Preparation of prefoamed polymer granulate useful for production of packaging, insulation and molded articles comprises growth of starch granules at below gelatinization temperature

摘要

A process for the production of a prefoamed polymer granulate (I) comprises accumulation of starch at below the gelatinization temperature from a seed and expansion of the resulting starch granulate at a pressure above atmospheric pressure and at above the gelatinization temperature. Independent claims are included for (i) the granulate (I), (ii) a process for the production of a foamed molded article by addition of a preferably prefoamed starch granulate in a hermetically sealed mold and irradiation with microwave energy to effect foaming of the granulate and (iii) the resulting molded article.