Ultra-low density microcellular polymer foam and method

Patent · Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1996

OSTI ID:870346

Simandl, Ronald F ^[1]; Brown, John D ^[2]

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1. Farragut, TN
2. Harriman, TN

An ultra-low density, microcellular open-celled polymer foam and a method for making such foam. A polymer is dissolved in a heated solution consisting essentially of at least one solvent for the dissolution of the polymer in the heated solution and the phase inversion of the dissolved polymer to a liquid gel upon sufficient cooling of the heated solution. The heated solution is contained in a containment means provided with a nucleating promoting means having a relatively rough surface formed of fixed nucleating sites. The heated solution is cooled for a period of time sufficient to form a liquid gel of the polymer by phase inversion. From the gel, a porous foam having a density of less than about 12.0 mg/cm.sup.3 and open porosity provided by well interconnected strut morphology is formed.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by Department of Energy (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 5500450
• OSTI ID: 870346
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ultra-low
density
microcellular
polymer
foam
method
open-celled
dissolved
heated
solution
consisting
essentially
solvent
dissolution
phase
inversion
liquid
sufficient
cooling
contained
containment
means
provided
nucleating
promoting
relatively
surface
formed
fixed
sites
cooled
period
time
form
porous
12
mg
cm
porosity
interconnected
strut
morphology
porous foam
density microcellular
polymer foam
time sufficient
consisting essentially
surface formed
solution consisting
phase inversion
strut morphology
means provided
interconnected strut
ultra-low density
surface form
/521/