Processing aids for use in manufacture extruded polystyrene foams using low global warming potential blowing agents

Abstract

A foamable polymeric mixture is provided that includes a polymer composition and at least one blowing agent. The blowing agent may comprise any blowing agents known not to deplete the ozone or increase the prevalence of global warming, such as CO 2 , HFO, HFC and mixtures thereof. The foamable polymeric mixture may further includes at least one processing aid comprising an organic phase changing material. The inventive foamable mixture is capable of processing at a pressure range of 800 to 1200 psi (5.5 to 8.3 MPa).

1 . A foamed insulation product comprising:
 a polymeric foam composition comprising:
 polystyrene; 
 a blowing agent composition, and 
 from 0.05 to 3 wt. % of an organic phase changing material comprising synthetic beeswax; 
   wherein the foamed insulation product has an insulation R-value per inch of between 4 and 7.   
     
     
         2 . The foamed insulation product of  claim 1 , wherein the blowing agent composition comprises one or more of carbon dioxide, hydrofluoroolefins, and hydrofluorocarbons. 
     
     
         3 . The foamed insulation product of  claim 2 , wherein the blowing agent composition comprises hydrofluoroolefins and hydrofluorocarbons. 
     
     
         4 . The foamed insulation product of  claim 1 , wherein the organic phase changing material is micro encapsulated. 
     
     
         5 . The foamed insulation product of  claim 4 , wherein the organic phase changing material is microencapsulated by a polymer material comprising one or more of melamine formaldehyde, urea formaldehyde, and acrylate copolymer resins. 
     
     
         6 . The foamed insulation product of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one infrared attenuating agent. 
     
     
         7 . The foamed insulation product of  claim 1 , wherein the foamed insulation product is monomodal. 
     
     
         8 . The foamed insulation product of  claim 1 , wherein the foamed insulation product has a density of from 1 to 5 lbs/ft 3 . 
     
     
         9 . The foamed insulation product of  claim 1 , wherein the foamed insulation product has a compressive strength between 6 and 80 psi. 
     
     
         10 . The foamed insulation product of  claim 1 , wherein the foamed insulation product is a closed cell, extruded foamed insulation product. 
     
     
         11 . The foamed insulation product of  claim 10 , wherein the foamed insulation product has an average cell size of from 0.005 to 0.6 mm. 
     
     
         12 . The foamed insulation product of  claim 11 , wherein the foamed insulation product has an average cell size of from 0.16 to 0.2 mm.