(NO9802882-A)   NOVELTY - Continuous process for branching and foaming polypropylene resin in an extruder comprises heating a mixture of polypropylene resin and a peroxide at a temperature higher than that for decomposition of peroxide to obtain a melt, adding a foaming agent to the melt and extruding the melt through a die into an ambient atmosphere.    USE - The branched and foamed polypropylene resins obtained by the process are used in manufacturing articles by injection molding, extrusion coating, pipe extrusion, thermoforming, blow molding, calendering and fibre spinning (claimed). The foamed resin are also used to manufacture monolayer or multilayer sheets, profiles, tubes, lamination and other shapes.    ADVANTAGE - The process is simple, continuous and commercially applicable. The foam density and average bubble size can be varied by selecting appropriate processing parameters.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - Continuous process for branching and foaming polypropylene resin in an extruder comprises:    (a) mixing the polypropylene resin with a peroxide of formula (I) or (II), and optionally a crosslinking agent;    (b) heating the mixture of step (a) to a temperature higher than the melting point of polypropylene resin and decomposition of peroxide;    (c) maintaining the temperature of the melt for a period of at least 3 and up to 100 times the half-life of the peroxide;    (d) introducing a foaming agent and optionally a bubble initiator into the polymer melt present inside the extruder barrel at a position where the branching is complete; and    (e) extruding the processed melt through an extrusion die into an ambient atmosphere where the polymer composition expands.    R1 and R2 = 1-15C alkyl;    R3 and R4 = 4-30C alkyl;    R5 and R6 = 6C cyclic or linear aliphatic group    An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is also included for a process for branching of polypropylene resin comprising steps (a), (b), (c) and extruding the reacted polymer melt through an extrusion die into an ambient atmosphere.