Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-2brh9 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-27T11:10:29.927Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Development of Micro- and Nanocellular Polymers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2011

Holger Ruckdaeschel
Affiliation:
[email protected], University of Bayreuth, Polymer Engineering, Universitaetsstrasse 30, Bayreuth, 95447, Germany
Peter Gutmann
Affiliation:
[email protected], University of Bayreuth, Polymer Engineering, Universitaetsstrasse 30, Bayreuth, 95447, Germany
Volker Altstaedt
Affiliation:
[email protected], University of Bayreuth, Polymer Engineering, Universitaetsstrasse 30, Bayreuth, 95447, Germany
Holger Schmalz
Affiliation:
[email protected], University of Bayreuth, Macromolecular Chemistry II, Universitaetsstrasse 30, Bayreuth, 95447, Germany
Axel H.E. Mueller
Affiliation:
[email protected], University of Bayreuth, Macromolecular Chemistry II, Universitaetsstrasse 30, Bayreuth, 95447, Germany
Get access

Abstract

The batch-foaming behavior of multiphase polymer blends and block copolymers was systematically investigated using carbon dioxide as a blowing agent. Three different polymer systems were evaluated: (i) nanostructured triblock terpolymers, (ii) microstructured polymer blends, and (iii) nanostructured polymer blends. In order to obtain nanostructured blends, immis-cible blends of poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether)/poly(styrene-co-acrylonitrile) (PPE/SAN) were melt-compatibilised via polystyrene-b-polybutadiene-b-poly(methyl methacry-late) triblock terpolymers. Due to the specific interaction between the respective components, a nanostructured interphase between PPE and SAN was observed. With regard to neat block co-polymers, the self-assembly of solvent-cast SBM triblock terpolymers was exploited in order to produce nanostructured morphologies. In each case, the resulting foam morphology was charac-terized by evaluating the foam density as well as the cell size. Combined with the multiphase structure of the non-foamed material and its thermal as well as physical behavior, relationships between the foaming characteristics and the cellular morphology were established. As an exam-ple for the foaming results, submicro-cellular structures were observed by foaming nanostruc-tured polymer blends, while the cell walls still revealed the nanostructured morphology. In con-trast, batch-foaming of neat triblock terpolymers led to the formation of microcellular foams; however, as highlighted by scanning electron microscopy, the cell walls did undergo some fur-ther expansion and formed additional nano-sized cells. In the light of these results, new routes for preparing cellular polymers are derived by systematically exploiting the multiphase charac-teristics of polymer blends and block copolymers.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2008

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

1 Gendron, R., Thermoplastic Foam Processing. Principles and Development, 1st ed. (CRC Press, Boca Raton, 2005).Google Scholar
2 Shimbo, M., Higashitani, I., Miyano, Y., Journal of Cellular Plastics, 43, 157 (2007).Google Scholar
3 Werner, P., Verdejo, R., Wöllecke, F., Altstädt, V., Sandler, J.K.W., Shaffer, M.S.P., Advanced Materials, 17, 2864 (2005).Google Scholar
4 Taki, K., Nitta, K., Kihara, S.I., Oshima, M., Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 97, 1899 (2005).Google Scholar
5 Siripurapu, S., Gay, Y.J., Royer, J.R., Simone, J.M. De, Spontak, R.J., Khan, S.A., Polymer, 43, 5511 (2002).Google Scholar
6 Paul, D.R. and Bucknall, C.B., Polymer Blends, 2nd ed. (John Wiley & Sons, New York, 2000).Google Scholar
7 Ruckdäschel, H., Sandler, J.K.W., Altstädt, V., Rettig, C., Schmalz, H., Abetz, V., Müller, A.H.E., Polymer, 47, 27722790 (2006).Google Scholar
8 Martini-Vvendensky, J.E., Suh, N.P., Waldmann, F.A., U.S. Patent No. 4 473 665 (1984).Google Scholar
9 Berens, A.R., Huvard, G.S., Korsmeyer, R.W., Kung, F.W., Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 46, 231 (1992).Google Scholar
10 Stadler, R., Auschra, C., Beckmann, J., Krappe, U., Voigt-Martin, I., Leibler, L., Macromolecules, 28, 3080 (1995).Google Scholar
11 Klempner, D. and Frisch, K.C., Handbook of Polymeric Foams and Foam Technology, 1st ed. (Hanser, Munich, 1991).Google Scholar
12 Abetz, V., Goldacker, T., Macromolecular Rapid Communications, 21, 16 (2000).Google Scholar
13 Spitael, P., Macosko, C.W., McClurg, R.B., Macromolecules, 37, 6874 (2004).Google Scholar
14 Colton, J.S. and Suh, N.P., Polym. Eng. Sci., 27, 485 (1987).Google Scholar
15 Ruckdäschel, H., Rausch, J., Sandler, J.K.W., Altstädt, V., Schmalz, H., Müller, A.H.E., aubmitted.Google Scholar
16 Göldel, A., Ruckdäschel, H., Pötschke, P., Müller, A.H. E., Altstädt, V., submitted.Google Scholar