Process for forming styrenic copolymer beads, expandable beads formed therefrom and foamed cups produced from them

摘要

Copolymer beads made by suspension copolymerisation of styrenic monomer with divinylbenzene under conditions such that the products have defined solubility, gel content, molecular weight and bead size characteristics which enable their use (after impregnation with a blowing agent and pre- expansion) in molding into foamed cups over a much broader range of time and temperature and the resultant cups are stiffer per given weight than cups made from conventional polystyrenes utilised for making foamed cups. These advantages are realised without any sacrifice in cup appearance.