Divinylbenzene in expandable beads for cup molding

Abstract From the Canadian patent

Copolymer beads made by suspension copolymerization of styrenic monomer with divinylbenzene under conditions such that the products had defined solubility gel, content, molecular weight and bead size characteristics which enabled their use (after impregnation with a blowing agent and pre-expansion) in molding into foamed cups over a much broader range of time and temperature and the resultant cups are stiffer per given weight than cups made from conventional polystyrenes utilized for making foamed cups. These advantages are realized without any sacrifice in cup appearance.