Polymer nanocomposite foams

Details Polymer nanocomposite foams Polymer nanocomposite foams

2006-04-11

2006-04-11

Seidleck, James J. (Department: 1711)

Synthetic resins or natural rubbers -- part of the class 520 ser

Synthetic resins

Cellular products or processes of preparing a cellular...

C521S091000, C521S092000, C521S093000, C521S100000, C521S110000

Reexamination Certificate

active

07026365

ABSTRACT:
Nano-sized particles such as nano-clays can be mixed with polymers through either melt compounding or in-situ polymerization. By modifying the particle surface with various surfactants and controlling processing conditions, we are able to achieve either intercalated (partial dispersion) or exfoliated (full dispersion) nano-clay distribution in polymers with the clay content up to 35% by weight. When a blowing agent is injected into the nanocomposite in an extruder (a continuous mixer) or a batch mixer, polymeric foam can be produced. Supercritical carbon dioxide, an environmentally friendly, low-cost, non-flammable, chemically benign gas is used as the blowing agent. This process forms a microcellular foam with very high cell density (>109cells/cc) and small cell size (<5 microns) can be achieved by controlling the CO2content, melt and die temperature, and pressure drop rate.

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Poly(methyl methacrylate) and Polystyrene/Clay Nanocomposites Prepared by in-Situ Polymerization, Macromolecules 2001, 34, 4098-4103 by Chngchun Zeng and L. James Lee.

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