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Title: Method of preparation of removable syntactic foam

Abstract

Easily removable, environmentally safe, low-density, syntactic foams are disclosed which are prepared by mixing insoluble microballoons with a solution of water and/or alcohol-soluble polymer to produce a pourable slurry, optionally vacuum filtering the slurry in varying degrees to remove unwanted solvent and solute polymer, and drying to remove residual solvent. The properties of the foams can be controlled by the concentration and physical properties of the polymer, and by the size and properties of the microballoons. The suggested solute polymers are non-toxic and soluble in environmentally safe solvents such as water or low-molecular weight alcohols. The syntactic foams produced by this process are particularly useful in those applications where ease of removability is beneficial, and could find use in packaging recoverable electronic components, in drilling and mining applications, in building trades, in art works, in the entertainment industry for special effects, in manufacturing as temporary fixtures, in agriculture as temporary supports and containers and for delivery of fertilizer, in medicine as casts and splints, as temporary thermal barriers, as temporary protective covers for fragile objects, as filters for particulate matter, which matter may be easily recovered upon exposure to a solvent, as in-situ valves (for one-time use) which go frommore » maximum to minimum impedance when solvent flows through, and for the automatic opening or closing of spring-loaded, mechanical switches upon exposure to a solvent, among other applications. 1 fig.

Inventors:
; ; ;
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
AT&T
OSTI Identifier:
87750
Patent Number(s):
5432205
Application Number:
PAN: 8-238,542
Assignee:
Dept. of Energy, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:  
AC04-76DP00789
Resource Type:
Patent
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: 11 Jul 1995
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; FOAMS; CHEMICAL PREPARATION; USES; MICROSPHERES; POLYMERS; SLURRIES; FILTRATION; ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT; CONTAINERS; WELL DRILLING; MINING; THERMAL INSULATION

Citation Formats

Arnold, C Jr, Derzon, D K, Nelson, J S, and Rand, P B. Method of preparation of removable syntactic foam. United States: N. p., 1995. Web.
Arnold, C Jr, Derzon, D K, Nelson, J S, & Rand, P B. Method of preparation of removable syntactic foam. United States.
Arnold, C Jr, Derzon, D K, Nelson, J S, and Rand, P B. Tue . "Method of preparation of removable syntactic foam". United States.
@article{osti_87750,
title = {Method of preparation of removable syntactic foam},
author = {Arnold, C Jr and Derzon, D K and Nelson, J S and Rand, P B},
abstractNote = {Easily removable, environmentally safe, low-density, syntactic foams are disclosed which are prepared by mixing insoluble microballoons with a solution of water and/or alcohol-soluble polymer to produce a pourable slurry, optionally vacuum filtering the slurry in varying degrees to remove unwanted solvent and solute polymer, and drying to remove residual solvent. The properties of the foams can be controlled by the concentration and physical properties of the polymer, and by the size and properties of the microballoons. The suggested solute polymers are non-toxic and soluble in environmentally safe solvents such as water or low-molecular weight alcohols. The syntactic foams produced by this process are particularly useful in those applications where ease of removability is beneficial, and could find use in packaging recoverable electronic components, in drilling and mining applications, in building trades, in art works, in the entertainment industry for special effects, in manufacturing as temporary fixtures, in agriculture as temporary supports and containers and for delivery of fertilizer, in medicine as casts and splints, as temporary thermal barriers, as temporary protective covers for fragile objects, as filters for particulate matter, which matter may be easily recovered upon exposure to a solvent, as in-situ valves (for one-time use) which go from maximum to minimum impedance when solvent flows through, and for the automatic opening or closing of spring-loaded, mechanical switches upon exposure to a solvent, among other applications. 1 fig.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Jul 11 00:00:00 EDT 1995},
month = {Tue Jul 11 00:00:00 EDT 1995}
}

Patent:
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