METHOD FOR PRODUCE FOAMED HOLLOW CHAMBER PROFILES AND FOAMED HOLLOW CHAMBER PROFILES

Description

technical field

[0001] The present invention relates in general to the field of thermal insulation and in particular to foam profiles comprising cavities, particularly useful in the field of thermal break devices in construction relating to glazing, doors, facade elements, etc. State of the art

[0002] Foam profiles in a wide variety of cross-sections are used in many fields where thermal or acoustic insulation plays a significant role. For example, in the construction industry, particularly in metal construction or in the manufacture of doors, windows, or facade cladding, including building elements made of compact plastic or metallic materials, it is well known that thermal bridge breaks must be incorporated. A thermal bridge is a localized or linear area within a building envelope where thermal conductivity increases. It is a point in the building where the insulating barrier is broken, leading not only to heat loss to the outside but also to condensation and therefore humidity inside. As buildings become increasingly airtight, air exchange is limited, and walls remain damp.This can result in mold and bad odors, which may lead to the development of allergies in some people.

[0003] Currently, for building elements with both an interior and an exterior face, thermal break elements or insulators are commonly used. In practice, an entire window frame can be made of a material with low thermal conductivity, such as PVC, or of metal, which is a highly thermally conductive material. The frame will typically have an interior face (or profile) and an exterior face (or profile) separated by elements with low thermal conductivity, such as insulating connectors or insulators made of synthetic material.

[0004] These thermal breakers, designed to prevent thermal bridging, must be sufficiently rigid and robust to avoid deformation or breakage during insertion into the structural element's clip, for example, when a fixing screw is driven through them. Therefore, they are generally longitudinal profiles with long sides featuring specially designed sections for snap-fit, interlocking, snap-fit, or insertion into or onto sections of a similar shape within one of the profiles or building elements. Furthermore, they are made of a solid synthetic material, such as PVC, PP, or PA. Beyond the health benefits of reducing thermal bridging, the energy performance requirements for buildings are constantly increasing.

[0005] It is also well known that the thermal conduction of a foamed or non-foamed profile can be further reduced by providing cavities in the perpendicular cross section, these cavities thus hindering the flow of energy, resulting in better thermal insulation.

[0006] While it is well known to form relatively large cavities (e.g., greater than 10 cm²) in foam profiles, provided dimensional accuracy requirements are not too high, by extrusion using one or more needles placed within the flow of polymer composition to be foamed from the extruder at the exit die, obtaining cavities with a small cross-section, e.g., on the order of 5 cm², or even less than 2 cm², is no longer feasible in this way. If cavities of such dimensions are required, the only known solution is to manufacture the profile in two (or more) parts (partial profiles), machine each part to create the open cavity sections, and then assemble them by welding or bonding to form foam profiles with closed cavities, as described, for example, in international patent application WO 2016 / 087654 A1.

[0007] Besides the disadvantages of multiplying the manufacturing steps, assembling several partial profiles makes in-line production virtually impractical. In practice, such assembly generates numerous handling operations and is therefore the weakest link in terms of production rate and costs. Object of the invention

[0008] An object of the present invention is therefore to provide foamed insulation profiles comprising cavities (and a manufacturing method), in particular foamed profiles of small sections (e.g. less than 15 cm²) with cavities of small sections (e.g. less than 2 cm²), especially for use as an insulation element, preferably as an insulator between two construction profiles, the foamed profiles having sufficient mechanical strength. General description of the invention

[0009] To solve the problem mentioned above, the present invention proposes, in a first aspect, a method for manufacturing a foamed profile comprising one or more longitudinal cavities with a closed cross-section, the method comprising the steps of (a) extrusion of a first polymer composition, in the presence of one or more first foaming agents, into a foamed base profile of polygonal cross-section, preferably of rectangular cross-section, the first polymer composition comprising one or more (co)polyesters, (b) cooling of the foamed base profile, (c) creation of one (or more) trench(s) along the length of the foamed base profile by material removal, preferably by milling, cutting, laser, thermofusion, etc., the trench (or each) forming two parallel branches in the foamed base profile, each branch comprising an outer surface opposite said trench and an inner surface facing said trench, and (d) extrusion inside the trench(s) of a second polymer composition, identical or not to the first polymer composition, preferably in the presence of one or more second foaming agents, into a spacer, at least at one location between the two inner surfaces of the two branches of the trench, so as to form at least one closed cavity inside the trench.

[0010] The process according to the invention does not require the assembly of several partial profiles, and all steps can therefore be carried out in-line, if desired. Furthermore, the inventors have developed a process that allows the creation of even very small cavities in profiles that are themselves small. Clearly, the above process, which allows the creation of even offset cavities in parallel trenches, is very flexible and applicable in many situations, even for larger cross-section profiles, where the multiple trenches might not even be parallel, but rather made on different sides of the polygonal cross-section of the foamed base profile. Machining in step (c) is further facilitated by the use of a first polymer composition based on (co)polyester(s), which produces foams with relatively high mechanical strength.

[0011] It is often necessary to give the exterior of the foam profile a particular shape or contour. This can be done either by removing material or by adding material.

[0012] An advantageous variant of the process involves working the outer contour of the profile by material removal, for example by providing, after step (b), a step (c') of creating an outer contour element on at least one side of the foamed base profile by material removal, preferably by milling, cutting, laser, thermofusion, ..., preferably, step (c') is carried out simultaneously with step (c).

[0013] An advantageous variant of the process involves shaping the outer contour of the profile by adding material, for example, by including an additional step (x) of extruding a third polymer composition, preferably in the presence of one or more third foaming agents, into a number of fins on one or more sides of the base profile. Step (x) can be carried out during step (a) by co-extrusion or by separate extrusion after one of the subsequent steps, preferably before, during, or after step (d). Depending on the application, these fins can serve, in particular, as support elements, as means of compartmentalizing the adjacent space when the tip of the fins is 0 to 2 mm from the adjacent structural element in order to reduce convection in that space, or as water drainage channels.

[0014] Other particularly advantageous variants involve modifying the outer contour both by removing and adding material depending on the location of the contour of the foamed base profile.

[0015] As mentioned above, (co)polyesters provide a certain mechanical strength to profiles, which is advantageous both in the finished product and during machining operations. Therefore, the initial polymer composition preferably comprises at least one polyester or copolyester selected from polyglycolide or poly(glycolic acid), poly(lactic acid), polycaprolactone, polyhydroxyalkanoate, polyethylene adipate, polybutylene succinate, polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polytrimethylene terephthalate, and polyethylene naphthalate; particularly preferably, the polyester comprises or is composed of polyethylene terephthalate.In general, the initial polymer composition may include other compatible polymers, for example, thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs), such as polyester thermoplastic elastomers (TPCs), unvulcanized olefin thermoplastic elastomers (TPOs), urethane thermoplastic elastomers (TPUs), styrene thermoplastic elastomers (TPSs), polyamide thermoplastic elastomers (TPAs), ethylene copolymers, such as ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymers, ethylene-methyl acrylate (EMA) copolymers, ethylene-ethyl acrylate (EEA) copolymers, ethylene-butyl acrylate (EBA) copolymers, etc., modified or not by groups such as maleic anhydride or glycidyl methacrylate to make them more compatible, polycarbonate, polystyrene, polyamide, ..., but generally the polyester content in the first polymer composition is greater than 60% by weight, preferably greater than 75% by weight, particularly preferably greater than 80% by weight, relative to the total amount of polymers in the first polymer composition.

[0016] To produce the spacers, a second polymer composition is used, the (co)polymers of which are identical or different from those of the first polymer composition. In simplified terms, suitable components of the second polymer composition include the (co)polyesters mentioned above, as well as any polymer compatible with the (co)polyesters used in the first polymer composition, including thermoplastic elastomers (notably TPC, TPA, TPO, TPU, etc.), ethylene copolymers (notably EVA, EMA, EBA, EEA, etc.), modified or not by groups such as maleic anhydride or glycidyl methacrylate to make them more compatible, polycarbonate, polystyrene, polyamide, etc.The inventors, however, found that particularly advantageous polymers for the second polymer composition are preferably chosen from among elastomeric thermoplastics, preferably TPU and TPU blends with other ethylene copolymers. With these polymer compositions, it is possible to reliably form spacers attached to both sides of the trench and of relatively thin thickness (e.g., on the order of 1 to a few mm, or even less), thus reliably forming closed cavities, even of small dimensions. Indeed, these compositions can be extruded by thin dies entering the trench, each die forming a spacer at a different depth of the trench, resulting in a series of longitudinal cavities parallel to the length of the base profile.

[0017] For the external contours by addition of material mentioned above, the third polymer composition may include the (co)polymers mentioned for the first and second polymer compositions and preferably includes at least one (co)polymer chosen from thermoplastic elastomers (in particular TPC, TPA, TPO, TPU, ...), ethylene copolymers (in particular EVA, EMA, EBA, EEA, ...), modified or not by groups such as maleic anhydride or glycidyl methacrylate to make them more compatible, polycarbonate, polystyrene, polyamide, etc.

[0018] All the polymer compositions described here can be foamed (the first one necessarily being foamed). The first, second, and third foaming agents usable in the context of the process can be physical or chemical foaming agents, or a combination of both. Chemical blowing agents (CBAs) are foaming agents that decompose under the effect of a temperature increase. They are classified into two families: exothermic CBAs, such as azodicarbonamide (ADCA), oxydibenzenesulfonyl hydrazide (OBSH), etc., which decompose by producing heat. Azodicarbonamide decomposes at around 210 °C, but in the presence of a suitable decomposition accelerator, such as zinc oxide and / or zinc stearate, the decomposition temperature can be lowered by approximately 60 °C. Endothermic CBAs decompose by absorbing heat.For example, citric acid, sodium bicarbonate, and mixtures thereof decompose between 150 and 230 °C and generally produce less gas volume per gram of CBA than exothermic CBAs. Physical foaming agents such as molecular nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and linear or branched C1-C4 alkanes are gases under normal temperature and pressure conditions (0 °C, 1 atmosphere); pentanes (isopentane, neopentane, normal-pentane, cyclopentane), hexane, and heptane are liquids under normal conditions. These gases or liquids are soluble in the molten polymer mass at high temperature and pressure, and form a single phase under the appropriate pressure and temperature conditions. By depressurizing the single-phase system, the nucleation and growth of the now-insoluble gas bubbles generate a cellular structure.The foaming agent(s) are preferably chosen from isobutane, cyclopentane and / or carbon dioxide.

[0019] Appropriate densities of the different (first, and possibly second and / or third) polymer compositions after foaming are generally in the range of 30 kg / m³ to 800 kg / m³, preferably 50 to 500 kg / m³, particularly preferred 60 to 350 kg / m³.

[0020] Other additives can generally be used independently in the three polymer compositions, such as nucleating additives (talc, calcium stearate, silica) which facilitate the nucleation of foam bubbles and allow control of their distribution, or chemical agents used to accelerate the decomposition of chemical foaming agents (see above), flame retardants, UV stabilizers, antioxidants, crystallization nucleators, branching agents, lubricants, etc.

[0021] In a particularly preferred aspect of the invention, the method is used to obtain thermal bridge insulators as described above; that is, in the method defined above, the foamed profile comprising one or more closed longitudinal cavities obtained at the end of the method is a thermal bridge insulator between two connected building elements. The method generally includes a step (c') in which the outer contour element on one side of the foamed base profile is an insulator head with a narrower cross-section than that of the foamed base profile, arranged on the opposite side of the trench. The insulators according to the invention, comprising a trench compartmentalized by spacers, have the practical advantage on the construction site of facilitating the penetration of the screw tips and their guidance between the building elements during screwing (see, for example, Fig. 2 ).

[0022] In another aspect, the invention proposes a foamed profile comprising one or more longitudinal cavities of closed section comprising a foamed base profile of polygonal section, preferably of rectangular section, extruded from a first polymer composition, in the presence of one or more first foaming agents, the first polymer composition comprising one or more (co)polyesters, the foamed base profile comprising a trench formed by material removal, preferably by milling, cutting, laser, thermofusion, ..., said trench being compartmentalized into one or more closed cavities, parallel to the length of the foamed base profile, by a number of spacers, possibly foamed, extruded from a second polymer composition.

[0023] As described above, the foamed profile according to the invention preferably further comprises a portion of the outer contour modified by material removal, preferably by milling, cutting, laser, thermofusion, ... and / or a portion of the outer contour modified by material addition, preferably by (co)extrusion of a number of fins or other ancillary structures on one or more sides of the base profile.

[0024] In a particularly preferred manner, the foamed profile comprising one or more longitudinal cavities of closed section according to the invention is a thermal bridge reduction insulator usable in construction between two connected building elements, the insulator comprising an external contour element on one side of the foamed base profile which is an insulator head of narrower section than that of the foamed base profile and which is arranged on the opposite side of the trench. Brief description of the drawings

[0025] Other features and characteristics of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description of some advantageous embodiments presented below by way of illustration, with reference to the accompanying drawings. These show: Fig. 1 a) to e) : are cross-sections of a variant of a foamed profile comprising several closed cavities, in particular an insulator, according to the invention and show the evolution of the basic profile during the different stages of the process. Fig. 2 : is a cross-section of a construction using a foamed profile comprising several closed cavities, in particular an insulator according to the invention. Description of a preferred execution

[0026] THE Fig. 1 a) to e) schematically illustrate the evolution of the basic profile through the various stages of the process up to the foamed profile comprising one or more longitudinal cavities with a closed cross-section. In the Fig. 1 a) to e)Reference number 10 designates the profile at its respective stage of development. Fig. 1a ) shows a basic profile such as can be obtained at the end of step (b), for example a basic profile 15 with a rectangular cross-section. During step (c) ( Fig. 1 b) ), a trench 20 is machined in the base profile 15. The depth of this cavity 20 will depend on the requirements of the intended application. Generally, the trench will have a depth P representing 30 to 90% of the corresponding dimension of the base profile 15. Step (c'), which can be carried out simultaneously with step (c), removes a portion from each side of the base profile at the end opposite the (opening of) the trench 20 ( Fig. 1 c) ) so as to form a head that can be inserted, for example, into the groove of a profile 105 as shown in the Fig. 2An important step of the present invention is step (d) of forming one or more spacers 25 inside the trench 20 and parallel to its bottom located at a depth P ( Fig. 1 d) As illustrated in the Fig. 1 e) and to the Fig. 2 It may be advantageous to add fins 40 during step (x) to improve the insulation performance of a foamed profile according to the invention in certain applications. Step (x) may be carried out concurrently with step (a) or after step (b), in particular before, during, or after step (d), the order of Fig. 1a ) to e) is illustrative and therefore does not impose a single possible order in which the steps of the process must be carried out.

[0027] There Fig. 2 shows a cross-section of an example of a construction using a foamed profile comprising several closed cavities, in particular an insulator 10 according to the invention, comprising (see Fig. 1 e)) a base profile 15 with a groove 20 in which several cavities 30 have been formed by inserting spacers 25, the groove with the spacers being penetrated at places by fixing screws 110. The view shows the arrangement comprising a support profile 105 with lower seals 130 on which the glazing or panels 100, 100' are placed. The insulator is inserted so as to fix its head in a groove of the support profile 105 between the panels or glazing 100, 100'. A fixing screw 110 passes through the insulator 10 and connects a facade profile 115 (which may be fitted with a cover) and upper seals 120 to the support profile 105. In the case illustrated in the Fig. 2 , the tips of the fins 40 are preferably located at a distance between 0 and 2 mm from the building elements, such as glazing or panels 100, 100' and will therefore also compartmentalize this space in order to reduce heat loss by convection. Legend:

[0028] 10 Foam profile 15 Basic foam profile 20 Trench 25 Spacers 30 Closed cavities 40 Modification of the outer contour by adding material: fin formation 50 Modification of the outer contour by removing material: head formation 100, 100 Glazing or panel 105 Support profile 110 Fixing screw 115 Facade profile 120 Upper seal 130 Lower seal

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing a foamed profile (10) comprising one or more longitudinal cavities of closed section (30), the method comprising the steps of (a) extruding a first polymer composition in the presence of one or more first foaming agents to yield a foamed base profile (15) of polygonal section, preferably of rectangular section, the first polymer composition comprising one or more (co)polyesters, (b) cooling the foamed base profile (15), (c) creating a channel (20) along the length of the foamed base profile (15) by removing material, preferably by milling, cutting, laser or thermal fusion, the channel (20) forming two parallel branches in the foamed base profile, each of the branches comprising an outer surface facing away from the channel (20) and an inner surface facing towards the channel (20), and (d) extruding inside the channel (20) a second polymer composition, which may or may not be identical to the first polymer composition, preferably in the presence of one or more second foaming agents, to yield a cross strut (25) at at least one location between the two inner surfaces of the two branches of the channel (20), so as to form at least one closed cavity (30) within the channel (20).

2. The method according to Claim 1, further comprising, after step (b), a step (c') of creating an external contour element on at least one of the sides of the foamed base profile by removing material, preferably by milling, cutting, laser or thermal fusion, step (c') preferably being performed simultaneously with step (c).

3. The method according to Claim 1 or 2, further comprising a step (x) of extruding a third polymer composition, preferably in the presence of one or more third foaming agents to yield a number of fins on one or more sides of the base profile, wherein step (x) may be carried out during step (a) by coextrusion or by separate extrusion after one of the subsequent steps, preferably before, during or after step (d).

4. The method according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the first polymer composition comprises at least one (co)polyester selected from polyglycolide or poly(glycolic acid), poly(lactic acid), polycaprolactone, polyhydroxyalkanoate, polyethylene adipate, polybutylene succinate, polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polytrimethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, and particularly preferably polyethylene terephthalate, optionally blended with one or more (co)polymers selected from thermoplastic elastomers, such as thermoplastic polyester elastomers, unvulcanized thermoplastic olefinic elastomers, thermoplastic urethane elastomers, thermoplastic styrenic elastomers, thermoplastic polyamide elastomers, ethylene copolymers, such as ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, ethylene-methyl acrylate copolymers, ethylene-ethyl acrylate copolymers or ethylene-butyl acrylate copolymers, modified or unmodified by groups such as maleic anhydride or alternatively glycidyl methacrylate to compatibilize them with the (co)polyester(s), polycarbonate, polystyrene or polyamide, the content of (co)polyester(s) in the first polymer composition preferably being greater than 60% by weight, more preferably greater than 75% by weight and particularly preferably greater than 80% by weight.

5. The method according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the second polymer composition comprises at least one (co)polymer selected from thermoplastic elastomers, such as thermoplastic polyester elastomers, unvulcanized thermoplastic olefinic elastomers, thermoplastic urethane elastomers, thermoplastic styrenic elastomers, thermoplastic polyamide elastomers, ethylene copolymers, such as ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, ethylene-methyl acrylate copolymers, ethylene-ethyl acrylate copolymers, ethylene-butyl acrylate copolymers, modified or unmodified to compatibilize them, polycarbonate, polystyrene, polyamide or (co)polyesters selected from polyglycolide or poly(glycolic acid), poly(lactic acid), polycaprolactone, polyhydroxyalkanoate, polyethylene adipate, polybutylene succinate, polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polytrimethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, or blends thereof, and preferably thermoplastic elastomers and ethylene copolymers, grafted or ungrafted with maleic anhydride.

6. The method according to Claim 3 or according to either one of Claims 4 and 5 in combination with Claim 3, wherein the third polymer composition comprises at least one polymer selected from thermoplastic elastomers, such as thermoplastic polyester elastomers, unvulcanized thermoplastic olefinic elastomers, thermoplastic urethane elastomers, thermoplastic styrenic elastomers, thermoplastic polyamide elastomers, ethylene copolymers, such as ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, ethylene-methyl acrylate copolymers, ethylene-ethyl acrylate copolymers, ethylene-butyl acrylate copolymers, modified or unmodified by groups such as maleic anhydride or alternatively glycidyl methacrylate to compatibilize them, polycarbonate, polystyrene, polyamide, or (co)polyesters selected from polyglycolide or poly(glycolic acid), poly(lactic acid), polycaprolactone, polyhydroxyalkanoate, polyethylene adipate, polybutylene succinate, polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polytrimethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, or blends thereof.

7. The method according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the first, second and / or third foaming agent(s) is / are independently selected from isobutane, cyclopentane and / or carbon dioxide.

8. The method according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, wherein the first, second and / or third polymer compositions independently comprise other additives, such as nucleating additives e.g. talcum, calcium stearate or silica, chemical agents which accelerate the decomposition of the chemical foaming agents e.g. zinc oxide and / or zinc stearate, fire-retardant agents, UV-stabilizers, antioxidants, crystallization nucleating agents, branching agents and / or lubricants.

9. The method according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, wherein the foamed profile comprising one or more longitudinal cavities of closed section (30) obtained at the end of the method is a thermal insulator for reducing thermal bridging between two connected structural elements, the method preferably comprising a step (c') in which the external contour element on one of the sides of the foamed base profile is an insulator head of narrower section than the foamed base profile (15) arranged on the opposite side of the channel (20).

10. A foamed profile (10) comprising one or more longitudinal cavities of closed section (30), the foamed profile (10) comprising a foamed base profile (15) of polygonal section, preferably of rectangular section, extruded from a first polymer composition in the presence of one of more first foaming agents, the first polymer composition comprising one or more polyesters, the foamed base profile comprising a channel (20) formed by removing material, preferably by milling, cutting, laser or thermal fusion, said channel (20) being compartmented into one or more closed cavities (30), parallel to the length of the foamed base profile (15), by a number of, optionally foamed, cross struts (25) extruded from a second polymer composition.

11. The foamed profile (10) according to Claim 10, further comprising part of the external contour modified by removing material, preferably by milling, cutting, laser or thermal fusion, and / or further comprising part of the external contour modified by adding material, preferably by (co)extrusion of a third polymer composition, preferably in the presence of one or more third foaming agents, or adhesive bonding of a number of fins (40) onto one or more sides of the foamed base profile (15).

12. The foamed profile (10) according to either one of Claims 10 or 11, wherein the first polymer composition comprises at least one (co)polyester selected from polyglycolide or poly(glycolic acid), poly(lactic acid), polycaprolactone, polyhydroxyalkanoate, polyethylene adipate, polybutylene succinate, polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polytrimethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, and particularly preferably polyethylene terephthalate, optionally blended with one or more (co)polymers selected from thermoplastic elastomers, such as thermoplastic polyester elastomers, unvulcanized thermoplastic olefinic elastomers, thermoplastic urethane elastomers, thermoplastic styrenic elastomers, thermoplastic polyamide elastomers, ethylene copolymers, such as ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, ethylene-methyl acrylate copolymers, ethylene-ethyl acrylate copolymers or ethylene-butyl acrylate copolymers, modified or unmodified by groups such as maleic anhydride or alternatively glycidyl methacrylate to compatibilize them with the (co)polyester(s), polycarbonate, polystyrene or polyamide, the content of (co)polyester(s) in the first polymer composition preferably being greater than 60% by weight, more preferably greater than 75% by weight and particularly preferably greater than 80% by weight.

13. The foamed profile (10) according to any one of Claims 10 to 12, wherein the second polymer composition comprises at least one polymer selected from thermoplastic elastomers, such as thermoplastic polyester elastomers, unvulcanized thermoplastic olefinic elastomers, thermoplastic urethane elastomers, thermoplastic styrenic elastomers, thermoplastic polyamide elastomers, ethylene copolymers, such as ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, ethylene-methyl acrylate copolymers, ethylene-ethyl acrylate copolymers, ethylene-butyl acrylate copolymers, modified or unmodified by groups such as maleic anhydride or alternatively glycidyl methacrylate to compatibilize them, polycarbonate, polystyrene, polyamide or (co)polyesters selected from polyglycolide or poly(glycolic acid), poly(lactic acid), polycaprolactone, polyhydroxyalkanoate, polyethylene adipate, polybutylene succinate, polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polytrimethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, or blends thereof, and preferably thermoplastic elastomers and ethylene copolymers, grafted or ungrafted with maleic anhydride.

14. The foamed profile (10) according to Claim 11 or according to either one of Claims 12 and 13 combined with Claim 11, wherein the third polymer composition comprises at least one polymer selected from thermoplastic elastomers, such as thermoplastic polyester elastomers, unvulcanized thermoplastic olefinic elastomers, thermoplastic urethane elastomers, thermoplastic styrenic elastomers, thermoplastic polyamide elastomers, ethylene copolymers, such as ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, ethylene-methyl acrylate copolymers, ethylene-ethyl acrylate copolymers, ethylene-butyl acrylate copolymers, modified or unmodified by groups such as maleic anhydride or alternatively glycidyl methacrylate to compatibilize them, polycarbonate, polystyrene, polyamide, or (co)polyesters selected from polyglycolide or poly(glycolic acid), poly(lactic acid), polycaprolactone, polyhydroxyalkanoate, polyethylene adipate, polybutylene succinate, polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polytrimethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, or blends thereof.

15. The foamed profile (10) according to any one of Claims 10 to 14, wherein the first, second and / or third polymer compositions independently comprise other additives, such as nucleating additives e.g. talcum, calcium stearate or silica, chemical agents which accelerate the decomposition of the chemical foaming agents e.g. zinc oxide and / or zinc stearate, fire-retardant agents, UV-stabilizers, antioxidants, crystallization nucleating agents, branching agents and / or lubricants.

16. The foamed profile (10) according to any one of Claims 10 to 15, which is an insulator for reducing thermal bridging between two connected structural elements, the insulator comprising an external contour element on one of the sides of the foamed base profile (15) which is an insulator head (50) of narrower section than the foamed base profile and which is arranged on the opposite side of the channel (20).