Asahi Chemical and its application in
refrigerators for water adsorption use is outlined.
ASAHI CHEMICAL CO.LTD.
JAPAN
Accession no.356374
116
Item 449
Kunststoffe
77,No.9,Sept.1987,p.860-3
German
INJECTION MOULDED STRUCTURAL FOAM
MADE FROM POLYPROPYLENE
Hell J;Nezbedova E;Ponesicky J
PRAGUE,MATERIALS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
The method of structural foam moulding permits the
manufacture of foams with a compact skin and a cellular
core. The properties of such mouldings depend, among
other parameters, on the structure of the foam. This article
reports on a study of the influence of density, specimen
thickness, orientation and ambient temp. on mechanical
properties and chemical resistance of injection moulded
structural foams made from PP. Results are discussed with
reference to relationships between structure and
properties. 5 refs.
CZECHOSLOVAKIA
Accession no.353200
Item 450
Plastics and Rubber Weekly
No.1226,27th Feb.1988,p.8
ANTISTATIC AND CONDUCTIVE FOAMS
FROM BXL PLASTICS
BXL Plastics’ ERP division is introducing two new grades
of antistatic and conductive foams at this years
Internepcon exhibition at the Birmingham NEC in the
UK in March 1988. Brief details are given on conductive
closed-cell crosslinked EVA copolymer foam, Evazote
C, and antistatic PE foam Plastazote AS, both used for
electronics packaging.
BXL PLASTICS LTD.,ERP DIV.
UK
Accession no.353077
Item 451
Plastics News (Australia)
Oct.1987,p.30
CROSSLINKED LOW DENSITY PE AND EVA
FOAMS
Webster D
MICROCELL TECHNOLOGY CONSULTANTS LTD.
Brief details are given of the use of LDPE and EVA foams
in automotive and leisure applications. Examples
mentioned are car boot mats and interior mats, vehicle
trim, headlamp gaskets, and vibration absorbers, gym
mats, luggage, boat hull cladding, sports wear and
buoyancy aids.
AUSTRALIA
Accession no.350861
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
 References and Abstracts

Item 452
Plastics and Rubber Weekly
No.1217,12th Dec.1987,p.10/7
TRAINERS: GETTING DOWN TO BASICS - AND
FASHION
A review is presented of recent developments in sports
shoes; today’s trainers, which come in all colours and
shapes, with multilayer, multicolour soles for comfort and
aesthetic appeal, replace the former black canvas plimsoll
with rubber sole. Shoes are now designed specifically with
each sport in mind, although they have essentially the
same basic design with variations in the composition of
the sole.
WORLD
Accession no.349895
Item 453
Plastics Industry News (Japan)
33,No.9,Sept/Oct.1987,p.130
FOAM PE BOARD
Sekisui Kaseihin Kogy Co. has started production of
closed cell type PE foam board. The PE board has a low
density cushion effect and high heat insulation. Boards
will be produced with thicknesses of 40, 50 and 60mm in
1 metre widths for packaging, shock absorption and
moisture barrier uses. The company is already producing
PS and PU foamed materials. This abstract includes all
the information contained in the original article.
SEKISUI KASEIHIN KOGYO KK
JAPAN
Accession no.346450
reduces the risks of erosion, scour and the formation of
free spans, slows the movement of sediment so that
protective build up occurs around pipe and provides stable
beach and riser area runs. It is also effective as a fast
infill for free spans or around fixed installations and for
the stabilisation of dunes, sand bars and estuary or harbour
areas.
CEBO (UK) LTD.
UK
Accession no.343320
Item 456
Mechanics of Cellular Plastics. ed.by N.C.Hilyard
Barking,Applied Science Publishers Ltd.,1982, p.263-
322. R.ROOM. 6124
STRUCTURAL FOAMS
Throne J L
Thermoplastic structural foams with bulk densities not
less than 50% of the solid resin densities are considered.
Cellular morphology, uniform-density cell behaviour, the
I-beam concept in designing, core-density profile and the
role of the skin, mechanical properties, and ductile-brittle
transitions are discussed. 63 refs.
Accession no.207102

Item 454
Plastics Technology
33,No.11,Oct.1987,p.23
CLEAR PP SHEET FOR BLISTER PACKS
Very brief details are noted of Exxon Chemicals’ new,
low-cost PP sheet for pharmaceutical thermofilm fill-and-
seal blister packaging, designated Extrel XPP 603. It is
said to provide excellent clarity, gloss and moisture
barrier; at 10mm thickness, the sheet is said to provide a
moisture barrier equivalent to a 10mm PVC film with a
40gm PVDC coating.
EXXON CHEMICAL CO.
USA
Accession no.344813

Item 455
Oilman
May 1987,p.42
PLASTIC SEAWEED PROVES ITS WORTH
Cebo UK supply a closed-cell foamed PP seaweed, called
Cegrass, which is designed to protect pipeline installations
and other subsea equipment. The artificial seaweed

© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited 117

 References and Abstracts

118 © Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited


A ALKANE, 202 255
ABRASION RESISTANCE, 62 83
141 175 179 208
ABS, 111 296 456
ABSORPTION, 185 235 315 436
ACCELERATED AGEING, 299
375
ACCELERATED TEST, 299 375
ACCELERATOR, 136 168 169 293
ACCELEROMETRY, 297
ACCUMULATOR, 269
ACCUMULATOR HEAD, 312
ACETONITRILE, 310
ACOUSTIC INSULATION, 30
160 165 181 182 248 311 351
376 422 447
ACOUSTIC PROPERTIES, 182
ACRYLIC ACID, 240
ACRYLIC ACID COPOLYMER,
427
ACRYLIC POLYMER, 325
ACRYLIC RESIN, 325
ACRYLONITRILE
COPOLYMER, 340
ACTIVATED CARBON, 389
ACTIVATION ENERGY, 243 259
316
ACTIVATOR, 86 117 130 169
ADDITION POLYMERISATION,
246
ADHESION, 97 103 104 188 192
195 196 208 246 248 262 296
297 395
ADHESION PROMOTION, 104
262 296
ADHESIVE, 4 37 80 101 196 246
248 296 375 403
ADHESIVE TAPE, 158 196 237
403 425
AEROSPACE APPLICATION, 309
AGEING, 85 147 228 271 294 297
299 303 342 375
AGEING RESISTANCE, 347
AGRICULTURAL
APPLICATION, 303
AIBN, 418
AIR CIRCULATION, 41
AIR COOLING, 271 273
AIR DIFFUSION, 262
AIR DUCT, 420 422
AIR ENTRAPMENT, 410
AIR FLOW, 37 345 422
AIRBAG, 22
ALKALI METAL, 103
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
Subject Index
Subject Index
ALKENYL, 133
ALKOXYSILANE, 146
ALKYL HYDROXIDE, 271
ALKYLAMINE, 371
ALLYLAMINE, 372
ALPHA-OLEFIN COPOLYMER,
197
ALPHA-OLEFIN TERPOLYMER,
197
ALUMINIUM, 316 385 419
ALUMINIUM SILICATE, 43 50
55
AMMONIUM HALIDE, 293
ANISOTROPY, 38 57 153 174 406
ANNULAR DIE, 311
ANTIOXIDANT, 385
ANTI-SLIP PROPERTIES, 208
ANTISTATIC PROPERTIES, 91
302 426 427 444 447 450
APPEARANCE, 124 186 241 293
AQUEOUS DISPERSION, 103
ARGON, 185 233 235 321 339 433
ARRHENIUS FACTOR, 243
ARTIFICIAL HIP, 52
ARTIFICIAL KNEE, 52
ARTIFICIAL SEAWEED, 455
ASPECT RATIO, 314 419
ATOMIC FORCE MICROSCOPY,
149
ATTENUATED TOTAL
REFLECTANCE
SPECTROSCOPY, 149
AUTOCLAVE, 21 25 69 92 163
224
AUTOMOTIVE APPLICATION, 3
9 22 30 38 58 64 72 91 92 98
102 111 163 164 165 168 173
177 195 196 216 221 230 237
248 249 250 260 279 292 297
301 303 311 312 317 324 331
351 368 376 379 386 388 397
398 410 413 414 420 422 424
447 451
AZOBISFORMAMIDE, 14 18 40
51 53 86 107 117 118 135 157
218 234 248 253 269 277
AZOBISISOBUTYRONITRILE,
418
AZOCARBONAMIDE, 219
AZODICARBONAMIDE, 14 18
40 51 53 86 107 117 118 135
157 203 218 234 248 253 269
277 303 385 441
AZODICARBONIC ACID
DIAMIDE, 169 228
B
BACTERICIDE, 239
BANDAGE, 150
BARREL TEMPERATURE, 127
365
BARRIER LAYER, 101 244
BARRIER PACKAGING, 80 85
101
BARRIER PROPERTIES, 85 101
272 365
BARRIER RESIN, 101
BATCH PROCESSING, 215 303
BATTERY CASE, 164 406
BEADED POLYMER, 303
BEADS, 37 41 92 96 125 161 167
249 254 301 302 336 346 349
350 366 369 386 398 413
BENZENE, 316
BENZENE SULFONYL
HYDRAZIDE, 385
BENZISOTHIAZOLINONE, 239
BIAXIAL ORIENTATION, 59 193
356
BICARBONATE, 105 135
BICYCLE, 167
BINARY BLEND, 5
BINARY SYSTEM, 134
BIREFRINGENCE, 218
BLENDING, 11 28 368
BLISTER PACKAGING, 454
BLOCK COPOLYMER, 31 101
107 178 252 368
BLOW EXTRUSION, 19 74 79
BLOW MOULDING, 34 35 95 140
193 263 312 420
BLOW MOULDING MACHINE,
422
BLOWN FILM, 69 70 281 356
BOND STRENGTH, 296
BONDING, 102 188 248 262 296
309 318 425
BONDING AGENT, 246 248 296
375
BONE REGENERATION, 52
BORON NITRIDE, 201 298
BOUNDARY CONDITION, 299
314 345 359
BRANCHED CHAIN, 81 273
BRANCHING, 36 42 48 68 69 75
78 241 249 257 287 433
119

BREAKING STRAIN, 40
BREAKING STRESS, 168
BRITTLENESS, 101 311 456
BUBBLE FORMATION, 6 23 88
117 268 269 303 402
BUBBLE GROWTH, 23 25 81 117
BUBBLE STABILITY, 303
BUCKLING, 303 400
BUILDING APPLICATIONS, 92
158 165 239 272 299 303 309
375 404 405 430
BUILDING BLOCK, 239
BULK DENSITY, 247 345 456
BUMPER, 91 161 279 302 317 366
368 386 398 413 414 424 438
BUOYANCY AID, 348
BUTADIENE-ACRYLONITRILE
COPOLYMER, 40 196
BUTADIENE-STYRENE
COPOLYMER, 196
BUTANE, 31 42 78 245 265 335
342 347
BUTENE, 81
BUTENE COPOLYMER, 183
BUTYL RUBBER, 248
BUTYLENE, 81
BUTYLENE COPOLYMER, 183
C 207 213 246 248 259 262 273
CABLE INSULATION, 127 271
365 378 385
CALCIUM CARBONATE, 2 43
128 246
CALENDER, 144 194
CALIBRATION, 94 377
CAPILLARY DIE, 172
CAPILLARY FLOW, 443
CAPILLARY RHEOMETRY, 252
CAR MAT, 451
CARBON, 316
CARBON BLACK, 40 151 416
CARBON DIOXIDE, 12 17 19 21
25 75 92 123 138 139 171 185
194 204 207 215 222 233 235
262 273 275 276 280 294 306
315 316 321 332 339 342 347
365 407 433 435
CARBON MONOXIDE, 316
CARBOXYL GROUP, 334
CARBOXYLIC ACID, 334
CAST FILM, 80
CASTING, 287 316
CATALYSIS, 175
CATALYST, 5 7 31 92 93 107 114
154 196 223 224 232 241 249
292 385
CATALYTIC DEGRADATION,
120
Subject Index
385
CATAPHORESIS, 248
CAVITATION, 169
CELL COLLAPSE, 101 194 246
303 316 339 345
CELL COUNT, 123 344
CELL DENSITY, 19 21 26 42 48
50 53 74 75 78 79 105 123 128
157 172 204 207 244 273 275
284 314 315
CELL GROWTH, 80 101 117 168
169 194 198 273 275 303 314
315
CELL MORPHOLOGY, 12 18 19
54 74 79 101
CELL NUCLEATION, 19
CELL NUMBER, 159 194 314 341
CELL OPENING, 92 262
CELL SIZE, 14 18 19 21 34 39 42
50 53 57 65 74 75 79 101 116
117 125 128 139 168 169 182
194 204 241 246 247 259 270
273 289 303 314 315 345 380
419 440
CELL SIZE DISTRIBUTION, 314
CELL STRUCTURE, 2 14 16 17
18 19 21 29 34 57 63 74 75 78
81 84 85 101 117 123 135 142
151 168 169 172 174 194 203
275 303 308 314 315 332 334
359 380 384 385 400 419
CELLULAR, 53 111 271
CELLULAR CORE, 111
CELLULAR MATERIALS, 426
CFC, 299 303 344 345 359 402 411
414
CFC FREE, 175 182 302 375
CFC REPLACEMENT, 262 296
299 303 345 352
CFC-11, 299
CFC-114, 344
CFC-12, 344 359
CHAIN BRANCHING, 173 273
CHARACTERISATION, 14 34 36
48 69 76 77 78 79 83 116 191
210 215 222 227 268 270 306
310 326
CHARPY, 271
CHEMICAL BLOWING AGENT,
34 54 79 80 85 92 105 118 119
169 194 263 303
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION, 189
190
CHEMICAL CROSSLINKING, 92
CHEMICAL ETCHING, 86
CHEMICAL MODIFICATION, 28
86 136
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES, 194
279
CHEMICAL RECYCLING, 246
CHEMICAL RESISTANCE, 165
194 279 297 381 405 449
CHEMICAL SHIFT, 101
CHEMICAL STRUCTURE, 49 72
81 107 140 193 216 228 249
258 259 273
CHLORINATION, 293
CHLOROFLUOROCARBON, 299
303 344 345 359 402 411 414
CHLOROFLUOROHYDRO-
CARBON, 92 262
CHLOROFORM, 88
CHLORONAPHTHALENE, 416
CHROMATOGRAPHY, 136
CITRIC ACID, 75 101 105 135
142 303
CIVIL ENGINEERING, 429 455
CLADDING, 272
CLAMP FORCE, 62 73
CLAMPING UNIT, 56
CLARITY, 312 454
CLAY, 21
CLOSED LOOP CONTROL, 144
194
CLOSURE, 237
CLOTHING, 41 362
CLOTHING APPLICATION, 277
COACTIVATOR, 86
COALESCENCE, 15 42 81 198
204 273
COATHANGER DIE, 144 194
COATING, 4 37 141 212 318 379
395 447
COEFFICIENT OF EXPANSION,
81 271
COEXTRUSION, 80 101 144 194
244 260 296 311 312
COHESIVE STRENGTH, 296
COLD FEED, 14
COLOUR, 62 73 85 293 299 360
COLOUR CHANGING, 62 73
COMBUSTION PRODUCT, 374
COMMERCIAL INFORMATION,
91 98 111 144 161 163 366 397
422 426
COMPACTION, 318
COMPATIBILISATION, 28 121
COMPATIBILISER, 79 92 121 205
281 296
COMPLEX FORMATION, 385
COMPOSITE, 10 12 21 24 40 55
87 89 94 126 141 165 187 188
195 212 246 263 264 312 322
334 364 368
COMPOSITIONAL

DISTRIBUTION, 9
COMPOUNDING, 14 15 37 40 74
145 152 168 169 292
COMPRESSED AIR, 194 271
COMPRESSION, 14 38 40 83 85
94 166 167 213 243 245 259
266 380 400 419
COMPRESSION MODULUS, 1
43 99 192 243 246
COMPRESSION MOULD, 303
315
COMPRESSION MOULDING, 52
57 225 304 306 308 373 441
COMPRESSION PROPERTIES, 4
16 30 33 43 60 71 72 83 84 90
153 154 165 223 246 249 254
262 270 279 286 291 317 363
380 400 412 414 419
COMPRESSION SET, 9 30 33 76
83 113 148 154 166 168 261
279 291 317 412
COMPRESSION STRENGTH, 84
165 246 249 262 279 297 303
317
COMPUTER AIDED ANALYSIS,
299
COMPUTER AIDED DESIGN,
322
COMPUTER AIDED TESTING,
339
COMPUTER CONTROL, 62 111
COMPUTER MODEL, 85
COMPUTER PROGRAM, 145 206
299
COMPUTER SIMULATION, 67
85
COMPUTERISED ANALYSIS,
145
CONCRETE, 115 158 429
CONDUCTIVE MATERIALS, 261
450
CONDUCTIVE PLASTIC, 444
447
CONDUCTOR, 385
CONSTRAINED GEOMETRY,
175
CONSTRAINED GEOMETRY
CATALYST, 154
CONTACT ANGLE, 262
CONTACT MOULDING, 246
CONTINUOUS EXTRUSION, 314
CONTINUOUS MOULDING, 312
CONTINUOUS
VULCANISATION, 9
CONTINUUM MECHANICS, 40
CONTROL EQUIPMENT, 312 365
CONTROL SYSTEM, 62 85 111
CONTROLLABILITY, 156
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
Subject Index
CONTROLLED ATMOSPHERE,
404
COOLING, 62 73 85 88 108 144
152 194 199 204 205 229 271
273 304 308 311 314 315 326
365
COOLING RATE, 271 273 315
COOLING TIME, 62 73
COPOLYETHER, 107
COPOLYMER, 180 197 279
COPOLYMER COMPOSITION, 8
103 136 239
COPOLYMERISATION, 114 180
COPPER, 385
CORRELATION COEFFICIENT,
168
CORROSION, 141 248 261
CORRUGATED SHEET, 409
COSTS, 22 62 73 98 175 181 302
317 338 365 409 410
COUNTER-PRESSURE, 62 73
194 269
COUNTER-ROTATING
EXTRUDER, 123 314 344 359
COUPLING AGENT, 10 74
COVALENT BONDING, 262
CRACK RESISTANCE, 305
CRACKING, 296 368 385
CRASH, 297
CRASH RESISTANCE, 38 297
CRASH SIMULATOR, 297 412
CRASHPAD, 412
CREEP, 33 82 89 90 154 238 246
254 266 303 383 394
CREEP RECOVERY, 178
CREEP RESISTANCE, 184
CRITICAL SHEAR RATE, 319
333
CROSS BEAM, 195
CROSS HEAD DIE, 365
CROSS-POLARISATION, 101 315
CROSSLINK DENSITY, 66 168
169 262
CROSSLINKED, 29 36 39 62 66
73 92 120 145 151 174 175 178
179 184 206 210 212 241 261
268 306 308 319 333 405 441
CROSSLINKED COPOLYMER,
76 196
CROSSLINKED POLYMER, 165
196 228 232 319 333
CROSSLINKING, 7 8 17 25 36 44
62 65 76 84 92 100 113 146 148
149 155 157 163 168 169 196
200 206 216 219 221 223 224
225 237 253 258 262 267 293
300 303 319 333 343 355 360
367 393 395 397 418 419 447
CROSSLINKING AGENT, 49 117
351
CROSSLINKING RATE, 169
CRYSTAL GROWTH, 85
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE, 315
CRYSTAL TRANSITION, 339
CRYSTALLINITY, 12 69 77 78 79
80 85 101 114 121 130 215 219
237 246 249 252 259 260 308
315 339 381 416 419 445
CRYSTALLISATION, 26 44 71 85
134 145 215 245 315 339 387
416
CRYSTALLISATION RATE, 77
CRYSTALLISATION
TEMPERATURE, 78 79 100
315 339
CRYSTALLITE, 315
CURE RATE, 168 169 441
CURE TEMPERATURE, 9 168
293 296
CURE TIME, 9 62 73 83 141 293
296
CURING, 9 14 16 62 73 146 153
184 224 248 285 296 303
CURING AGENT, 7 8 16 49 65
100 117 136 146 148 168 169
248 258 293 303 304
CURING SYSTEM, 168
CUSHIONING, 43 139 162 175
181 197 211 261 289 302 303
325 331 379 382 392 405 411
412 415 426 452
CYANURIC ACID, 385
CYCLIC LOADING, 166
CYCLING, 297
D
DAMPING, 89 175 180 181 195
248 412 415
DART DROP, 368
DASHBOARD, 195
DATA COLLECTION, 111
DATA MANAGEMENT, 111
DATA TRANSMISSION, 378
DECALIN, 416
DECOMPOSITION, 15 95 168 169
212 271 303 306 441
DECOMPOSITION PRODUCT,
316
DECOMPOSITION RATE, 169
DECOMPOSITION
TEMPERATURE, 14 169 364
DECOMPRESSION, 88
DEFECTS, 73
DEFLECTION TEMPERATURE,
273
121

DEFORMATION, 37 38 43 88 89
132 213 266 291 295 303 317
368 383 394 400 412 419
DEFORMATION
TEMPERATURE, 165 194
DEGASSING, 236
DEGRADATION, 85 147 228 271
306 375 377 385 441
DEGRADATION PRODUCT, 316
385
DEGRADATION RATE, 316 385
DEGRADATION
TEMPERATURE, 316
DEGREE OF BRANCHING, 36
DEGREE OF CROSSLINKING,
36 76 206 225
DEGREE OF CRYSTALLINITY,
85 259 315
DEGREE OF FOAMING, 62 73
435
DEGREE OF
POLYMERISATION, 307 316
334 339
DEGREE OF UNSATURATION, 9
DELAMINATION, 104 296
DEMOULD, 296
DENSITY DISTRIBUTION, 262
DEPOLYMERISATION, 316
DESIGN, 22 56 98 166 181 295
378 415 426 452
DESIGN OF EXPERIMENTS, 38
54
DESORPTION, 171 315
DEVOLATILISATION, 240 344
DI-2-ETHYLHEXYL
PHTHALATE, 208
DIACRYLATE, 361
DIALKYL PEROXIDE, 248
DIALLYL PHTHALATE, 49
DIAZO COMPOUND, 360
DIBENZYLIDENE SORBITOL,
101
DICHLORODIFLUOROMETHANE,
359
DICHLOROFLUOROMETHANE,
359
DICUMYL PEROXIDE, 8 49 65
100 117 219 258
DIE, 3 6 25 26 144 194 260 273
280 312 314 344 356 359 387
DIE CUTTING, 242
DIE DESIGN, 193 276 287
DIE GAP, 75 344
DIE HEAD, 312
DIE PRESSURE, 276 339 344
DIE SWELL, 252
DIE TEMPERATURE, 19 105 127
359
122
Subject Index
DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES, 46
201 298 378
DIENE, 395
DIENE TERPOLYMER, 197
DIFFERENTIAL SCANNING
CALORIMETRY, 5 12 32 44
57 87 90 101 107 132 135 143
145 151 152 153 160 188 206
210 211 215 218 219 227 253
258 259 270 278 281 315 316
393 416
DIFFUSION, 81 88 90 169 171
236 254 262 303 314 315 339
345 359 380 385 404
DIFFUSION COEFFICIENT, 314
345 380
DIFFUSION RATE, 262 345
DIFFUSIVITY, 215 266 315 345
DIFLUOROETHANE, 327 335
DIHYDRAZIDE, 385
DIHYDRIC ALCOHOL, 361
DIIODOMETHYL
TOLYLSULFONE, 239
DIMENSIONAL CONTROL, 62
73
DIMENSIONAL STABILITY, 77
113 147 154 177 205 246 256
262 297 314 336 346 349 357
393 421 423
DIMETHACRYLATE, 361
DIMETHYLPHENYL
FLUORODICHLORO
METHYLTHIOSULFAMIDE,
239
DINITROSO
PENTAMETHYLENE
TETRAMINE, 14 136
DIOCTYL PHTHALATE, 208
DIPHENYLMETHANE
DIISOCYANATE, 262
DIRECT EXTRUSION, 80 303
DIRECT GASIFICATION, 80
DIRECT INJECTION, 260
DISPERSING AGENT, 290
DISPERSION, 103 332 344
DISPLACEMENT, 297
DISSIPATION FACTOR, 378
DISSOLUTION, 273
DIUREA, 385
DOMESTIC APPLIANCE, 92 98
111 296 331
DOMESTIC APPLICATIONS, 448
DOMESTIC EQUIPMENT, 92 98
111 448
DOSING, 16 84 144 285 365 423
DOUBLE BOND, 84
DRAW RATIO, 66 344
DRAWDOWN, 186
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
DRAWING, 72
DROP TEST, 320
DRY BLENDING, 142 152 176
DRYING, 74
DUAL DENSITY, 279
DUAL HARDNESS, 312
DUCTILE-BRITTLE
TRANSITION, 166
DUCTILITY, 101 205 456
DURABILITY, 234 311 437
DURENE, 416
DWELL TIME, 24 168
DYNAMIC MECHANICAL
ANALYSIS, 55 94 153 259
DYNAMIC MECHANICAL
PROPERTIES, 36 39 55 77 82
153 178 238 259
DYNAMIC MODULUS, 99 243
DYNAMIC PROPERTIES, 36 39
55 77 82 153 178 238 259 438
DYNAMIC RHEOLOGICAL
ANALYSIS, 7
DYNAMIC VISCOSITY, 212
DYNAMIC VULCANISATION,
384
E
EBULLATION, 205
ECONOMIC INFORMATION, 27
91 92 98 111 161 163 324 445
EIGEN VALUE, 345
ELASTIC MODULUS, 1 40 61
100 101 206 213 225 243 368
ELASTIC PROPERTIES, 5 8 55
89 116 168 236 259
ELASTICITY, 40 53 170 226 243
318 336 346 349
ELECTRIC CABLE, 46
ELECTRIC MOTOR, 73
ELECTRICAL APPLICATIONS,
177 261 385 406 447
ELECTRICAL CABLE, 46
ELECTRICAL CAPACITY, 164
ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY,
163 444 450
ELECTRICAL INSULATION, 385
ELECTRICAL MOTOR, 73
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES, 444
ELECTRICAL RESISTIVITY, 261
427
ELECTROCHEMICAL, 164
ELECTRON BEAM COATING,
379
ELECTRON BEAM CURING,
153 393
ELECTRON BEAM
IRRADIATION, 16 374

ELECTRON DIFFRACTION, 101
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY, 5 72
151 210 224 255 315
ELECTRON SCANNING
MICROSCOPY, 5 72 151 210
224
ELECTRONIC APPLICATIONS,
91 98 177 214 302 410 428 444
450
ELECTROSTATIC PROPERTIES,
147
ELONGATION, 85 108 209 271
276 278 281 297 318 374 383
ELONGATION AT BREAK, 50 53
77 101 128 139 260 261 291
341
ELONGATIONAL FLOW, 47
ELONGATIONAL VISCOSITY, 7
18 36 66 209 289
EMBOSSING, 86 195 305
EMISSION CONTROL, 92
ENCAPSULATION, 234
END GROUP, 361
ENERGY ABSORPTION, 22 38
43 64 82 101 163 165 175 180
181 194 195 242 248 249 279
297 317 363 368 405 413 414
415 424 437 453
ENERGY CONSERVATION, 152
ENERGY CONSUMPTION, 62 73
ENERGY DISSIPATION, 41 368
412
ENERGY EFFICIENCY, 262 302
ENERGY LOSS, 168
ENGINEERING APPLICATIONS,
89 248 297 381
ENGINEERING PLASTIC, 248
297 381
ENVIRONMENTAL
LEGISLATION, 92
ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION, 92 175
ENVIRONMENTAL STRESS
CRACKING, 296
ENVIRONMENTALLY
FRIENDLY, 52
EPOXIDE RESIN, 4 208 246
EQUILIBRIUM, 11 206 339
EROSION CONTROL, 455
ERROR ANALYSIS, 94
ETHANE, 202 294
ETHENE, 180
ETHENE COPOLYMER, 7 8 17
33 50 53 71 84 103 104 107 113
120 122 128 137 146 148 150
176 183 189 190 197 200 224
248 252
ETHER COPOLYMER, 107
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
Subject Index
ETHYLENE, 180
ETHYLENE ACRYLIC ACID
COPOLYMER, 392
ETHYLENE BUTENE
COPOLYMER, 134
ETHYLENE-
CHLOROTRIFLUOROETHYLENE
COPOLYMER, 201 298
ETHYLENE COPOLYMER, 7 8
17 33 50 53 71 84 103 104 107
113 120 122 128 137 146 148
150 176 183 189 190 197 200
224 248 252 293 300 305 332
334 337 351 371 372 427 432
439
ETHYLENE-OCTENE
COPOLYMER, 5 36 43 55 117
127
ETHYLENE-PROPYLENE
COPOLYMER, 96 101 103 137
153 183 303 355 368
ETHYLENE-PROPYLENE
TERPOLYMER, 134
ETHYLENE-PROPYLENE-
DIENE TERPOLYMER, 9 11
14 40 136 168 169 196 299 341
375 384
ETHYLENE-PROPYLENE-
NORBORNENE
TERPOLYMER, 136
ETHYLENE-STYRENE
COPOLYMER, 76 154 162 182
413
ETHYLENE-STYRENE
INTERPOLYMER, 175
ETHYLENE-VINYL ACETATE
COPOLYMER, 5 8 16 33 62 73
76 90 94 108 113 132 143 153
155 163 178 179 208 234 237
238 239 246 261 266 267 285
303 304 308 317 383 394 441
444 447 450 451 452
ETHYLENE-VINYL ALCOHOL
COPOLYMER, 80 101 244 340
ETHYLIDENE NORBORNENE
COPOLYMER, 136
ETHYLIDENE NORBORNENE
TERPOLYMER, 169
EXPANSION, 39 54 62 73 81 83
134 149 155 168 169 174 178
204 206 210 238 248 256 271
279 290 301 303 314 317 334
342 359 366 378 394 404 428
EXPANSION COEFFICIENT, 81
210 271 293 332
EXPANSION JOINT, 429
EXPANSION MOULDING, 102
EXPANSION RATIO, 8 15 42 48
78 100 103 110 124 125 139
148 157 165 264
EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN, 22
EXPLOSIVE DECOMPRESSION,
169
EXTENDER, 169
EXTENSION, 40
EXTENSIONAL FLOW, 257 401
402
EXTENSIONAL STRESS, 281
EXTENSIONAL VISCOSITY, 47
281 401
EXTRUDATE, 14 185 235
EXTRUDER, 14 19 48 62 68 69 73
74 85 95 106 123 142 144 170
172 194 208 217 233 240 260
271 273 275 276 280 314 344
359 365 402 431
EXTRUDER HEAD, 271
EXTRUSION BLOW
MOULDING, 95 193 312
EXTRUSION BLOWING, 19 74
79 271
EXTRUSION COATING, 257 277
EXTRUSION COMPOUNDING,
74
EXTRUSION RATE, 9 129
F
FABRIC, 58 277
FAILURE, 246 271 296 385
FALLING WEIGHT, 153 400
FANCY GOODS, 234
FASTENING, 248
FATIGUE, 166 368 456
FATTY ACID, 359
FATTY ACID AMIDE, 371 372
FATTY ACID ESTER, 278 371
372
FEED-BLOCK, 144 194
FEED ZONE, 194
FEEDER, 73 194
FEEDING, 73 194 271
FEEDSTOCK, 27
FERROUS AMMONIUM
SULFATE, 427
FIBRE, 134 165
FIBRE CONTENT, 246 368
FIBRE GLASS, 221
FIBRE ORIENTATION, 368
FIBRE-REINFORCED PLASTIC,
24 74
FIBRIL, 165
FICK’S SECOND LAW, 345 380
FILL FACTOR, 169
FILLERS, 2 10 11 21 43 50 53 74
101 128 139 151 207 246 305
123
 Subject Index

323 341 385 421 FOURIER TRANSFORM GEL POINT, 7

FILMS, 5 59 80 109 158 193 216
257 276 277 278 281 307 311
313 356 368 377 385 443
FILTRATION, 389
FINISHING, 92
FINITE DIFFERENCE
ANALYSIS, 359
FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS,
67 85 167 217 322
FIRE PROTECTION, 165
FIRE RESISTANCE, 403
FLAME PROOFING, 92
FLAME RESISTANCE, 305 376
FLAME RETARDANT, 92 374
376 379 389 426
FLAME TREATMENT, 262
FLAMMABILITY, 195 297 305
345 374 376 379 403
FLAT DIE, 194 260
FLAW, 50 128
FLEXIBILITY, 58 92 120 139 146
183 189 190 242 293 300 338
389 438
FLEXURAL MODULUS, 30 63
246 273 303
FLEXURAL PROPERTIES, 4 13
30 34 63 77 85 160 177 194
214 227 246 248 273 297 313
413 456
FLOATATION, 158 302
FLOOR, 158 239
FLOOR COVERING, 86
FLOW DIAGRAM, 378
FLOW PROPERTIES, 192
FLOW RATE, 273 275 344
FLOW RESTRICTION, 103
FLUORINE, 404
FLUOROHYDROCARBON, 222
FOAM-CORE, 302 366
FOAM-FILLED, 248
FOAM INJECTION, 248 296
FOAM RISE, 262 296
FOAMING TEMPERATURE, 157
FOGGING, 58
FOOD-CONTACT
APPLICATION, 101 196
FOOD PACKAGING, 3 30 54 80
91 101 140 177 194 220 244
249 311 381 388 408 411 445
446
FOOTBALL, 33
FOOTWEAR, 33 62 73 76 90 108
113 179 208 267 437 452
FORM-FILL-SEAL, 101 244
FORMING, 3 165 194 229 422 454
FORMULATION, 14 15 49 51 59
107 253 280 281 282 304 306
INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY,
101 285 374
FRACTION, 57
FRACTURE MORPHOLOGY, 2 5
8 15 17 20 24 32 45 48 50 51
52 61 68 81 88 128 132 134
135 153 172 193 198 207 218
219 226 245 259 269 276
FRACTURE SURFACE, 273 275
315
FRAGMENTATION, 316
FREE RADICALS, 177 257 385
FREE-RADICAL INITIATOR, 186
221 247
FREEZING POINT, 339
FREON, 435
FRIABILITY, 262
FRICTION, 85
FUNCTIONALITY, 49 84 121 177
FURNACE BLACK, 40
FURNITURE, 312 368 379 409
FUSION, 102 188 316
FUSION BONDING, 318
G 427
GAMMA-IRRADIATION, 285
GAS ABSORPTION, 185 235 315
GAS ANALYSIS, 316
GAS COUNTERPRESSURE, 269
421
GAS DESORPTION, 315
GAS DIFFUSION, 262 303 314
315 345 380
GAS EVOLUTION, 14 135 206
303
GAS EXCHANGE, 404
GAS FORMATION, 169
GAS INJECTION, 311 365 378
GAS INJECTION MOULDING,
46
GAS PERMEABILITY, 85 101
236 255 303 345 380
GAS-PHASE, 139 167 199 206
210 213 235 266 270 303
GAS RELEASING, 81
GAS SOLUBILITY, 233 273 314
315 339 344 433
GAS TRANSPORT, 380
GASIFICATION, 80 199
GEL, 285 308 416
GEL CONTENT, 17 49 65 84 157
184 206
GEL FRACTION, 16 84 285 303
423
GEL PERMEATION
CHROMATOGRAPHY, 136
GELLING, 7 262
GLASS FIBRE, 221
GLASS FIBRE-REINFORCED
PLASTIC, 165 246 263 312
368 425 456
GLASS MAT, 246 368
GLASS MICROSPHERE, 89
GLASS TRANSITION
TEMPERATURE, 8 101 246
288 305 316 339
GLOVE BOX, 91
GLYCEROL ESTER, 147
GLYCEROL MONOSTEARATE,
68 342
GLYCERYL MONOSTEARATE,
347
GLYCIDYL GROUP, 334
GLYCOL POLYMER, 185 235
GOLD, 436
GONIOMETRY, 262
GRAFT COPOLYMER, 124 190
197 200
GRAFT COPOLYMERISATION,
247 427
GRAFT POLYMERISATION, 146
GRAFTING, 120 374
GRAIN SIZE, 95
GRANULE, 137
GRAVIMETRIC ANALYSIS, 24
152 226
GROWTH RATE, 27 302
GUANIDINE, 168
H
HALF-LIFE, 247
HALOGEN-FREE, 165 251 321
HALOGENATION, 86
HARDNESS, 16 50 53 76 83 99
128 168 242 266 271 384
HCFC, 92 262 296 299 314 344
353 354
HCFC-141B, 262 296 299
HCFC-142B, 344
HCFC-22, 314 344
HCFC-FREE, 175 182
HEAD REST, 91 297
HEADLINER, 22 302
HEALTH HAZARDS, 196 248
HEAT ACTIVATION, 365
HEAT AGEING, 297 299
HEAT CAPACITY, 359
HEAT DEFLECTION
TEMPERATURE, 165 194 279
302 368
HEAT DEGRADATION, 135 253

124 © Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited


HEAT DISTORTION
TEMPERATURE, 165 194
HEAT EXCHANGER, 345
HEAT FLOW, 67 299
HEAT FLUX, 299
HEAT INSULATION, 4 30 39 72
91 111 160 164 165 181 194
244 260 262 263 289
HEAT LOSS, 262 359
HEAT OF EVAPORATION, 88
HEAT OF FUSION, 315
HEAT RESISTANCE, 76 85 120
139 148 163 186 189 190 195
246 249 260 300 311 355 361
381 388 390 391 408 446
HEAT-SEALING, 120 189 190 300
HEAT SHRINKAGE, 76
HEAT STABILITY, 393 424
HEAT TRANSFER, 67 85 151 168
213 270 299 314 359
HEAT TREATMENT, 174 246
HEATING, 62 71 73 88 103 144
148 152 159 168 169 194 198
199 205 221 265 270 271 273
296 304 316 332 343 370
HEATING PRESS, 208
HEATING RATE, 35 168 316
HELIUM, 404
HELMET, 37 167 279 295 419
HENRY’S LAW, 339 344
HEPTAFLUOROPROPANE, 353
354
HEPTANE, 245
HFC, 92 222 353 354
HFC FREE, 182
HFC-152A, 335
HIGH DENSITY
POLYETHYLENE, 10 12 18 19
46 67 74 95 107 131 132 133 153
204 215 224 234 263 283 303
312 313 315 325 326 377 378
385 387 400 419 423 443 456
HIGH IMPACT
POLYPROPYLENE, 368
HIGH IMPACT POLYSTYRENE,
296 329
HOCKEY, 437
HOLLOW ARTICLE, 420
HOLLOW BODY, 95
HOMOGENISATION, 88 220 245
259 356 361
HOMOPOLYMER, 193 249 260
HONEYCOMB STRUCTURE, 38
165
HORSE RIDING, 313
HORTICULTURAL
APPLICATION, 91
HOSPITAL, 111
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
Subject Index
HOT AIR VULCANISATION, 14
HOT MELT ADHESIVE, 246 296
HOT PRESSING, 165
HOT STAGE MICROSCOPY, 198
315
HOT-WATER PIPE, 434
HYDRAULIC MOTOR, 73
HYDRAZIDE, 293
HYDROCARBON, 86 92 316 332
353 354
HYDROCARBON OIL, 385
HYDROCEROL, 275 284
HYDROCHLOROFLUOROCARBON,
92 262 296 299 314 344 353
354 411
HYDROFLUOROCARBON, 92
222 353 354
HYDROGEN, 316
HYDROGEN CYANIDE, 374
HYDROHALOCARBON
COMPOUND, 92 222
HYDROLYSABLE, 177
HYDROLYTIC STABILITY, 297
HYDROPHILICITY, 139 427
HYSTERESIS, 50 53 128 213 270
317
I INTERFACIAL ADHESION, 246
IMAGE ANALYSIS, 57
IMMISCIBILITY, 5
IMPACT, 38 41 254 297 419
IMPACT PROPERTIES, 13 22 33
34 37 38 41 44 64 70 82 85 87
89 91 98 101 119 141 153 160
167 194 195 215 246 254 263
264 271 273 295 302 313 320
325 334 381 400 412 417 418
419 438 452 456
IMPACT RESISTANCE, 37 91 141
211 263 279 418 452
IMPACT STRENGTH, 13 34 85
101 119 153 160 194 195 215
246 271 273 287 297 303 368
IMPREGNATION, 265 332 374
389
IN-MOULD SKINNING, 302
INCONTINENCE PRODUCT, 150
INDENTATION, 271
INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION,
181 242
INFRARED SENSOR, 85
INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY,
101 138 149 255 307 385
INHIBITORS, 86 92
INITIATORS, 186 221 247
INJECTION MOULD, 62 73 316
339 368
INJECTION MOULDING, 13 44
45 46 56 62 73 83 91 92 117
145 171 218 219 248 263 267
269 288 322 329 406 418 421
439 449
INJECTION MOULDING
MACHINE, 62 73
INJECTION PRESSURE, 62 73 83
288 296
INJECTION SPEED, 62 73 288
INJECTION STRETCH BLOW
MOULDING, 312
INJECTION TEMPERATURE, 62
73 83 296
INJECTION TIME, 73
INJECTION UNIT, 73
INJECTION VOLUME, 62 73
INSOLE, 108 179
INSULATION, 4 30 39 72 91 92
111 127 160 164 165 175 180
181 182 194 244 248 249 259
260 262 263 272 303 309 345
352 377 381 392 403 405 426
442
INSULATION PROPERTIES, 420
INTEGRAL SKIN, 302
INTEGRAL SKIN FOAM, 176
192 279 301 439
INTERFACIAL PROPERTIES,
388
INTERMEDIATE BULK
CONTAINER, 263
INTERNAL MIXING, 169
INTERNAL PRESSURE, 332
INTERNAL STRESS, 368
INTERPOLYMER, 76 131 175 180
182
INTRAMOLECULAR MOTION,
393
INTRINSIC VISCOSITY, 114
INVESTMENT, 98 111 161 391
397
IODINE VALUE, 136
ION IMPLANTATION, 436
IONENE POLYMER, 47 129
IONISING RADIATION, 221
IONOMER, 47 129 351
IRON, 316
IRRADIATION, 16 183 257 374
423
IRRADIATION CROSSLINKING,
84 92 157
IRRADIATION
POLYMERISATION, 427
ISOBUTANE, 16 30 47 147 170
307 327 328 330 335 342 345
347
125

ISOCYANATE, 92 262 296
ISOCYANATE INDEX, 262
ISOPENTANE, 207 273 275 284
ISOPRENE COPOLYMER, 186
ISOPRENE-STYRENE
COPOLYMER, 178
ISOTROPY, 345
IZOD, 215 246 273
K 33 44 47 49 57 61 65 69 70 77
K VALUE, 262 299
KAYAK, 192
KELVIN FOAM, 206
KINETIC ENERGY, 368
KINETICS, 11 258 314 315 316
KNEADING, 186
KNEE BOLSTER, 302
L 423 443 451
LAMELLAE, 88 245
LAMINATE, 101 102 109 158 162
181 194 212 296 299 318 322
334 338 362 364 385 451
LAMINATED FILM, 368
LAMINATED GLASS, 165
LAMINATION, 3 58 242
LANGIVIN EQUATION, 2 7 14
22 23 38 40 55 68
LATENT HEAT, 88 359
LATEX, 92
LAYER, 110 181
LEACHING, 52
LEGISLATION, 92 297 345 352
LIFE-JACKET, 214
LIFE-SAVING DEVICE, 214 348
LIFETIME PREDICTION, 299
LIGHT MICROSCOPY, 142 219
LIGHT SCATTERING, 218
LINE SPEED, 365
LINEAR LOW, 303
LINEAR LOW DENSITY
POLYETHYLENE, 29 35 66 70
71 100 109 119 120 122 132
142 153 172 189 190 191 198
226 227 281 283 300 307 312
331 346 349 355
LINING, 22 262 296 302 426
LIQUID CRYSTAL POLYMER,
165
LIQUID NITROGEN, 271
LIVING HINGE, 302
LOAD CELL, 85
LOAD-DEFLECTION, 410
LOADING, 43 303 313
LONG CHAIN, 207
126
Subject Index
LONG CHAIN BRANCHING, 249
257
LONG FIBRE, 165 368
LOSS FACTOR, 94
LOSS MODULUS, 243
LOSS TANGENT, 55 94 243
LOST-FOAM CASTING, 316
LOST PATTERN PROCESS, 316
LOW DENSITY
POLYETHYLENE, 16 19 20 32
80 84 88 94 109 122 131 132
142 147 153 158 175 178 180
184 185 189 190 199 200 206
210 213 217 219 224 231 232
233 236 238 241 249 251 255
258 266 270 271 277 281 283
285 286 300 303 307 312 313
314 321 325 339 345 346 349
359 372 377 378 380 383 394
LOW TEMPERATURE
PROPERTIES, 263 297 439
LUBRICATION, 52 92 184 271
LUGGAGE, 451
LUMPING, 344
M MELT FLOW RATE, 102 107 139
MACHINERY, 14 56 62 68 73 85
87 98 106 111 121 170 171 194
208 233 240 260 263 267 268
269 271 273 284 287 311 312
314 316 329 331 344 356 359
MACROSCOPIC PROPERTIES,
295
MAGIC ANGLE SPINNING, 101
MAGNESIUM SILICATE, 359
MALEIC ANHYDRIDE
COPOLYMER, 21
MARKET ANALYSIS, 92
MARKET GROWTH, 27
MARKET SHARE, 98 161 163
452
MARKET SURVEY, 445
MARKET TREND, 92 230
MASS FRACTION, 345
MASS RATIO, 345
MASS TRANSFER, 314
MASS TRANSPORT, 236
MASTERBATCH, 95 142 169 344
MATERIALS HANDLING, 426
428
MATERIALS REPLACEMENT,
33 80 92 140 165 175 194 214
246 279 287 365 407 411 413
452
MATERIALS SELECTION, 8 9
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
MATHEMATICAL MODEL, 1 57
60 149 236 240 332 387
MATRIX, 49
MATT FINISH, 179
MATTRESS, 389
MDI, 262
MEAT PACKAGING, 194
MECHANICAL ENERGY, 317
MECHANICAL PARTS, 168 169
248
MECHANICAL RELAXATION,
236
MECHANICAL STRENGTH, 139
148 289 305
MEDICAL APPLICATIONS, 58
111 150 447 454
MEDICAL EQUIPMENT, 111 163
MEDIUM-DENSITY
POLYETHYLENE, 271 281
287 377 378
MELT COMPOUNDING, 112 118
MELT ELASTICITY, 273 276 314
MELT ELONGATION, 249
MELT FLOW, 217 333 336 344
346 367 401 443
MELT FLOW INDEX, 36 84 96 97
120 122 137 189 190 200 271
273 276 300 319 337 361 411
252 349
MELT FLOW STABILITY, 260
MELT FRACTURE, 336 346 349
367
MELT PRESSURE, 193 194
MELT PROCESSING, 203
MELT PUMP, 144
MELT RHEOLOGY, 326
MELT STABILITY, 80
MELT STRENGTH, 30 31 46 47
64 72 81 131 156 170 173 183
193 194 225 230 249 257 260
273 283 287 317 350 369 401
408
MELT TEMPERATURE, 78 142
194 204 217 234 269 316 339
344 345 359
MELT TENSION, 102 251 287 321
MELT VISCOSITY, 156 186 194
314 344
MELT VISCOSITY INDEX, 36
122 137 271 273 276
MELTING, 65 145 205 215 315
316
MELTING POINT, 21 44 79 85 96
101 107 125 139 188 193 219
310 315 339 368 402 416 440
MELTING TEMPERATURE, 79
246 273
 Subject Index

MELTS, 47 186 203 204 205 269 MODIFIED ATMOSPHERE, 194 MOULDING FAULT, 73
339 433 435 249 MOULDING PRESSURE, 62 73
MERCURY POROSIMETRY, 326 MODULUS, 1 23 49 50 53 85 128 312
MESOPORE, 245 169 303 341 394 MOULDINGS, 323
METAL, 248 316 MOISTURE, 139 MOULDMAKING, 111
METAL ADHESION, 196 248 MOISTURE BARRIER, 351 MOULDS OF POLYMERS, 316
METAL ALLOY, 316 MOISTURE CONTENT, 139 MULTIAXIAL, 312
METAL CASTING, 316 MOISTURE CURING, 146 MULTI-COLOUR, 311
METAL COMPLEX, 385 MOISTURE REGAIN, 427 MULTILAYER, 4 67 80 87 101
METAL DEACTIVATOR, 385 MOISTURE RESISTANCE, 434 102 104 119 263 287 311 312
METAL ION, 351 453 334 373
METAL OXIDE, 278 MOISTURE VAPOUR MULTI-STATION, 62 73
METAL SALT, 103 TRANSMISSION, 37
METALLOCENE, 5 7 31 84 86 93 MOLE FRACTION, 339
100 107 182 223 224 232 237 MOLECULAR MOTION, 393
N
241 292 MOLECULAR STRUCTURE, 49 NANOCOMPOSITE, 21
METALLOCENE COPOLYMER, 72 81 107 140 189 190 193 216 NAPHTHALENE, 416
196 228 249 258 259 273 303 317 NAPPY, 150
METALLURGY, 316 383 388 449 NATURAL FIBRE-REINFORCED
METHACRYLATE POLYMER, MOLECULAR WEIGHT, 9 18 65 PLASTIC, 24
419 69 109 120 133 136 246 255 NATURAL RUBBER, 14
METHACRYLIC ACID 257 263 300 307 312 316 334 NEOPRENE, 196
COPOLYMER, 103 336 339 346 349 367 416 NEUTRALISATION, 351
METHYL ACRYLATE, 248 MOLECULAR WEIGHT NEWTONIAN, 212
METHYL ACRYLATE DISTRIBUTION, 9 65 69 93 NITROGEN, 20 39 61 88 151 163
COPOLYMER, 17 114 120 189 190 200 319 300 185 201 224 233 235 298 303
METHYL BENZIMIDAZOLYL 333 336 346 349 367 306 339 365 374 380 394 419
CARBAMATE, 239 MONITORING, 26 433 435
METHYL METHACRYLATE MONOLAYER, 287 NOISE INSULATION, 30 160 181
COPOLYMER, 316 MONOMER, 177 316 361 182 248
METHYLENE CHLORIDE, 88 MONOMER RATIO, 9 NOISE REDUCTION, 248
METHYLENE GROUP, 361 MONTREAL PROTOCOL, 92 345 NOMENCLATURE, 207 215
MFI, 36 122 137 271 273 276 MOONEY VISCOMETER, 14 NON-CROSSLINKED, 165 166
MICROBALLOON, 89 MOONEY VISCOSITY, 9 136 169 247 331
MICROBEAD, 305 293 NON-HALOGENATED, 251
MICROFIBRE, 134 MOULD, 62 73 85 111 155 242 NON-ISOTHERMAL, 168 314
MICROGRAPHY, 10 53 149 316 386 NON-LINEAR, 82
MICROPELLET, 265 MOULD CAVITY, 323 373 NOTCHED IMPACT STRENGTH,
MICROPROCESSOR, 164 MOULD CLOSING, 62 73 271 273
MICROSCOPY, 10 87 143 149 191 MOULD COOLING, 62 315 NUCLEAR APPLICATION, 436
198 218 226 255 344 MOULD CYCLE, 111 NUCLEAR MAGNETIC
MICROSPHERE, 127 134 245 MOULD FILLING, 316 RESONANCE, 101 385
MICROSTRUCTURE, 39 88 273 MOULD HEATING, 62 108 NUCLEATING AGENT, 2 74 75
275 295 315 MOULD-IN-PLACE, 297 85 101 107 117 183 193 194
MICROWAVE, 388 MOULD MAKING, 111 205 207 271 275 276 280 294
MICROWAVE ABSORPTION, 168 MOULD OPENING, 62 73 314 342 344 347 416 440
MICROWAVE HEATING, 168 MOULD PACKING, 296 NUCLEATION, 2 6 19 23 25 54 74
MICROWAVE OVEN, 72 408 445 MOULD PRESSURE, 373 81 85 88 95 101 123 169 194
MICROWAVE MOULD RELEASE AGENT, 92 198 207 217 226 273 275 282
VULCANISATION, 168 MOULD SHRINKAGE, 62 284 303 314 315 341 344 359
MILDEW RESISTANCE, 239 MOULD TEMPERATURE, 62 73 387 435 440 442
MILITARY APPLICATIONS, 419 83 87 160 296 364 NUMBER-AVERAGE
428 MOULDABILITY, 290 361 MOLECULAR WEIGHT, 65
MISCIBILITY, 134 MOULDABLE, 399
MISSILE, 91 MOULDED, 137 139 159 211 221
MIXING, 14 88 98 108 112 168 264 297 O
169 199 201 229 262 265 273 MOULDING COMPOUND, 62 73
OBTURATOR, 85
296 298 303 311 344 365 108 125
OCTENE COPOLYMER, 7 50 53

© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited 127


84 128
OFFICE FURNITURE, 368
OFFSHORE APPLICATION, 141
OIL CONTENT, 169
OIL EXTENSION, 169
OIL RESISTANCE, 414
OILS, 150 169
OLEFIN, 395
OLEFIN COPOLYMER, 53 84 104
107 120 122 137 148 150 189
190 197 200 252 293 300 332
OPEN CELL, 16 101 146 168 169
197 243 245 262 273 303 326
357 374 389 427 447 448
OPTICAL CABLE, 271
OPTICAL MICROGRAPH, 14
OPTICAL MICROSCOPY, 191
218 226 315 416 456
OPTICAL PROPERTIES, 5 59 62
73 85 296 299 316 368
OPTIMISATION, 54 127 168 169
210
ORIENTATION, 38 45 59 193 218
318 449
ORTHOPHTHALIC POLYESTER
RESIN, 246
OVENWARE, 446
OXIDATION, 285 385
OXIDATIVE DEGRADATION,
285 316 385
OXIDATIVE STABILITY, 377
OXIDISATION, 316
OXYBISBENZENE
SULFONYLHYDRAZIDE, 14
169
OXYGEN, 419
OXYGEN ABSORPTION, 385
OXYGEN INDEX, 374
OZONE DEPLETION, 303 345
P PLANT CAPACITY, 386
PACKAGING, 3 30 43 58 72 80 85
91 92 98 101 102 144 166 173
181 184 194 214 220 230 237
242 246 249 260 261 279 302
303 311 312 320 324 325 368
381 386 388 408 409 410 411
414 415 417 422 426 445 450
453 454
PACKAGING APPLICATION,
242 289 382 415 450 453 454
PACKAGING CONTAINER, 408
411 421 445
PACKAGING FILM, 368
PACKAGING WASTE, 246
PACKING PRESSURE, 288
PADDING, 41
128
Subject Index
PAINTABILITY, 368
PALLET, 192 263 312 368
PANEL, 234 246 296
PARACRYSTALLINE, 85
PARISON, 102 312 420
PARTICLE, 242 247 332
PARTICLE ACCELERATOR, 436
PARTICLE SIZE, 101 169 260 271
344
PEEL STRENGTH, 188 196
PENDULUM TEST, 101
PENTANE, 411
PERMANENT SET, 418
PERMEABILITY, 52 85 101 138
253 254 255 261 266 299 307
434
PEROXIDE, 100 130 148 151 248
303
PHARMACEUTICAL
APPLICATION, 454
PHASE BEHAVIOUR, 134 215
PHASE MORPHOLOGY, 215
PHASE SEPARATION, 88 134
PHASE TRANSITION, 44 218
PHENOLIC ANTIOXIDANT, 385
PHENOLIC RESIN, 92 363
PHENYLENE OXIDE POLYMER,
445
PHOTOMICROGRAPHY, 53 419
PHTHALIC ANHYDRIDE, 262
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES, 39 44
50 79 83 85 96 101 107 125
128 139 178 188 189 190 192
193 208 219 283 304 327 330
341 399 402 410 456
PHYSICOCHEMICAL
PROPERTIES, 316
PIGMENT, 54 85 101 360
PIPE, 4 271 365 390 403 431
PIPE WRAPPING, 434
PIPELINE, 141
PLANT CONSTRUCTION, 161
163 366 386 391 397 398 414
PLANT EXPANSION, 98
PLASTICISATION, 62 73 273 314
315
PLASTICISE, 56 235 271
PLASTICISER, 150 185 208
PLASTIFICATION, 287
PLASTOMER, 104
PLATEN, 304
PLIABILITY, 141
POISSON’S RATIO, 33 266 270
POLARISATION MICROSCOPY,
315
POLARISED LIGHT
MICROSCOPY, 142 219
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
POLLUTION CONTROL, 352
POLYACETAL, 456
POLYALKENE, 15 20 21 39 52 61
63 64 82 84 88 92 94 100 120
129 132 135 152 153 166 167
174 177 178 183 196 204 209
223 224 232 238 241 245 254
259 266 269
POLYAMIDE, 248 312
POLYCARBONATE, 13 111
POLYCHLOROPRENE, 196 375
403
POLYENE, 120
POLYEPOXIDE, 4 246
POLYESTER POLYOL, 92 262
POLYESTER RESIN, 246
POLYESTER-URETHANE, 262
POLYETHER POLYOL, 92 262
POLYETHER URETHANE, 262
POLYETHYLENE
TEREPHTHALATE, 28 79 229
246 312 381 391 445
POLYGLYCOL, 185 235
POLYIMIDE, 389
POLYIONENE, 47 129
POLYISOCYANURATE, 299 375
POLYMERIC ADDITIVE, 235
POLYMERIC CARRIER, 234
POLYMERIC MICROSPHERE, 89
POLYMERIC PLASTICISER, 185
POLYMERIC PROPERTY
MODIFIER, 109
POLYMERIC
REINFORCEMENT, 165
POLYMERIC TACKIFIER, 150
POLYMERISATION, 70 114 180
246
POLYMERISATION
CATALYSTS, 7 31 93 107 114
196 223 224 232 241 249 292
POLYMERISATION
COCATALYST, 292
POLYMERISATION INHIBITOR,
427
POLYMERISATION INITIATOR,
247
POLYMERISATION
TEMPERATURE, 247
POLYMETHACRYLATE, 419
POLYMETHACRYLIMIDE, 286
POLYMETHYLMETHACRYLATE,
111 203 316
POLYOL, 92 262 296 371 372
POLYPHENYLENE OXIDE, 38
297 381 445
POLYSTYRENE, 38 80 91 92 98
121 131 194 203 214 222 229
231 246 260 272 287 295 296

297 303 311 316 317 325 340
344 353 354 359 363 371 378
386 402 419 430 445 456
POLYUREA, 262
POLYURETHANE, 38 73 92 111
141 149 165 208 223 246 262
277 295 296 297 299 317 363
375 389 431 438 452
POLYURETHANE ELASTOMER,
37
POLYURETHANE ESTER, 262
POLYVINYL BUTYRAL, 165
POLYVINYL CHLORIDE, 92 196
208 246 277 287 353 354 378
POLYVINYLBENZENE, 80 92
203 260
PORE SHAPE, 52
PORE SIZE, 52 129 245 285 416
PORE STRUCTURE, 88 153
POROSIMETRY, 326
POROSITY, 10 39 52 129 243 245
384 416 448
PORTABLE, 111
POST CURING, 62 73
POST-EXTRUSION, 339 345
POST-MOULD, 62
POUR-IN-PLACE, 262
POWDER, 119 130 169 212 264
334
PRECIPITATION, 128
PREFORM, 312
PREFORMING, 248
PRESS MOULDING, 221
PRESSURE CONTROL, 62 73 144
194
PRESSURE DEPENDENCE, 19
83
PRESSURE DROP, 194 204 207
273 314 344
PRESSURE FORMING, 92
PRESSURE RESISTANCE, 99
PRESSURE SENSITIVE TAPE,
196 277
PRINTED CIRCUIT, 444
PROCESS CONTROL, 35 62 73
85 365
PROCESSABILITY, 5 30 31 35 66
69 72 78 87 154 189 190 283
287 327 330 401 402 405
PROCESSING, 6 14 15 16 21 48
52 56 80 92 120 127 169 170
192 204 207 215 218 229 238
269 280 288 301 304 384 389
415 431 440 441 443
PROCESSING AID, 92
PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT, 37
144
PRODUCT LIABILITY, 297
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
Subject Index
PRODUCTION CAPACITY, 98
161 163 366 391 448
PRODUCTION COST, 62 73 311
PRODUCTION RATE, 365
PROPANE, 134 245 335 342 347
PROPENE COPOLYMER, 21 59
101 114 124 125 137 183 186
193 205 209 224 247
PROPYLENE COPOLYMER, 21
59 101 114 124 125 137 183
186 193 205 209 224 247 368
383 439
PROPYLENE-ETHYLENE
COPOLYMER, 96 101 103 137
183
PROTECTIVE AGENT, 426
PROTECTIVE CLOTHING, 33 37
41 295 313 419
PROTECTIVE PACKAGING, 181
279 295 398
PROTOTYPE, 62 73
PTFE, 419
PULL TEST, 296
PULLING FORCE, 47
PULLING SPEED, 47
PULVERISATION, 121
PUNCTURE RESISTANCE, 141
PURITY, 58
PYROLYSIS, 316
Q REPRODUCIBILITY, 377
Q VALUE, 136
QUALITY, 73 80 168
QUALITY CONTROL, 62 73 85
296
QUENCHING, 88 273 315
R 212 221
R-VALUE, 299
RADIATION ABSORPTION, 436
RADIATION CROSSLINKING,
84 92 157 303
RADIATION CURING, 16 184
285
RADIATION GRAFT, 374
RADIATION
POLYMERISATION, 427
RADIO FREQUENCY
INSULATION, 378
RAILWAY APPLICATION, 165
RANDOM COPOLYMER, 31 101
103 125 137 312 355 368
REACTION INJECTION
MOULDING, 111
REACTIVE BLENDING, 28 368
REACTIVE EXTRUSION, 28 170
REACTIVE POLYMER, 395
REACTIVE PROCESSING, 170
REBOUND RESILIENCE, 76 113
RECIPROCATING SCREW, 56
RECLAIMING, 48 85 92 109 230
246 324 340 368 397
RECREATIONAL APPLICATION,
426
RECRYSTALLISATION, 315
RECYCLABILITY, 80 121 165
192 221 242 279 331
RECYCLING, 12 31 91 92 121
126 192 214 221 230 242 246
279 311 324 368 382 386 390
395 397 410
REFLECTANCE
SPECTROSCOPY, 149
REGENERATION, 208
REGRESSION ANALYSIS, 299
REGRIND, 54
REINFORCED PLASTICS, 12 13
24 55 74 89 141 165 187 195
212 246 263 312 322 368 425
REINFORCED RUBBER, 40
REINFORCED
THERMOPLASTIC, 246 368
RELATIVE DENSITY, 53 55
RELATIVE HUMIDITY, 271
RELAXATION TIME, 314
RELEASE AGENT, 92
RESEARCH, 54 85
RESIDENCE TIME, 24 168
RESIDUAL STRESSES, 168
RESILIENCE, 76 101 111 113 129
133 184 194 211 264 279 334
389 424
RESIN, 97 112 120 129 155 202
RESIN TRANSFER MOULDING,
246
RESPONSE SURFACE
METHODOLOGY, 38
RHEOLOGICAL PROPERTIES, 5
7 14 15 18 21 30 34 36 47 48
53 66 69 70 72 79 101 112 168
169 170 171 173 193 194 222
226 246 262 271 273 283 296
303 314 344 359 368 396 401
402 408 443
RHEOLOGY, 5 7 18 21 30 34 36
47 48 66 69 70 72 79 101 112
168 169 170 171 173 193 194
222 246 262 271 273 396
RHEOMETER, 14 170 198 222
243
RHEOMETRY, 168 226
129

RIGIDITY, 92 110 146 192 194
221 262 263 296 297 311 318
364 368 388 389
RISE RATE, 262
ROLL FORMING, 165
ROOFING, 221 299 405 430
ROTATIONAL BLOW
MOULDING, 34 35
ROTATIONAL MOULDING, 15
23 34 35 51 87 112 118 119 130
152 160 176 187 191 192 198
226 227 337
ROTATIONAL RHEOMETER,
198
ROUGHNESS, 271
RUBBER, 9 11 14 40 43 62 73 84
111 126 128 136 143 148 149
153 168 169 179 187 196 197
206 208 211 212 229 248 250
262 264 274 288 293 294 299
329 341 362 368 371 372 384
452
RUBBER-MODIFIED, 179 288
RUBBER-TOUGHENED, 179
RUNNING SHOE, 90
S SHEAR, 6 167 217 314 344 387
SAFETY, 38 62 297 317
SAFETY HELMET, 279
SAG RESISTANCE, 287
SAND, 316
SAND EROSION, 455
SANDAL, 62
SANDWICH CONSTRUCTION,
242
SANDWICH MOULDING, 322
SANDWICH PANEL, 246
SANDWICH STRUCTURE, 13
111 242 246 248 318 430 438
SATURATION TIME, 315
SBR, 196
SCALING LAW, 82
SCANNING ELECTRON
MICROGRAPH, 5 72 151 210
224
SCANNING ELECTRON
MICROSCOPY, 5 10 21 32 50
72 90 128 132 151 153 207 210
215 224 259 273 275 286 307
310 315 341 396 400 416 419
SCORCH, 168
SCORCH INHIBITOR, 92
SCORCH TIME, 168
SCRAP, 62 73 246 368
SCRAP POLYMER, 48 109 115
121
SCRAP REDUCTION, 62 73 410
130
Subject Index
SCREENCHANGER, 144
SCREW, 56 62 73 194
SCREW DESIGN, 144 193
SCREW EXTRUDER, 19 95 142
144 172
SCREW FLIGHT, 194
SCREW SPEED, 83 127 142 194
271 273
SEAL, 165 168 237 248
SEALANT, 150 351 429
SEALING, 426
SEAT, 91 162 368
SEED TRAY, 98
SEMICONDUCTOR, 27
SEMICRYSTALLINE, 20 85 215
440
SENSITISER, 84
SENSOR, 85 138
SEPARATING AGENT, 199
SEPARATION, 199
SEQUENTIAL COEXTRUSION,
312
SEQUENTIAL INJECTION
MOULDING, 302
SERVICE LIFE, 52 164 299 429
SHAPE FACTOR, 314
SHAPE-MEMORY, 293
SHEAR ENERGY, 6
SHEAR FORCE, 344
SHEAR MODULUS, 40 169
SHEAR PROPERTIES, 5 22 123
222 246 262
SHEAR RATE, 69 273 314 336
344 346 349 367 387
SHEAR RHEOLOGY, 18
SHEAR STRENGTH, 246 262
SHEAR STRESS, 222
SHEAR THINNING, 5
SHEAR VISCOSITY, 176 402
SHEARING, 89
SHEET, 54 57 61 63 70 80 85 86
101 104 108 110 123 129 141
158 169 193 194 199 216 221
234 242 244 246 249 259 260
261 276 287 296 303 305 314
315 340 343 359 370 381 388
390 408 409 411 426 446 447
448 454
SHINGUARD, 33
SHIPPING CONTAINER, 312
SHOCK ABSORPTION, 72 175
180 181 405 414 451 453
SHOCK ABSORBING
PACKAGING, 30 102 162 320
324 325 382 447
SHOE, 62 73 90
SHOE SOLE, 90 155 179
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
SHOT SIZE, 15
SHRINKAGE, 62 73 85 87 100
105 160 227 262 296 297 393
SILANE, 177 190 237
SILANE COPOLYMER, 197
SILANE GROUP, 120 196
SILICA, 11 43 53 341
SILICATE, 2 75 107 117
SILICON COPOLYMER, 107
SILICON DIOXIDE, 11 43 53
SILICONE COPOLYMER, 107
SIMULATION, 67 85 217 258 270
296 314 380
SINGLE-COMPONENT, 111
SINGLE-SCREW EXTRUDER, 48
68 95 142 144 172 194 271 273
275 276 280
SINGLE SITE CATALYSIS, 175
SINTER, 317
SINTERING, 15 350 369
SKIN, 110 111 130 246 312 377
385
SKIN-CORE, 35
SKIN FORMATION, 35
SKIN-INSERT MOULDING, 98
SLABSTOCK, 92
SLAG, 115
SLIT DIE, 6
SLOT DIE, 6
SLURRY, 265
SODIUM BENZOATE, 54
SODIUM BICARBONATE, 10 75
101 142 253 303
SOFT-TOUCH, 175 195
SOFTENING, 297
SOFTENING POINT, 265
SOFTENING TEMPERATURE,
103 332
SOFTNESS, 148 180 297 311 384
SOFTWARE, 38
SOLES, 33 62 73 76 90 155 179
452
SOLID STATE, 101 246
SOLID STATE
POLYMERISATION, 246
SOLUBILITY, 17 168 215 273 314
315 339 344
SOLUBILITY PARAMETER, 134
262
SOLUTE, 339
SOLUTION, 20 39 88 245
SOLUTION POLYMERISATION,
70
SOLUTION VISCOSITY, 314
SOLVENT, 245 305 310 416
SOLVENT ABSORPTION, 310
SOLVENT EXTRACTION, 310
SOLVENT REMOVAL, 416
 Subject Index

SOLVENT RESISTANCE, 165 STRAIN AT BREAK, 168 SURFACE PROPERTIES, 87 97

SOLVOLYSIS, 92 STRAIN GAUGE, 296 228 271
SORPTION, 171 215 307 315 403 STRAIN HARDENING, 66 205 SURFACE RESISTIVITY, 427
433 213 257 270 287 SURFACE STRUCTURE, 271
SOUND ABSORPTION, 182 214 STRAIN RATE, 39 43 82 178 SURFACE TENSION, 169 262
243 376 STRENGTH, 58 111 120 165 189 282 314 344
SOUND DAMPING, 302 190 260 300 312 318 426 437 SURFACE TREATMENT, 262 318
SOUND INSULATION, 30 160 446 343
165 181 182 248 376 422 STRESS, 43 166 168 206 254 261 SURFACE VEIL, 246
SOYBEAN OIL, 208 266 281 303 314 318 402 SURFACTANT, 92 199
SPECIFIC GRAVITY, 148 165 208 STRESS ANALYSIS, 303 SURFBOARD, 318
287 341 STRESS CRACK RESISTANCE, SURGICAL APPLICATION, 52
SPECTROSCOPY, 149 385 260 111 447 454
SPHERULITE, 85 315 STRESS CRACKING, 296 368 SWELLING, 11
SPHERULITIC GROWTH, 85 STRESS RELAXATION, 50 89 SWELLING RATIO, 49
SPONGE, 9 168 169 128 223 SYNDIOTACTIC, 77
SPORTS APPLICATION, 33 318 STRESS-STRAIN PROPERTIES, SYNERGISM, 168 169
452 14 40 43 82 90 168 206 213 SYNTACTIC FOAM, 89 127
SPORTS EQUIPMENT, 37 163 225 254 266 268 270 303 325 SYNTHESIS, 93 189 190 440
167 279 303 437 451 363 380 400 417 419 432 SYNTHETIC RUBBER, 143 149
SPORTS SHOE, 33 62 73 76 437 STRETCH BLOW MOULDING,
452 312
SPORTSWEAR, 41 437 STRETCH RATIO, 296 344
T
SPRAY DRYING, 74 STRETCHING, 59 206 271 344 TABLEWARE, 446
SPRUE, 269 STRUCTURAL FOAM, 45 64 165 TACKIFIER, 150 351
STABILISATION, 73 76 81 116 263 269 318 418 449 456 TAGUCHI CONCEPT, 94
195 199 246 249 273 365 STRUCTURAL PART, 302 TALC, 2 75 107 117 207 271 276
STABILISER, 92 205 228 371 372 STRUCTURAL PROPERTIES, 75 344
385 STRUCTURE-PROPERTY TANDEM EXTRUDER, 48 69 74
STAMPING, 364 RELATIONSHIP, 85 149 303 378 402
STANDARD, 22 92 297 313 377 315 TANDEM EXTRUSION, 24 74
419 STYRENE, 180 316 303 378 401
STATIC DISSIPATION, 91 98 STYRENE COPOLYMER, 8 33 71 TEAR RESISTANCE, 70 76 83
STATIC ELECTRICITY, 426 427 113 316 184
444 447 450 STYRENE-ISOPRENE TEAR STRENGTH, 16 50 53 70
STATIC ELECTRICITY COPOLYMER, 178 76 83 128 148 184 261 297 341
ELIMINATOR, 106 STYRENE-METHYL TELECOMMUNICATIONS
STATIC MECHANICAL METHACRYLATE APPLICATION, 46 377 378
PROPERTIES, 238 COPOLYMER, 316 385
STATIC PROPERTIES, 297 SULFENAMIDE, 136 168 TELEVISION, 91 378
STATIC RESISTANCE, 261 SULFONHYDRAZIDE, 248 TEMPERATURE CONTROL, 62
STATISTICAL ANALYSIS, 22 SULFUR, 136 169 73 85 144 194 260 312 440
STATISTICAL COPOLYMER, 312 SULFUR VULCANISATION, 169 TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE,
355 368 SUN VISOR, 250 19 34 35 55 75 78 83 119 127
STATISTICAL MODEL, 38 SUPERCRITICAL FLUID, 56 142 168 169 210 314
STATISTICS, 27 92 163 324 445 SUPERCRITICAL GAS, 21 245 TEMPERATURE
STEARAMIDE, 147 SUPERCRITICAL SOLUTION, DISTRIBUTION, 168 345 359
STEARATE, 359 134 TEMPERATURE
STEEL, 419 431 SUPERSATURATION, 314 344 FLUCTUATION, 164
STEREOREGULAR SURFACE ACTIVE AGENT, 92 TEMPERATURE PROFILE, 168
POLYMERISATION, 114 199 315 359
STIFFNESS, 4 77 85 160 177 194 SURFACE AREA, 169 245 314 TEMPERATURE RANGE, 311
214 227 248 297 313 413 SURFACE CHARGE, 427 TEMPERATURE RESISTANCE,
STORAGE LIFE, 380 SURFACE DENSITY, 246 242
STORAGE MODULUS, 55 60 94 SURFACE EXPANSION, 343 TEMPERATURE SENSITIVITY,
99 SURFACE FINISH, 119 169 179 297 359
STRAIN, 40 55 167 261 270 314 263 311 406 TENSILE MODULUS, 85 211 276
317 380 419 SURFACE FREE ENERGY, 6 280

© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited 131


TENSILE PROPERTIES, 5 11 13
16 18 40 50 53 61 77 84 85 87
101 105 119 128 139 149 160
166 167 168 186 206 211 215
225 246 261 262 271 276 278
280 285 317 341 383 418
TENSILE STRENGTH, 11 13 16
18 40 50 53 77 84 85 87 105
128 160 168 186 246 261 262
271 276 280 281 291 296 297
303 341 368 374
TENSILE STRESS, 206 271 296
TENSIOMETRY, 262
TENSION, 393
TERNARY SYSTEM, 134
TERPOLYMER, 183
TESTING, 22 25 30 38 54 67 89
184 193 195 243 270 313 339
345 375 377 393 396 399 400
401 404 412 417 439 442
TETRAFLUOROETHANE, 328
330
TETRAFLUOROETHYLENE
POLYMER, 419
TETRAHYDROFURAN, 310
TETRALIN, 416
THERMAL AGEING, 299
THERMAL ANALYSIS, 24 87 101
135 145 152 160 227 310 315
316 377
THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY, 39
57 61 67 80 115 151 178 192
194 238 246 261 262 270 279
291 299 314 359 375 403 434
THERMAL CYCLING, 296
THERMAL DECOMPOSITION,
212 334 361
THERMAL DEGRADATION, 135
253 316
THERMAL DIFFUSIVITY, 314
359
THERMAL EXPANSION, 39 174
178 206 210 238 271 285 305
393
THERMAL HISTORY, 20 315
THERMAL INSULATION, 4 30
39 72 91 111 160 164 165 181
194 244 260 262 263 289 299
302 311 345 352 388 390 403
404 422 431 434 442 451 453
THERMAL PROPERTIES, 5 8 19
32 34 44 57 61 67 79 85 89 101
115 131 143 174 178 194 210
238 245 246 262 270 271 273
299 314 315 316 339 344 345
359 368 393 434 441 442
THERMAL RADIATION, 151
THERMAL RESISTANCE, 414
132
Subject Index
THERMAL RESISTIVITY, 299
THERMAL SHRINKAGE, 76 370
THERMAL STABILITY, 76 85
120 139 148 163 186 189 190
195 246 249 260 300 311 355
361 368 381 388 390 391 393
408 414 424 446
THERMAL TRANSITION, 131
THERMODYNAMIC
STABILITY, 273 288
THERMOFORMABILITY, 80 85
194 244 287
THERMOFORMING, 38 54 63 72
85 101 104 111 144 194 195
242 257 261 296 303 311 350
368 370 454
THERMOGRAM, 101 315 377
THERMOGRAVIMETRIC
ANALYSIS, 24 90 135 152 198
226 316 441
THERMOPLASTIC
ELASTOMER, 17 126 127 209
212 229 312 334 384 447
THERMOSET, 4 37 73 96 97 111
112 133 141 155 165 187 197
221 235 246 261 262 296 297
299 319 333 363 375 389 414
425 431 438
THIOPHOSPHATE, 168
TITANIUM DIOXIDE, 101
TOLUENE, 305 316 344
TOLUENESULFONYL
HYDRAZIDE, 169
TORQUE, 168
TOUGHNESS, 4 120 175 180 183
189 190 242 300 336 346 349
361 408 413
TOXICITY, 196 248
TOYS, 239
TRANSMISSION ELECTRON
MICROSCOPY, 5 21 72 151
210 224
TRANSMISSION OPTICAL
MICROSCOPY, 315
TRANSPORT APPLICATION, 309
TRANSPORT INDUSTRY, 426
TRANSPORT PROPERTIES, 380
TRIALLYLCYANURATE, 49 65
TRIAZINE THIOL, 293
TRIAZOLE, 86
TRIFLUOROETHANE, 328 330
TRIMETHYLOLPROPANE
TRIMETHACRYLATE, 49
TWIN-SCREW EXTRUDER, 123
170 217 233 311 314 344 359
TWO-ROLL MILL, 14
TWO-STAGE
COPOLYMERISATION, 114
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
U
UNDERWATER APPLICATION, 4
455
UNIAXIAL COMPRESSION, 213
UNSATURATED POLYESTER,
246
URAZOLE, 385
UREA, 86 136
UV RESISTANCE, 195
V
VACUUM FLASK, 262
VACUUM FORMING, 3 194 422
VACUUM MOULD, 390
VAPOUR BARRIER, 158
VAPOUR PHASE, 344
VAPOUR PRESSURE, 194 344
VAPOUR TRANSMISSION, 261
VAPOURISATION, 316
VARIABLE PRESSURE
FORMING, 92
VEHICLE BONNET, 438
VEHICLE BOOT, 322
VEHICLE DOOR, 322
VEHICLE INTERIOR, 302
VEHICLE ROOF, 221
VEHICLE SEAT, 91 379
VEHICLE SHELL, 22 248 322
VEHICLE TRIM, 177 292 388 395
451
VIBRATION DAMPER, 72 451
VIBRATION DAMPING, 175 180
181 195 248
VIBRATIONAL
SPECTROSCOPY, 255
VINYL ACETATE-ETHYLENE
COPOLYMER, 5 76 143 155
VINYL COPOLYMER, 124 247
VINYL ESTER COPOLYMER,
305 337
VINYL PHOSPHONATE, 374
VISCOELASTIC PROPERTIES, 8
55 82 89 99 116 205 236 243
254 259 266 289 314 325 359
400 419
VISCOSITY, 5 7 14 15 18 36 47 53
66 69 70 101 114 168 169 170
171 176 194 198 209 212 226
246 262 273 283 287 303 314
344 359 374 387 396 401 402
VOID RATIO, 12
VOID VOLUME, 380
VOLATILITY, 139 207 344
VOLUME CHANGE, 26 262 380
384 404
VOLUME CONTRACTION, 380
 Subject Index

VOLUME FRACTION, 40 359 WOOD FLOUR, 10

VOLUME RESISTIVITY, 261 WOOD REPLACEMENT, 165
VULCANISATE, 43 55 128 341 WOUND DRESSING, 150
VULCANISATION, 9 14 168 169 WOVEN FABRIC, 277
293 384
VULCANISATION TIME, 9 62 73
83 141
X
VULCANISING AGENT, 136 X-RAY DIFFRACTION, 45 101
255
W X-RAY SCATTERING, 45 101 255
XYLENE, 310 416
WALL PANEL, 430
WALL THICKNESS, 63 85 111
194 256 259 289 314 345 365
Y
WALLPAPER, 305 YELLOWING, 228
WARPAGE, 85 87 119 160 227 YIELD POINT, 271
WASTE, 115 246 368 YIELD STRENGTH, 273 276
WASTE RECOVERY, 92 YIELD STRESS, 254 266 313
WASTE WATER, 389 YOUNG’S MODULUS, 1 40 61
WATER, 11 139 185 235 262 265 100 101 206 213 225 243 368
WATER ABSORPTION, 11 14 248
261 279 291 368 403 427 448
WATER BLOWN, 262 Z
WATER CONTENT, 139
ZERO SHEAR VISCOSITY, 198
WATER COOLING, 194
ZIEGLER-NATTA CATALYST,
WATER HEATER, 262
249
WATER PIPE, 403 434
ZINC CARBAMATE, 136
WATER RESISTANCE, 139 165
ZINC DICYANATODIAMINE,
WATER SWELLABLE, 11
169
WATER TREATMENT, 389
ZINC OXIDE, 51 86 117 118 168
WATER VAPOUR
169 258 341 342 347
PERMEABILITY, 434
ZINC SALT, 169
WATER VAPOUR
ZINC STEARATE, 117
TRANSMISSION, 261
WAX, 147 150 271
WEAR RESISTANCE, 62 83 141
179 208
WEATHER STRIPPING, 169
WEATHERING, 293
WEIGHT AVERAGE
MOLECULAR WEIGHT, 124
209
WEIGHT RATIO, 136 247 273
WEIGHT REDUCTION, 3 13 72
92 164 194 195 244 260 302
311 312 410
WELDING, 323 368
WET SUIT, 293
WETTABILITY, 262
WETTING, 296
WIDE ANGLE X-RAY
SCATTERING, 307
WILHELMY PLATE, 262
WIRE COVERING, 390
WOOD FIBRE, 12 74
WOOD FIBRE-REINFORCED
PLASTIC, 24 74
WOOD FINISH, 158

© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited 133

 Subject Index

134 © Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited

 Company Index

Company Index
A GMBH, 431 UNIVERSITY, 16 84
BATTENFELD GLOUCESTER CINCINNATI,UNIVERSITY, 245
AACHEN,INSTITUT FUR ENGINEERING CO.INC., 106 363
KUNSTSTOFFVERARBEITUNG, BAYER AG, 111 169 228 CLARKSON UNIVERSITY, 288
75 BECTON,DICKINSON & CO., 329 359
AALBORG,UNIVERSITY, 89 223 COLOMBIA,UNIVERSITY, 57 61
AIROFOAM AG, 338 BEIJING,NORMAL 94 143 151 174
AKRON,UNIVERSITY, 384 UNIVERSITY, 285 CONVENIENCE FOOD
ALCATEL-CABLERIE BELFAST,QUEEN’S SYSTEMS BV, 244
SENEFFOISE, 378 UNIVERSITY, 34 54 85 105 COURTAULDS ADVANCED
ALGERIAN INSTITUTE OF 135 MATERIALS, 419
PETROLEUM, 441 BERSTORFF CPL HARTMEYER, 389
ALVEO AG, 447 H.,MASCHINENBAU GMBH, CREME ART CORP., 362
AMB SRL, 101 229 CROMPTON/UNIROYAL
AMERICAN INGREDIENTS CO., BERSTORFF CHEMICAL, 9
147 H.,MASCHINENFABRIK CRYOVAC INC., 104
AMERICAN TRADING & GMBH, 246 CSI, 317
PRODUCTION CORP., 234 BFT PLASTICS, 263
AMETEK CORP.,MICROFOAM BIRMINGHAM,UNIVERSITY, 33
DIV., 409 167 213 254 266 270 295 313
D
AMOCO CHEMICALS CORP., 325 400 419 DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP., 22
445 BOEHRINGER, 135 DOW CHEMICAL CO., 22 30 38
AMOCO CORP., 340 BOGOTA,UNIVERSIDAD DE 64 72 76 77 113 116 131 154
AMOCO FOAM PRODUCTS COLOMBIA, 153 162 175 180 182 220 256 274
CO., 445 BOREALIS, 4 26 31 34 42 48 78 296 303 319 321 327 328 330
API SPA, 179 170 173 177 192 276 280 333 335 336 346 349 357 358
APPLIED EXTRUSION BP CHEMICALS BELGIUM SA, 367 382 426
TECHNOLOGIES INC., 429 378 DOW CORNING CORP., 146
ARCO CHEMICAL CO., 428 BP CHEMICALS LTD., 378 383 DOW DEUTSCHLAND INC., 131
ARMSTRONG WORLD 394 154 251 268
INDUSTRIES INC., 86 BRITISH BOARD OF DOW EUROPE SA, 392
ARPECHIM SA, 157 AGREMENT, 403 DOW PLASTICS, 410
ASAHI CHEMICAL CO.LTD., 448 BROCK USA, 37 41 DSM NV, 209
ASAHI KASEI KOGYO KK, 289 BRUCKNER MASCHINENBAU DSM RESEARCH, 255 307
ASTRO-VALCOUR INC., 371 372 GMBH, 59 DU PONT DOW ELASTOMERS,
AT & T BELL LABORATORIES, BRUNEL UNIVERSITY, 326 50
377 385 BULGARIAN ACADEMY OF DUNLOP SLAZENGER
AT PLASTICS INC., 267 SCIENCES, 44 45 145 218 219 INTERNATIONAL LTD., 437
AUSIMONT SPA, 201 298 269 418 421 DUPONT DE NEMOURS E.I.,&
BXL PLASTICS LTD., 419 432 CO.INC., 240 351
437 444 447 450 DUPONT ELASTOMERS, 128
B
BARCELONA,ESCOLA C E
TECNICA SUPERIOR
D’ENGINYERS CAIRO,UNIVERSITY, 40 EARTH & OCEAN SPORTS INC.,
INDUSTRIALS, 153 CANADA,NATIONAL 343
BASF AG, 164 302 368 399 412 RESEARCH COUNCIL, 7 17 ELECTROLUX AB, 111
415 424 36 117 222 272 EQUISTAR CHEMICALS LP, 130
BASF CORP., 265 279 297 301 CANNON GROUP, 111 EXXON CHEMICAL CO., 248
BASF ESPANOLA SA, 368 CEBO (UK) LTD., 455 454
BASF PLC, 324 399 CERSIM, 2 EXXON CHEMICAL PATENTS
BASF UK LTD., 322 CHANG GUNG,UNIVERSITY, 87 INC., 93
BATTENFELD 119 160 227 EXXON RESEARCH &
EXTRUSIONSTECHNIK CHUNGBUK,NATIONAL ENGINEERING CO., 134

© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited 135


F POLYMERS LTD., 360
FAGERDALA WORLD FOAMS
AB, 242
FERRO CORP., 292
FINA OIL & CHEMICAL, 445
FORD MOTOR CO., 322
FULLER H.B.,LICENSING &
FINANCING INC., 150
FURUKAWA ELECTRIC
CO.LTD., 446
G RESEARCH INSTITUTE, 374
GAIKER, 246
GENERAL ELECTRIC
PLASTICS, 445
GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF
TECHNOLOGY, 440 442
GMP, 111
GOTTWALDOV,RESEARCH
INST.FOR RUBBER &
PLASTICS, 433
GRAND POLYMER CO.LTD.,
140
GRAZ,UNIVERSITAT, 45
GREAT LAKES CHEMICAL
CORP., 353 354
H INDUSTRY CO.LTD., 124 447
HAPPICH GMBH, 250
HIMONT INC., 350 369 396 401
402 408 411 445
HITACHI CHEMICAL CO., 405
HOBOKEN,POLYMER
PROCESSING INSTITUTE,
276
HOECHST AG, 420 422
HS CORP., 208
I INSTITUTE, 60 99 243
IAV INGENIEURGES.FUER
AGGR.& VERKEHRS.MBH,
438
ICPE SA, 157
IDEMITSU PETROCHEMICAL
CO.LTD., 96
IKV, 168 171
IMCOA, 345
IMPERIAL COLLEGE, 236 380
INDIAN INSTITUTE OF
TECHNOLOGY, 43 50 53 55
128 341
INDUCEL LTDA, 318
INDUSTRIAL THERMO
136
Company Index
INSTITUT FUER
CHEMIEFASERN, 246
INVESTMENT HOLDINGS
GROUP LTD., 430
IOWA,UNIVERSITY, 286
ISTANBUL,TECHNICAL
UNIVERSITY, 363
ITALPRODUCTS SRL, 144 194
J MICHIGAN,UNIVERSITY, 404
JAPAN ATOMIC ENERGY
427
JAPAN SYNTHETIC PAPER CO.,
390
JILIN,UNIVERSITY, 11
JSP CORP., 102 125 159 188 211
247 290 331 332 366 386 398
407 414
JSP INTERNATIONAL, 161 195
366
K INDUSTRIES LTD., 221 293
KANEKA CORP., 97 103 139 186
302
KANEKAGAFUCHI CHEMICAL
KAOHSIUNG,POLYTECHNIC
INSTITUTE, 258
KING MONGKUT’S INSTITUTE
OF TECHNOLOGY
THONBURI, 166
KINGSTON,QUEEN’S
UNIVERSITY, 5
KOREA,INSTITUTE OF
FOOTWEAR & LEATHER
TECHNOLOGY, 208
KRUEGER & PARTNER, 58
KYOTO,UNIVERSITY, 21 25 138
L NAPOLI,UNIVERSITA
LAVAL,UNIVERSITY, 2 18
LAWRENCE LIVERMORE
NATIONAL LABORATORY,
416
LEHIGH,UNIVERSITY, 134
LOUISIANA,STATE
UNIVERSITY, 134
LOWELL,UNIVERSITY, 277
M
M & G RICERCHE SPA, 246
© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited
MAIN GROUP, 62 73
MANCHESTER,UNIVERSITY, 14
49 65 206 304
MANKIEWICZ GEBR.& CO., 323
MARYLAND,UNIVERSITY, 240
MASSACHUSETTS,UNIVERSITY,
19 127 245
MICHIGAN,STATE
UNIVERSITY, 10 12 320
MICHIGAN,TECHNOLOGICAL
UNIVERSITY, 10
417
MICROCELL TECHNOLOGY
CONSULTANTS LTD., 451
MIDDLE EAST,TECHNICAL
UNIVERSITY, 310
MILLENNIUM
PETROCHEMICALS INC.,
187
MINNESOTA,UNIVERSITY, 52
MITSUBISHI PETROCHEMICAL
CO.LTD., 388 395 397
MITSUI CHEMICALS INC., 148
MITSUI PETROCHEMICAL
364
MOBIL CHEMICAL CO., 283 445
MOBIL OIL CORP., 156
MONSANTO CO., 384
MONTELL NORTH AMERICA
INC., 183 257 317
MONTELL POLYOLEFINS CO.,
230
MOSCOW,INSTITUTE OF FINE
CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY,
203
N
NAGOYA MUNICIPAL
INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH
NAPLES,UNIVERSITY, 246
FEDERICO II, 82
NEW JERSEY,INSTITUTE OF
TECHNOLOGY, 28 29 79
NIDA-CORE CORP., 309
NIPPON UNICAR CO.LTD., 107
NMC-KENMORE (UK) LTD., 403
NORTH CAROLINA,STATE
UNIVERSITY, 223
NOVA CHEMICALS, 27 69 70
231
 Company Index

O SEKISUI KASEIHIN KOGYO TOSOH CORP., 66 100

KK, 370 381 453 TOYODA GOSEI CO.LTD., 136
OAK RIDGE NATIONAL SEKISUI PLASTICS CO.LTD., TOYOTA CENTRAL R & D
LABORATORY, 299 375 391 413 LABORATORIES INC., 21
OMAM SPA, 287 SENTINEL PRODUCTS CORP., TOYOTA MOTOR CORP., 126
120 189 190 196 197 200 237 TOYOTA TECHNOLOGICAL
292 300 INSTITUTE, 21
P SHELL RESEARCH & TREXEL INC., 13 56 63
PEGUFORM GMBH, 195 TECHNOLOGY CENTRE, 149 TRIESTE,UNIVERSITY, 101
PENNSYLVANIA,STATE SHERWOOD TECHNOLOGIES TWENTE,UNIVERSITY, 255 307
UNIVERSITY, 67 INC., 23
SHIRAM INSTITUTE FOR
PLASTEDIL SA, 430
INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH,
U
PLASTIC DESIGN SOLUTIONS
UK, 322 184 UDMURT,SCIENTIFIC CENTRE,
POLYMER PROCESSING SICOMIN, 425 115
INSTITUTE, 280 339 SIEBE ENGINEERING, 365 UMIST, 14 49 65 206 225 253 304
POLYMER-TEC GMBH, 3 SIKA CORP., 351 306 308
PRAGUE,MATERIALS SINTEF, 170 UNIROYAL CHEMICAL
RESEARCH INSTITUTE, 449 SISTEMA COMPOSITI SPA, 246 CO.INC., 232 241
PRINCE OF SONGKLA SMEG, 111 URETHANE PRODUCTS
UNIVERSITY, 14 SOFIA,HIGHER INTERNATIONAL, 141
PROTECTION PACKAGING CHEMICOTECHNOLOGICAL US,NATIONAL ROOFING
LTD., 91 98 INSTITUTE, 406 CONTRACTORS
SOFIA,RESEARCH CENTER ASSOCIATION, 299
FOR CONSTRUCTION USG RESEARCH CENTER, 272
Q POLYMERS, 439
SOLVAY POLYOLEFINS
QUERETARO,UNIVERSIDAD
EUROPE-BELGIUM SA, 137 V
AUTONOMA, 57 61
SOUTH CHINA,UNIVERSITY
VALLADOLID,UNIVERSIDAD,
OF TECHNOLOGY, 6
20 39 57 61 94 132 151 153
R STEPAN CO., 262
174 178 210 238 259
STEVENS INSTITUTE OF
RAPRA TECHNOLOGY LTD., 92 VTT CHEMICAL
TECHNOLOGY, 339
233 TECHNOLOGY, 193
STUTTGART,UNIVERSITY, 216
REEDY INTERNATIONAL SUEZ CANAL,UNIVERSITY, 40
CORP., 144 194 SUMITOMO CHEMICAL W
REIFENHAUSER GMBH, 80 311 CO.LTD., 110 114 212 252 264
RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT 305 334 373 WATERLOO,UNIVERSITY, 83
CORP., 376 WEDTECH INC., 176 191 198 226
RHEOMETRIC SCIENTIFIC WELLA AG, 95
INC., 222 T WIRE & CABLE TECHNICAL
RUSSIAN ACADEMY OF SERVICE, 46
TAIWAN,NATIONAL CHUNG
SCIENCES, 115 WOODBRIDGE FOAM CORP.,
CHENG UNIVERSITY, 8
297
TAMPERE,UNIVERSITY OF
WORCESTER,POLYTECHNIC
S TECHNOLOGY, 356
INSTITUTE, 316
TENNECO PROTECTIVE
SAINS PACKAGING INC., 109 133
MALAYSIA,UNIVERSITY, 49 158 185 205 235 Y
65 TENNESSEE,TECHNOLOGICAL
SANWA KAKO CO., 243 374 379 UNIVERSITY, 52 YALE,UNIVERSITY, 32 88
427 TEXAS A & M UNIVERSITY, 436 YMOS, 248
SEALED AIR CORP., 1 47 71 122 TEXAS,ARLINGTON YOUNGBO CHEMICAL
123 129 142 172 181 202 217 UNIVERSITY, 345 CO.LTD., 84
278 281 294 314 342 344 347 TONEN CHEMICAL CORP., 355
359 387
SEALED AIR LTD., 214
TORONTO,UNIVERSITY, 15 24 Z
26 35 42 48 51 68 74 78 81 118
SEKISUI ALVEO BV, 174 210 238 152 191 198 204 207 215 226 ZOTEFOAMS, 39 163 224 261
SEKISUI CHEMICAL, 165 361 273 275 282 284 315 348

© Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited 137

 Company Index

138 © Copyright 2004 Rapra Technology Limited

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