Published January 1984
This report concerns the process economics for making: polystyrene foams by the preexpansion molding and extrusion processes; structural foam parts; extruded rigid (structural) thermoplastic foam profiles; extruded polyethylene foam sheets; cross-linked polyethylene foam sheets; thermoformed polystyrene foam hamburger packs; and cross-linked polyethylene foam parts. The report also includes reviews on blowing agents; extrusion processes; and processes for making syntactic foams, structural foams, and foams from polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyvinyl chloride.
Polyurethane foams, which are reviewed in PEP Reports 10, 10A, and 10B, are not included in this report.
Technical information for this study was obtained from non-confidential communications with equipment and resin vendors, and from publications and patents. The process designs are based on likely typical plants.
