Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-jn8rn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T02:26:08.263Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Microcellular Foams Prepared From Demixed Polymer Solutions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 February 2011

J. H. Aubert
J. H. Aubert*
Affiliation:
Division 1813, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185
Get access

Abstract

Low-density, microcellular polymer foams have numerous applications as structural supports in high-energy physics experiments, in catalysis, ion exchange, and filtration, and for a variety of biomedical uses. A versatile method to prepare such foams is by thermally-induced phase separation (TIPS) of polymer solutions. Demixed solutions can be transformed into a foam by freezing the demixed solution and removing the solvent by freeze-drying. The morphology of these foams is determined by the thermodynamics and kinetics of phase separation. A model of both the early and late stage structure development for demixed polymer solutions will be presented. For semi-crystalline polymers, gels can be prepared by crystallizing the polymer from solution, either a homogeneous solution or a demixed solution. Foams can be prepared from these gels by the super-critical extraction of the solvent. By understanding and utilizing the phase separation behavior of polymer solutions, engineered microcellular foams can be prepared. To design the foams for any application one must be able to characterize their morphology. Results will be presented on the morphological characterization of these foams and the relationship of the morphology to their processing history.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 207: Symposium I – Mechanical Properties of Porous and Cellular Materials , 1990 , 117
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1991

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

1. Data from Modern Plastics 67, 99 (1990).Google Scholar
2. Benning, C. J., Plastic Foams, (Wiley-Interscience, NY 1969).Google Scholar
3. Young, A. T., Moreno, D. K., and Marsters, R. G., J. Vac. Sci. Technol. 20, 1094 (1982).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
4. Coudeville, A., Eyharts, P., Perrine, J. P., Rey, L., and Rouillard, R., J. Vac. Sci. Technol. 18 (3), 1227 (1981).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
5. Young, A. T., J. Cellular Plastics 23, 55 (1987).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
6. Aubert, J. H. and Clough, R. L., Polymer 26, 2047 (1985).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
7. Williams, J. M. and Moore, J. E., Polymer 28, 1950 (1987).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
8. Flory, P. J., Principles of Polymer Chemistry (Cornell University Press, Ithaca N.Y., 1953).Google Scholar
9. Aubert, J. H., Macromolecules 21, 3468, (1988).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
10. Aubert, J. H., Macromolecules 23, 1446, (1990).Google Scholar
11. Underwood, E. E., Quantitative Stereology, (Addison-Wesley, Reading, MA 1970).Google Scholar
12. Aubert, J. H., J. Cellular Plastics 24, 132 (1988).Google Scholar
13. Aubert, J. H. and Sylwester, A. P., submitted to J. Mat. Sci. (1990).Google Scholar
14. Sylwester, A. P., Aubert, J. H., Rand, P. B., Arnold, C. Jr., and Clough, R. L., ACS Polym. Mat. Sci. and Eng. 57, 113 (1987).Google Scholar