Molecular redesign of expanded polystyrene to allow use of carbon dioxide as a foaming agent. I. Reversible binding of CO[sub 2]

Journal Article · Fri Nov 05 00:00:00 EST 1993 · Journal of Applied Polymer Science; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/app.1993.070500510· OSTI ID:5627233

Diaf, A; Enick, R M; Beckman, E J ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Pittsburgh, PA (United States). Chemical Engineering Dept.

Environmental concerns, associated with the production of expanded plastics using hydrocarbon blowing agents, have spurred interest in environmentally-friendly technology by which cellular materials, particularly expanded polystyrene, can be produced. Consequently, the authors have explored the possibility of using styrene-based, amino-functional copolymers to generate expandable systems, which would rely solely on CO[sub 2] as a blowing agent. Carbon dioxide is an attractive foaming agent in that it can be readily extracted from the air, is nonflammable, and exhibits low toxicity. Using a styrenic copolymer, functionalized with ethylenediamine (EDA), the results of this study show that aminated polymers are capable of reversibly binding weakly acidic gases, CO[sub 2] in particular. While the reaction products (polymer-bound zwitterions) are stable under ambient conditions, decarboxylation can be thermally induced cleanly and easily. Work underway in the laboratory shows that microporous, as well as nonporous EDA-functional copolymers, are effective, thermally-reversible sorbents for acid gases. Furthermore, preliminary results show that these materials may also find potential applications in facilitated transport membrane technology.

• OSTI ID: 5627233
• Journal Information: Journal of Applied Polymer Science; (United States), Vol. 50:5; ISSN 0021-8995
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
CARBON DIOXIDE
CHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
POLYSTYRENE
FABRICATION
MEMBRANE TRANSPORT
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
KINETICS
MATERIALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PETROCHEMICALS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
PLASTICS
POLYMERS
POLYOLEFINS
POLYVINYLS
REACTION KINETICS
SYNTHETIC MATERIALS
360601* - Other Materials- Preparation & Manufacture
400201 - Chemical & Physicochemical Properties
320303 - Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization- Industrial & Agricultural Processes- Equipment & Processes