Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
190 words
A process for producing foamable polyethylene resin particles which comprises the steps of: a. suspending in an aqueous medium polyethylene resin particles having an MI value of 0.3 to 10, a density of less than 0.93 g/cm 3 and a softening point below 85°C; b. adding to said aqueous suspension of (a) a cross-linking agent for cross-linking said polyethylene resin particles; c. adding to said aqueous suspension of (b) 30 to 100% by weight based on the weight of said particles of a styrene monomer and a catalyst for polymerizing said monomer; d. cross-linking said polyethylene resin particles and polymerizing said monomer in the interior of said polyethylene resin particles; and incorporating, after the polymerization, a blowing agent into the resulting cross-linked polyethylene resin particles which contain a polystyrene resin formed by the polymerization of said styrene monomer at a temperature below the softening point of said polyethylene resin particles, wherein said blowing agent does not substantially reduce the viscosity of the polymerization system, does not dissolve said resin particles or only slightly swells the polyethylene resin particles, said polyethylene resin particles exhibiting excellent foaming ability and blowing agent retention.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
190 words
A process for producing foamable polyethylene resin particles which comprises the steps of: a. suspending in an aqueous medium polyethylene resin particles having an MI value of 0.3 to 10, a density of less than 0.93 g/cm 3 and a softening point below 85°C; b. adding to said aqueous suspension of (a) a cross-linking agent for cross-linking said polyethylene resin particles; c. adding to said aqueous suspension of (b) 30 to 100% by weight based on the weight of said particles of a styrene monomer and a catalyst for polymerizing said monomer; d. cross-linking said polyethylene resin particles and polymerizing said monomer in the interior of said polyethylene resin particles; and incorporating, after the polymerization, a blowing agent into the resulting cross-linked polyethylene resin particles which contain a polystyrene resin formed by the polymerization of said styrene monomer at a temperature below the softening point of said polyethylene resin particles, wherein said blowing agent does not substantially reduce the viscosity of the polymerization system, does not dissolve said resin particles or only slightly swells the polyethylene resin particles, said polyethylene resin particles exhibiting excellent foaming ability and blowing agent retention.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
The process for producing foamable polyethylene resin particles of claim 1, wherein said polyethylene resin is an ethylene homopolymer or a copolymer containing ethylene as a major component with a monomer selected from the group consisting of vinyl chloride, vinyl acetate and methyl methacrylate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
The process for producing foamable polyethylene resin particles of claim 1, wherein said styrene monomer is styrene or a mixture of a major amount of styrene and a copolymerizable monomer selected from the group consisting of α-methyl styrene, acrylonitrile, methyl methacrylate, dimethyl maleate and divinyl benzene.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process for producing foamable polyethylene resin particles of claim 1, wherein said aqueous medium contains a suspending agent.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process for producing foamable polyethylene resin particles of claim 1, wherein said catalyst is an organic peroxide or an azo compound.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process for producing foamable polyethylene resin particles of claim 1, wherein said blowing agent is an aliphatic hydrocarbon, a cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon, or a halogenated hydrocarbon.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The process for producing foamable polyethylene resin particles of claim 1, wherein said blowing agent is present in an amount of about 5 to 20% by weight based on the weight of the foamable polyethylene resin particles.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process for producing foamable polyethylene resin particles of claim 1, wherein said polymerizing is at a temperature of from about 80° to 120°C.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process for producing foamable polyethylene resin particles of claim 1, wherein said cross-linking agent is di-t-butyl-peroxide, t-butyl-cumylperoxide, dicumyl-peroxide, α,α-bis-(t-butylperoxy)-p-diisopropylbenzene, 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-di-(t-butylperoxy)-hexyne-3, 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-di-(benzoylperoxy)-hexane or t-butyl-peroxy-isopropyl-carbonate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
The process for producing foamable polyethylene resin particles of claim 1, wherein said polymerizing is at a temperature of from about 80° to 120°C and said cross-linking is at a temperature of from about 120° to about 160°C.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 1, wherein about 60 to 100% by weight of said styrene monomer is added.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 1, wherein about 30 to 60% by weight of said styrene monomer is added.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said blowing agent has a boiling point lower than the softening point of said polyethylene resin particles.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 13, wherein said blowing agent has a boiling point ranging from -42° to 80°C.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said blowing agent is added to said suspension at a temperature of about 40° to 80°C, whereby flattening of said polyethylene resin particles is avoided.