As researchers seek replacements for banned, ozone-depleting foaming agents, the authors of Thermoplastic Foam Processing: Principles and Development strive to develop a better understanding of foaming processes and find solutions for day-to-day practice. This book presents the latest research in foam extrusion and physical foaming agents with a strong focus on the interaction of material components in the foaming process. As part of the Polymeric Foams series and a companion to the volume, Foam Extrusion: Principles and Practice (2000), the book includes new topics such as polymer blends and mechanical properties, and further develops several vital topics appearing in Foam Extrusion, such as extensional rheology and solubility/diffusivity. The text also addresses factors that affect the critical interaction between polymer and gas in the foaming process, such as polymer plasticization, gas dissolution, phase separation, foaming, and stabilization. Written by experts, the book provides clear information on the mechanisms and the practical conditions experienced during nucleation and cell growth. In the midst of new research for alternative, environmentally friendly foaming agents, Thermoplastic Foam Processing: Principles and Development gives the reader a clear understanding of the current trends in R & D and an up-to-date review of the state of the art in thermoplastic foam processing. This book provides useful tools for the development and validation of innovative physical foaming agent and polymer combinations for current and future research.