A method for recycling expanded polystyrene foam materials. Unexpanded virgin polystyrene beads having pentane gas contained therein are thermally expanded to produce a supply of expanded beads. Next, a supply of used expanded polystyrene foam is obtained and ground into small portions, preferably of the same size as the expanded beads. The used polystyrene foam pieces are then placed in contact with pentane gas. The expanded beads and the pentane-treated foam pieces are thereafter combined to form a mixture which preferably contains not less than about 50% by weight foam pieces. The mixture is then placed in a mold, followed by the application of heat and pressure thereto in order to produce a final product with a high degree of structural integrity. The pentane gas treatment of the foam pieces enables the fusion thereof to the expanded beads, resulting in a highly durable product.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This is a divisional of copending application Ser. No. 07/724,006 filed on Jul. 1, 1991, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,217,660.
A method for forming a solidified granular material (15), in which granules (16, 17) are charged into a tubular frame member (11) and then heated together with the frame member, to solidify the granules. The granules include a mixture of first granules (16) and second granules (17), each of which second granules has a thermoplastic resin shell enclosing a solid or liquid which expands by vaporization. The mixture is charged into the frame member and heated together with the frame member. The heating causes the second granules (17) to expand and the surfaces of the second granules to melt for bonding with the first granules (16). The mixture, upon cooling, becomes a solidified granular material (15), filling the frame member with no space therebetween.
An antiplaque and antigingivitis effective oral composition containing a stabilized N.sup..alpha. -acyl acidic amino acid ester salt is disclosed. Also disclosed is a method for inhibiting plaque buildup in the oral cavity with an oral composition containing the stabilized N.sup..alpha. -acyl acidic amino acid ester salt.
An expanded, memory molded, increased density, highly impact-resistant polystyrene construct, and method of making the construct. The construct is formed by molding pre-expanded non-equilibrated polystyrene beads to a first volume, cooling rapidly, and then compression molding to a final, smaller volume. The resultant constructs have increased density, and high impact strength without increase in embrittlement. Also, the construct has "memory" in the sense that it returns substantially to its original shape after impact.
A dunnage platform is in the general shape of a rectangular slab with legs extending form one side. The dunnage platform is made from an expanded polystyrene core. A chemical combination process is used to chemically combine portion of the core proximal to its surface with high impact polystyrene. In a first of two parts of the combination process, the core is placed in a forming mold with one of its two sides and two thirds of its thickness extending therefrom. A heated sheet of high impact polystyrene is brought into contact with the portion of the core extending from the mold. In a similar manner, the other of the two sides of the core is made to extend from the forming mold for contact with a heated sheet of high impact polystyrene.
A dunnage platform is in the general shape of a rectangular slab with legs extending form one side. The dunnage platform is made from an expanded polystyrene core. A chemical combination process is used to chemically combine portion of the core proximal to its surface with high impact polystyrene. In a first of two parts of the combination process, the core is placed in a forming mold with one of its two sides and two thirds of its thickness extending therefrom. A heated sheet of high impact polystyrene is brought into contact with the portion of the core extending from the mold. In a similar manner, the other of the two sides of the core is made to extend from the forming mold for contact with a heated sheet of high impact polystyrene.