Low density microcellular foams

Patent · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1991

OSTI ID:868070

LeMay, James D ^[1]

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1. Castro Valley, CA

Disclosed is a process of producing microcellular foam which comprises the steps of: (a) selecting a multifunctional epoxy oligomer resin; (b) mixing said epoxy resin with a non-reactive diluent to form a resin-diluent mixture; (c) forming a diluent containing cross-linked epoxy gel from said resin-diluent mixture; (d) replacing said diluent with a solvent therefore; (e) replacing said solvent with liquid carbon dioxide; and (f) vaporizing off said liquid carbon dioxide under supercritical conditions, whereby a foam having a density in the range of 35-150 mg/cc and cell diameters less than about 1 .mu.m is produced. Also disclosed are the foams produced by the process.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 5066684
• OSTI ID: 868070
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

/521/
35-150
carbon
carbon dioxide
cc
cell
cellular foam
comprises
conditions
containing
cross-linked
cross-linked epoxy
density
density microcellular
diameters
diluent
diluent containing
dioxide
disclosed
epoxy
epoxy oligomer
epoxy resin
foam
foams
foams produced
form
forming
liquid
liquid carbon
mg
microcellular
microcellular foam
microcellular foams
mixing
mixture
multifunctional
multifunctional epoxy
non-reactive
non-reactive diluent
oligomer
oligomer resin
process
produced
producing
producing microcellular
range
replacing
resin
resin-diluent
selecting
solvent
steps
supercritical
supercritical conditions
vaporizing
whereby