Low density microcellular foams
Abstract
Low density, microporous polymer foams are provided by a process which comprises forming a solution of polymer and a suitable solvent followed by rapid cooling of the solution to form a phase-separated system and freeze the phase-separated system. The phase-separated system comprises a polymer phase and a solvent phase, each of which is substantially continuous within the other. The morphology of the polymer phase prior to and subsequent to freezing determine the morphology of the resultant foam. Both isotropic and anisotropic foams can be produced. If isotropic foams are produced, the polymer and solvent are tailored such that the solution spontaneously phase-separates prior to the point at which any component freezes. The morphology of the resultant polymer phase determines the morphology of the reusltant foam and the morphology of the polymer phase is retained by cooling the system at a rate sufficient to freeze one or both components of the system before a change in morphology can occur. Anisotropic foams are produced by forming a solution of polymer and solvent that will not phase separate prior to freezing of one or both components of the solution. In such a process, the solvent typically freezes before phase separation occurs. The morphologymore »
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 5534548
- Application Number:
- ON: DE86013759
- Assignee:
- Dept. of Energy
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-76DP00789
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; PLASTIC FOAMS; PRODUCTION; FREEZING; COLLOIDS; DISPERSIONS; FOAMS; ORGANIC COMPOUNDS; ORGANIC POLYMERS; POLYMERS; 360401* - Polymers & Plastics- Preparation & Fabrication- (-1987)
Citation Formats
Aubert, J H, Clough, R L, Curro, J G, Quintana, C A, Russick, E M, and Shaw, M T. Low density microcellular foams. United States: N. p., 1985.
Web.
Aubert, J H, Clough, R L, Curro, J G, Quintana, C A, Russick, E M, & Shaw, M T. Low density microcellular foams. United States.
Aubert, J H, Clough, R L, Curro, J G, Quintana, C A, Russick, E M, and Shaw, M T. Wed .
"Low density microcellular foams". United States.
@article{osti_5534548,
title = {Low density microcellular foams},
author = {Aubert, J H and Clough, R L and Curro, J G and Quintana, C A and Russick, E M and Shaw, M T},
abstractNote = {Low density, microporous polymer foams are provided by a process which comprises forming a solution of polymer and a suitable solvent followed by rapid cooling of the solution to form a phase-separated system and freeze the phase-separated system. The phase-separated system comprises a polymer phase and a solvent phase, each of which is substantially continuous within the other. The morphology of the polymer phase prior to and subsequent to freezing determine the morphology of the resultant foam. Both isotropic and anisotropic foams can be produced. If isotropic foams are produced, the polymer and solvent are tailored such that the solution spontaneously phase-separates prior to the point at which any component freezes. The morphology of the resultant polymer phase determines the morphology of the reusltant foam and the morphology of the polymer phase is retained by cooling the system at a rate sufficient to freeze one or both components of the system before a change in morphology can occur. Anisotropic foams are produced by forming a solution of polymer and solvent that will not phase separate prior to freezing of one or both components of the solution. In such a process, the solvent typically freezes before phase separation occurs. The morphology of the resultant frozen two-phase system determines the morphology of the resultant foam. The process involves subjecting the solution to essentially one-dimensional cooling. Foams having a density of less than 0.1 g/cc and a uniform cell size of less than 10 ..mu..m and a volume such that the foams have a length greater than 1 cm are provided.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Oct 02 00:00:00 EDT 1985},
month = {Wed Oct 02 00:00:00 EDT 1985}
}