The application of statistical experimental design to the development of low-density polymer foams
Statistical experimental designs have been used to improve the development of low-density polymer foams for use as direct-drive targets for Laser Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF). For polystyrene foams, which are made by polymerization of a high-internal-phase emulsion, a three-variable Box-Behnken response surface methodology experiment led to quick identification of a reproducibility problem, which was resolved by moving to a different density regime. This experiment also confirmed the crucial role the surfactant (Span 80) plays in this system. For resorcinol-formaldehyde foams, which are made by a condensation polymerization in dilute solution, a fractional-factorial screening study identified key variables which were then investigated further. The striking result here was that testing ranges of variables outside what had previously been considered led to better quality samples with much lower densities. 12 refs., 5 figs., 3 tabs.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- OSTI ID:
- 6526382
- Report Number(s):
- UCRL-97490; CONF-8806139-2; ON: DE89006774
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Symposium on computer applications in applied polymer science, Toronto, Canada, 5 Jun 1988; Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
LASER TARGETS
PLASTIC FOAMS
DESIGN
INERTIAL CONFINEMENT
POLYMERS
SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
STATISTICAL MODELS
USES
X-RAY RADIOGRAPHY
COLLOIDS
CONFINEMENT
DISPERSIONS
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
FOAMS
INDUSTRIAL RADIOGRAPHY
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MICROSCOPY
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
PLASMA CONFINEMENT
TARGETS
700208* - Fusion Power Plant Technology- Inertial Confinement Technology
360601 - Other Materials- Preparation & Manufacture