Biofoam

Patent · 01 January 1995

OSTI ID:869706

Morrison, Robert L ^[1]

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1. Modesto, CA

Biofoam is a rigid, opaque microcellular organic foam made from organic materials derived from natural products and biological organisms. Typical organic materials are agar, agarose, gelatin, algin, alginates, gellan gum, and microcrystalline cellulose. The organic material is dissolved in a polar solvent, typically water, and the solution can be gelled immediately. The gel is frozen and freeze-dried to form the biofoam. Alternatively, a nonpolar solvent is added to the solution and emulsified. The resulting emulsion is then gelled, frozen, and freeze-dried. A variety of crystalline, fibrous, or metallic additives may be added to produce lightweight composite materials with enhanced strength and insulating properties. The amount of dilution of the organic material in the solvent(s) determines the density of the resulting biofoams, which ranges from about 1.0 mg/cm.sup.3 to about 500 mg/cm.sup.3.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• Assignee: Regents of University of California (Oakland, CA)
• Patent Number(s): US 5382285
• OSTI ID: 869706
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

/106/
500
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microcrystalline
microcrystalline cellulose
natural
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produce
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typically water
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water