| abstract |
In the production process, styrene, optionally together with up to 20 wt. % of ethylenically unsaturated comonomers, based on the weight of the polymers, polymerize in aqueous suspension in the presence of graphite particles with a mean particle size of 1 to 50 .mu.m with the addition of peroxide initiators and before, during or after the polymerization a blowing agent is added. The particulate expandable styrene polymers comprise graphite particles with a mean particle size of 1 to 50 .mu.m, which are homogeneously distributed in the styrene polymer, and the styrene polymer is in the form of oval beads with a mean diameter in the range of 0.2 to 2 mm. These particulate expandable styrene polymers are used to produce foams with a density of 5 to 35 g / l. |