Use of a polypropylene based composition for expanded beads

1. Expanded beads comprising a polypropylene based composition (C) comprising

(a) from 5 to 95% by weight of a random copolymer of propylene (A) containing from 0.5 to 12 mole % of at least one comonomer chosen from ethylene and/or an alpha-olefin containing from 4 to 6 carbon atoms, and having an MFI A in the range from 0.01 to 5 g/10 min,

(b) from 95 to 5% by weight of a random copolymer of propylene (B) containing from 0.5 to 12 mole % of at least one comonomer chosen from ethylene and/or an alpha-olefin containing from 4 to 6 carbon atoms, and having an MFI B in the range from 15 to 1000 g/10 min, said composition (C) being such that random copolymers (A) and (B) contain the same comonomer(s) and have, for each comonomer, substantially the same comonomer content.

2. Expanded beads according to claim 1 , wherein the random copolymer (A) has an MFI A in the range from 0.2 to 3 g/10 min, and the random copolymer (B) has an MFI B in the range from 30 to 300 g/10 min.

3. Foamed articles manufactured from the expanded beads as claimed in claim 1 .

4. Expanded beads according to claim 1 wherein the polypropylene based composition (C) comprises from 50 to 85% by weight of random copolymer (A), and from 50 to 15% by weight of random copolymer (B).

5. Expanded beads according to claim 1 wherein the comonomer(s) content of the random copolymer (A) and the comonomer(s) content of random copolymer (B) range from 2 to 8 mole %.

6. Expanded beads according to claim 1 wherein the random copolymers (A) and (B) are both random copolymers of propylene and ethylene.

7. Expanded beads according to claim 1 wherein the random copolymers (A) and (B) are both random copolymers of propylene and butene-1.

8. Expanded beads according to claim 1 wherein the polypropylene based composition (C) has a molecular weight distribution of at least 8.

9. Expanded beads according to claim 1 wherein the polypropylene based composition (C) has an MFI c in the range of from 1 to 30 g/10 min.

10. A method for making expanded beads comprising the steps of

(a) dispersing in a dispersion medium in a closed vessel particles of a polypropylene based resin composition (C) comprising

(i) from 5 to 95% by weight of a random copolymer of propylene (A) containing from 0.5 to 12 mole 5 of at least one comonomer chosen from ethylene and/or an alpha-olefin containing from 4 to 6 carbon atoms, and having an MFI A in the range from 15 to 1000 g/10 min,

(ii) from 95 to 5% by weight of a random copolymer of propylene (B) containing from 0.5 to 12 mole % of at least one comonomer chosen from ethylene and/or an alpha-olefin containing from 4 to 6 carbon atoms, and having an MFI B in the range from 15 to 1000 g/10 min, said composition (C) being such that random copolymers (A) and (B) contain the same comonomer(s) and have, for each comonomer, substantially the same comonomer content,

(b) feeding a blowing agent into the closed vessel while pressurizing the vessel,

(c) heating and stirring the dispersion, and

(d) releasing the resin particles and the dispersion medium from the vessel under a pressure lower than the internal pressure of the vessel.