# US 10,308,780 B2 · Thermoplastic polymers > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,308,780 B2 - Document ID: US10308780B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/891,143 - Filed: 2014-05-13 - Published: 2016-04-28 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2013-05-13 - Assignees: Colorant Chromatics AG - Applicants: Colorant Chromatics AG - Inventors: Andrew Overend; Steven John Moloney; Bjorn Klaas; Bo Sjoblom - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10308780B2 ## CPC - C08J 9/08: developing carbon dioxide - C08J 9/0066: {Use of inorganic compounding ingredients} - C08K 5/098: Metal salts of carboxylic acids - C08J 2201/024: Preparation or use of a blowing agent concentrate, i.e. masterbatch in a foamable composition - C08J 2201/03: Extrusion of the foamable blend - C08J 2203/02: CO2-releasing, e.g. NaHCO3 and citric acid - C08J 2207/06: Electrical wire insulation - C08J 2300/22: Thermoplastic resins - C08J 2323/28: by reaction with halogens or halogen-containing compounds (C08J2323/32 takes precedence) - C08J 2327/18: Homopolymers or copolymers of tetrafluoroethylene - C08J 2327/20: Homopolymers or copolymers of hexafluoropropene - C08K 2003/0893: {Zinc} - C08K 2003/2244: {of zirconium} - C08J: WORKING-UP; GENERAL PROCESSES OF COMPOUNDING; AFTER-TREATMENT NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C08B, C08C, C08F, C08G or C08H (working, e.g. shaping, of plastics B29) - C08K: Use of inorganic or non-macromolecular organic substances as compounding ingredients (paints, inks, varnishes, dyes, polishes, adhesives C09) ## Abstract Thermoplastic polymers, for example fluoropolymers, are foamed by use of a solid formulation comprising thermoplastic polymer and an oxalate compound which includes a moiety selected from potassium, calcium, titanium, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, zirconium and barium. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A formulation for use in preparing a foamed thermoplastic polymer, said formulation comprising a thermoplastic polymer and an oxalate compound, wherein said oxalate compound includes a moiety selected from a group consisting of zinc and zirconium, wherein said oxalate compound includes 1 wt % or less of water, wherein said formulation is in the form of pellets which are homogenous, wherein said thermoplastic polymer has a melt processing temperature of at least 250° C., wherein said thermoplastic polymer is a fluoropolymer. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A formulation according to claim 1, wherein, in said pellets, the sum of the wt % of oxalate compound(s) and thermoplastic polymer(s) is at least 98 wt %. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A formulation according to claim 1, wherein said formulation comprises a solid master batch. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A formulation according to claim 1, wherein said formulation comprises a solid master batch which includes 3 to 15 parts by weight of said oxalate compound and 85 to 97 parts by weight of said thermoplastic polymer. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A formulation according to claim 1, wherein said formulation comprises 5 to 15 wt % of said oxalate compound and 85 to 95 wt % of said thermoplastic polymer. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A formulation according to claim 1, wherein said fluoropolymer is fluorinated ethylene-propylene copolymer. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A formulation according to claim 1, wherein said formulation includes less than 0.5 wt % of water. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A formulation according to claim 1, wherein said pellets have a volume in the range 2-50 mm3. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A formulation according to claim 1, wherein said pellets include 1 to 10 wt % of said oxalate compound, 0 to 10 wt % of a nucleator and 89 to 99 wt % of said thermoplastic polymer. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A formulation according to claim 1, wherein said pellets include 3 to 9 wt % of said oxalate compound, 2 to 10 wt % of said nucleator and 87 to 95 wt % of said thermoplastic polymer. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A formulation according to claim 1, wherein said formulation comprises 0.2 to 1 wt % of zirconium or zinc oxalate and 99.0 to 99.8 wt % of said thermoplastic polymer. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A formulation according to claim 1, wherein said formulation comprises 1 to 30 wt % of zirconium or zinc oxalate and 70 to 99 wt % of fluoropolymer. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A formulation according to claim 1, wherein 100% of the particles of said oxalate compound would pass through a sieve of mesh size 200 μm. ### Claim 14 A formulation for use in preparing a foamed thermoplastic polymer, said formulation comprising a thermoplastic polymer and an oxalate compound, wherein said oxalate compound is selected from zinc oxalate and zirconium oxalate, wherein said oxalate compound includes 1 wt % or less of water, wherein said formulation is in the form of pellets which are homogenous, wherein said thermoplastic polymer has a melt processing temperature of at least 250° C. and is a fluoropolymer, wherein said pellets have a volume in the range 2-50 mm3, wherein said pellets include 1 to 10 wt % of said oxalate compound, 0 to 10 wt % of a nucleator and 89 to 99 wt % of said thermoplastic polymer. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A formulation according to claim 14, wherein said pellets include 3 to 9 wt % of said oxalate compound. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A formulation according to claim 15, wherein said fluoropolymer is fluorinated ethylene-propylene copolymer. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) A formulation according to claim 15, wherein, in said pellets, the sum of the wt % of oxalate compounds and thermoplastic polymers is at least 99 wt %; and wherein said pellets have a volume in the range 4-30 mm3. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) A formulation according to claim 14, wherein, in said pellets, the sum of the wt % of oxalate compounds and thermoplastic polymers is at least 98 wt %.