Method of dimensionally stabilizing polystyrene patterns

A method is disclosed of making dimensionally stable, expanded polystyrene foam patterns comprising: (a) expanding a supply of beads comprised of polystrene and a thermally responsive expanding agent, the expansion being accomplished in one or more stages by use of a gaseous heating agent (steam) to define a fused pattern body of the expanded beads, and (b) subjecting the fused pattern body to subatmospheric pressure (in the range of 5-20" of Hg) for a period of about .5-6 hours but no more than sufficient to accelerate and complete the migration of the trapped expanding agent out of the pattern body. The expanding agent can be selected from the group consisting of various forms of pentane or butane.