Foamed thermoplastic polyurethanes

1. Foamable thermoplastic polyurethane pellet comprising a preformed thermoplastic polyurethane body and thermally expandable hydrocarbon-containing microspheres, at least the thermoplastic polyurethane body being substantially encapsulated by a binding agent comprising a polyisocyanate or prepolymer thereof having an onset temperature for its melt processing which is lower than the onset temperature for the melt processing range of the thermoplastic polyurethane.

2. Foamable thermoplastic polyurethane pellet according to claim 1 wherein said polyurethane is the reaction product of difunctional isocyanate with at least one difunctional polyhydroxy compound.

3. Foamable thermoplastic polyurethane pellet according to claim 1 , further comprising an additional blowing agent.

4. Foamed thermoplastic polyurethane obtained by foaming the foamable thermoplastic polyurethane pellet of claim 3 .

5. Foamable thermoplastic polyurethane pellet according to claim 1 , wherein the hydrocarbon-containing microspheres contain an aliphatic or cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon.

6. Foamable thermoplastic polyurethane pellet according to claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic polyurethane pellets are made by reacting a difunctional isocyanate composition comprising an aromatic difunctional isocyanate with at least one difunctional polyhydroxy compound.

7. Foamable thermoplastic polyurethane pellet according to claim 6 , wherein the aromatic difunctional isocyanate comprises diphenylmethane diisocyanate.

8. Foamable thermoplastic polyurethane pellet according to claim 7 , wherein the diphenylmethane diisocyanate comprises at least 80% by weight of 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate.

9. Foamable thermoplastic polyurethane pellet according to claim 6 , wherein the difunctional polyhydroxy compound comprises a polyoxyalkylene diol or polyester diol.

10. Foamable thermoplastic polyurethane pellet according to claim 9 , wherein the polyoxyalkylene diol comprises oxyethylene groups.

11. Foamable thermoplastic polyurethane pellet according to claim 10 , wherein the polyoxyalkylene diol is a poly(oxyethylene-oxypropylene diol).

12. Foamable thermoplastic polyurethane pellet according to claim 1 , wherein the amount of the hydrocarbon-containing microspheres is between 0.5 and 4.0 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of thermoplastic polyurethane.

13. Foamable thermoplastic polyurethane pellet according to claim 12 , wherein the amount of the hydrocarbon-containing microspheres is between 1.0 and 3.0 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of thermoplastic polyurethane.

14. Foamable thermoplastic polyurethane pellet according to claim 3 , wherein the blowing agent is an endothermic blowing agent.

15. Foamable thermoplastic polyurethane pellet according to claim 14 , wherein the endothermic blowing agent comprises bicarbonates or citrates.

16. Foamable thermoplastic polyurethane pellet according to claim 3 , wherein the blowing agent is an exothermic blowing agent.

17. Foamable thermoplastic polyurethane pellet according to claim 16 , wherein the exothermic blowing agent comprises azodicarbonamide type compounds.

18. Foamable thermoplastic polyurethane pellet according to claim 3 , wherein the amount of the blowing agent is between 0.5 and 4.0 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of thermoplastic polyurethane.

19. Foamable thermoplastic polyurethane pellet according to claim 18 , wherein the amount of the blowing agent is between 1.0 and 3.0 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of thermoplastic polyurethane.

20. Foamed thermoplastic polyurethane according to claim 4 which is carried out by injection molding.

21. Foamed thermoplastic polyurethane according to claim 4 which is carried out in a pressurized mold.

22. Foamed thermoplastic polyurethane according to claim 4 having a density not more than 700 kg/m 3 .

23. Foamed thermoplastic polyurethane according to claim 4 having a density of not more than 600 kg/m 3 .