Quality polymer foam from fluorinated alkene blowing agents

An alkenyl aromatic polymer foam comprising a polymer matrix containing one or more polymer and defining a plurality of cells having an average cell size wherein:

• (a) the alkenyl aromatic polymer foam has:
• (i) an average cell size according to ASTM method D-3576-04 that is in a range of 0.02 and 5 millimeters;
• (ii) a density of 64 kilograms per cubic meter or less according to ISO method 845-85;
• (iii) an open cell content less than 30 percent according to ASTM method D6226-05;
• and
• (iv) a cell size variation of 30% or less;
• and
• (b) 50 weight-percent or more of the one or more polymer consists of one or more polymer selected from a group consisting of alkenyl aromatic polymers;
• and
• wherein the alkenyl aromatic polymer foam further comprises one or more fluorinated alkene blowing agent at a concentration of 0.03 moles or more and 0.3 moles or less per 100 grams of polymer foam, the one or more fluorinated alkene blowing agent being selected from a group consisting of:
• hexafluoropropene;
• 2-fluoropropene, 1-fluoropropene;
• 1,1-difluoropropene;
• 3,3-difluoropropene;
• 3,3,3-trifluoropropene;
• 2,3,3-trifluoropropene;
• 1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene;
• 1,1,3,3-tetrafluoropropene;
• 1,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropene;
• 4,4,4-trifluoro-1-butene;
• 3,4,4,4-tetrafluoro-1-butene;
• 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-methyl-1-propene;
• octafluoro-1-butene;
• octafluoro-2-butene;
• 2,3,3,4,4,4-hexafluoro-1-butene;
• 1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluoro-2-butene;
• 1,1,1,2,4,4,4-heptafluoro-2-butene;
• 3-fluoropropene, 2,3-difluoropropene;
• 1,1,3-trifluoropropene;
• 1,3,3-trifluoropropene;
• 1,1,2-trifluoropropene;
• 1-fluorobutene;
• 2-fluorobutene;
• 2-fluoro-2-butene;
• 1,1-difluoro-1-butene;
• 3,3-difluoro-1-butene;
• 3,4,4-trifluoro-1-butene;
• 2,3,3-trifluoro-1-butene;
• 1,1,3,3-tetrafluoro-1-butene;
• 1,4,4,4-tetrafluoro-1-butene;
• 3,3,4,4-tetrafluoro-1-butene;
• 4,4-difluoro-1-butene;
• 1,1,1-trifluoro-2-butene;
• 2,4,4,4-tetrafluoro-1-butene;
• 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoro-2 butene;
• 1,1,4,4,4-pentafluoro-1-butene;
• 2,3,3,4,4-Pentafluoro-1-butene;
• 1,2,3,3,4,4,4-Heptafluoro-1-butene;
• 1,1,2,3,4,4,4-Heptafluoro-1-butene;
• and 1,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-2-(trifluoromethyl)-Propene.