Patent ID: 8507568

Claim:
A method of making a foamed polymer, said method comprising: (a) preparing a foamable polymeric material precursor comprising: (1) an aqueous suspension polymerization of a mixture comprising: i. styrene or other monomer; ii. solid polymeric material selected from the group consisting of polystyrene; iii. foaming facilitating material having affinity for a suspension liquid, said foaming facilitating material selected from the group consisting of activated carbon, said foaming facilitating material adapted to absorb said suspension liquid in the absence of any surfactant-like molecules or polymers; iv. selected additional material selected from the group consisting of 1-dimensional nano/micro-materials; v. a suspension stabilizer selected from the group consisting of hydroxyethyl cellulose; and vi. said suspension liquid selected from the group consisting of water; and (2) a blowing agent selected from the group consisting of CO 2 , N 2 , hydrofluorocarbons, fluorocarbons, and mixtures thereof; and (b) preparing a foamed polymer by a method selected from the group consisting of extrusion, injection molding, and batch foaming of said foamable polymeric material precursor.