Expanded beads comprising high melt strength polypropylene

Process comprising the sequential steps of:

• a) providing a polymer composition comprising:
• ≥10 wt % and ≤60 wt % of a high melt strength polypropylene;
• ≥10 wt % and ≤35 wt % of a polyethylene;
• ≥10 wt % and ≤60 wt % of a first polypropylene, wherein the first polypropylene is chosen from the group of polypropylene homopolymers, propylene copolymers and/or mixtures thereof;
• and ≥0 wt % and ≤60 wt % of a second polypropylene, wherein the sum of the high melt strength polypropylene, the first polypropylene, and the second polypropylene is ≥60 wt % based on the sum of the weight of the high melt strength polypropylene, the polyethylene, the first polypropylene, and the second polypropylene, and wherein the polyethylene has a density ≥940 kg/m3 and ≤970 kg/m3 as determined according to ISO 845 (2006),
• b) adding a blowing agent to the polymer composition,
• c) subjecting a mixture of the polymer composition and the blowing agent to a foam extrusion process to form a foamed extruded product,
• d) cutting the foamed extruded product to form expanded polypropylene beads, and
• e) optionally molding the expanded polypropylene beads obtained in step d) to form a molded article.