Method for densification of rigid thermoplastic foam and composite structure incorporating said densified rigid thermoplastic foam

摘要

Styrenic polymer foams having one or two densified major surfaces are produced by applying heat and pressure (4) to such surfaces to soften the polymer and collapse cells adjacent to said surface to form a densified skin on such surface. The heated surface or surfaces are then cooled under pressure to form a foam having an undensified core (7) and densified skins (5) on one or both sides. The partially densified foams are especially useful for forming laminates in which the foam forms a core. Adhesion to external layers (30,32) is improved due to the presence of the densified layer.