Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
183 words
A process for producing pourable spherical-segment-shaped packing material particles made of an expanded plastic which have an external convex and an internal concave surface, where granules of plastic material containing an expanding agent are mixed with additives, such as cell-forming agents (nucleating agents), color pigments or similar substances, and by means of a feeding funnel, is fed into an extruder through an opening in a bush surrounding the extrusion screw, where the plastic material is plasticized in the course of the extruder and, because of the difference in speed existing over the cross section of the mass, comes out of an opening in the die with a bent surface, and the extruded plastic material is cut off directly at the opening of the die and before any considerable expansion has taken place, the improvement wherein a cell-forming agent (nucleating agent) having a grain size of less than about 40μ is uniformly distributed and adhered on the surface of the plastic granules before their processing in the extruder in an amount less than 0.2 percent by weight based on the weight of said granules.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
183 words
A process for producing pourable spherical-segment-shaped packing material particles made of an expanded plastic which have an external convex and an internal concave surface, where granules of plastic material containing an expanding agent are mixed with additives, such as cell-forming agents (nucleating agents), color pigments or similar substances, and by means of a feeding funnel, is fed into an extruder through an opening in a bush surrounding the extrusion screw, where the plastic material is plasticized in the course of the extruder and, because of the difference in speed existing over the cross section of the mass, comes out of an opening in the die with a bent surface, and the extruded plastic material is cut off directly at the opening of the die and before any considerable expansion has taken place, the improvement wherein a cell-forming agent (nucleating agent) having a grain size of less than about 40μ is uniformly distributed and adhered on the surface of the plastic granules before their processing in the extruder in an amount less than 0.2 percent by weight based on the weight of said granules.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the processing temperature in the extruder is about 110°-130° C.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A process according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said plastic material is expandable polystyrene (EPS).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
Plastic granules made of expandable polystyrene (EPS) having adhered on their surfaces in uniformly distributed layers a cell-forming agent (nucleating agent) having a grain size of less than about 40μ and in an amount less than 0.2 percent by weight based on the weight of said granules.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
Plastic granules made of expandable polystyrene (EPS) having adhered on their surfaces in uniformly distributed layers a cell-forming agent (nucleating agent) having a grain size of less than about 40μ and in an amount less than 0.2 percent by weight based on the weight of said granules.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The plastic granules of claim 4 wherein the nucleating agent consists of a carbonate component and of an acid component.