Foam premixes with improved processability Atofina Chemicals Inc., the United States, has been granted a patent for a method for improving the processability of foam premixes containing HFC and/or pentane-based blowing agents in polyols. The method comprises adding trans-1,2-dichloroethylene to the premix in an amount effective, which is dependent on the specific blowing agent and the type of polyols, to enhance the processability. The premixes can be converted into polyurethane foams by using conventional techniques, such as hand-mixing, high-pressure impingement, low-pressure mechanical mixing, etc. Auxiliary blowing agents such as water, HCFCs or and hydrochlorocarbons may also be present with the HFC and/or pentane blowing agents. The other components of the premix and foam formulations may be the conventionally used ones such as fire retardants and surfactants. The compatibility of HFC blowing agents (245fa and 365mfc) with and without trans-1,2 was tested in polyester polyol. When 39 parts of 245fa was added to 100 parts of the polyester polyol without trans-1,2, phase separation occurred. When trans-1,2 was added to 245fa in a 50/50 weight ratio, a homogeneous, one-phase polyol mixture was obtained at a level equivalent to about 50 parts of 245fa to 100 parts polyol. Similar results were found also with 365mfc. Website: www.freepatentsonline.com Moulded polyurethane foam system with HFC blowing agents Renosol Corporation, the United States, has obtained a patent on a moulded polyurethane foam system that uses hydrofluorocarbons and alkane hydrocarbons as the blowing agents. The moulded polyurethane foam products made using this system have a high-density integral skin and a low density core. The patented process involves reacting an isocyanate and a polyol in the presence of a blowing agent, which includes HFC-134a alone or a mixture of tetrafluoroethane (HFC-134a) with one or more of the following: alkanes (such as methylbutane, pentane and heptane) and other inert volatile organic compounds with boiling points in the 15-100C range (such as pentene and acetone). The preferred HFC used in the present invention, tetrafluoroethane, has zero ozone depletion potential (ODP), and offers reduced toxicity, improved in-use stability and zero risk of inflammability or smog production. Website: www.freepatentsonline.com  Environmentally safe surfboard foam blanks Glory Foam, Mexico, has announced a significant breakthrough in environmentally safer foam surfboard blanks with the unveiling of its new PUR Foam product. PUR Foam is an environmentally safer surfboard foam that also maintains a bright white appearance. The foam production using the comparatively safer PMDI technology does not involve bleaches, pigments, additives or enhancers. The tiny bubbles in the cell structure refract light and make the foam appear bright white. The process uses the renewable plant material, namely sugar, as a base. The blowing agent employed has zero ozone depletion potential and global warming potential. The production process also eliminates the need for release papers, which contribute to landfill trash, commonly used in other production methods. PUR Foam maintains a uniform tight cell structure, and will not yellow, chunk or tear. The light and flexible blank does not contain pour lines and hence, the foam accepts tints well. Website: www.globalsurfnews.com CO2-blown polyurethane packaging foam E.R. Carpenter Company Inc., the United States, has patented a method of preparing polyurethane foam for dispensing into a container as packaging for shipping. A notable feature of the invention is that the temperature of the polyurethane foam being dispensed into the container is lower than other comparable systems, as is the maximum reaction exotherm temperature. The method involves reacting polymeric isocyanate and polyoxyalkylated polyol precursors in the presence of water as the foam blowing agent. A nucleating agent is present in at least one of the precursors in an amount sufficient to reduce the dispensing temperature of the foam reaction product. Incorporation of a nucleating agent into the isocyanate and polyol resin components results in a carbon dioxide (CO2) blown polyurethane packaging foam preferably having a density of 0.2-2.0 lb/ft3. Website: www.freepatentsonline.com Microcellular foam using polymer surfactants and CO2 Researchers at the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill, the United States, have developed a method of making microcellular foam, using carbon dioxide (CO2) as a blowing agent and either a thermoplastic resin or resin blend in conjunction with non-ionic polymeric surfactant. The method could be used in the production of microcellular foamed polymers/polymer blends for industrial thermoplastic applications. Production of structural and other conventional foams typically employ physical blowing agents and semi-crystalline polymers. However, semi-crystalline polymers present various processing challenges, particularly when producing microcellular foams using a continuous processing, because of the small size of the cell walls. A small defect in the cell wall could form a weak point in the structure. Producing various foamed semi-crystalline thermoplastics such as (poly) vinylidene fluoride in a continuous process has also been a problem. As the material exits the nozzle, the extrudate becomes brittle and breaks up into fine powder. This is most significant in the formation of microcellular foams, where the large number of small distributed cells causes the cell walls of the foamed materials to be significantly thinner than those of conventional foams. The UNC method involves essentially three components: a thermoplastic polymeric resin or blend of thermoplastic polymeric resins; compressed high-pressure CO2 as a blowing agent; and a polymeric non-ionic surfactant used to reduce the surface tension between the thermoplastic resins and CO2. The combination of blended material and surfactant modifies the final foam microstructure and enhances blend miscibility. The polymeric surfactant also reduces viscosity. Website: www.ibridgenetwork.org