Polymer foams based on polyetherimides (PEIs) fulfill the legal specifications demanded by the aviation industry for aircraft interiors. Specifically, the demands on fire characteristics, stability to media and mechanical properties constitute a great challenge here. According to related art, suitable polymer foams are produced as semi-finished products. Reprocessing to give shaped articles is uneconomic in terms of time and material exploitation, for example by virtue of large amounts of cutting waste. The material is suitable in principle and can be processed to give particle foam mouldings. These mouldings can be produced without reprocessing in short cycle times and, hence, economically. Furthermore, this gives rise to new means of functional integration, for example by direct incorporation of inserts etc. in the foam, and with regard to freedom in terms of design.