Biofoam
Abstract
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]. 4 figures.
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- OSTI Identifier:
- 6620886
- Patent Number(s):
- 5382285
- Application Number:
- PPN: US 8-043300
- Assignee:
- University of California, Oakland, CA (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: 6 Apr 1993
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; 32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION; BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS; GELATION; FOAMS; THERMAL INSULATION; FABRICATION; MECHANICAL PROPERTIES; PHYSICAL PROPERTIES; COLLOIDS; DISPERSIONS; MATERIALS; 360600* - Other Materials; 320107 - Energy Conservation, Consumption, & Utilization- Building Systems- (1987-)
Citation Formats
Morrison, R L. Biofoam. United States: N. p., 1995.
Web.
Morrison, R L. Biofoam. United States.
Morrison, R L. Tue .
"Biofoam". United States.
@article{osti_6620886,
title = {Biofoam},
author = {Morrison, R L},
abstractNote = {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]. 4 figures.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1995},
month = {1}
}