A process of producing expandable styrene resin particles, wherein in
suspension polymerization of styrene monomers, the concentration of
oxygen in a reaction vessel is kept low at least in a late stage of the
polymerization, and the resulting styrene resin particles are impregnated
with an expanding agent before or after completion of the polymerization.
Preferably, at a polymerization rate of 60% or higher, the concentration
of oxygen in the reaction vessel is kept at 7 volt % or lower. When
additional styrene monomers are added during the polymerization, they are
added and adsorbed to styrene resin particles in the course of
polymerization while the concentration of oxygen is kept low. By this
method, the particles whose internal portion has a low molecular weight
and surface portion has a high molecular weight are obtained. A foamed
article produced from the particles has high strength and a good
appearance.