POLYSTYRENE / ACRYLIC BLENDS AND THEIR APPLICATION IN FOAM PRODUCTION. PART ONE: R22/142b BLOWING AGENT

摘要

Blends of immiscible polymers are attracting much academic interest but relatively little is known about the use of such materials in foam applications. Information concerning the utility of specific acrylic / polystyrene blends to reduce bulk foam density and improve thermal insulation properties of extruded polystyrene (XPS) foam is presented. Experimental data from industrial extrusion processes are used to illustrate that density reductions of 20% and improvements of 10% in thermal conductivity can result from using acrylic / polystyrene polymer blends. Rheological characterisation data for such blends, containing R22/142b blowing agent, are then used to rationalise these observations.