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Author(s): , , , , ,

Keywords: , , , , , ,

Abstract: Microcellular (methylmethacrylate)-(butyl acrylate)-(Methylmethacrylate) triblock copolymer foams were prepared by a foaming process using CO2. CO2 was first dissolved into sheets of the polymer, and then the pressure was released over different time periods, from 2 to 30 minutes. The density, cellular structure, and thermal conductivity of these foams were then investigated. It was determined that the density decreased with increasing depressurization time; however, the density did not change appreciably for depressurization times greater than 10 min. Depressurization time was also found to affect the cellular structure of the produced foams, with a shorter depressurization time giving smaller cells than a longer depressurization time. The thermal conductivity of each of the foam samples tested was lower than that of the solid material, and it was found that the thermal conductivity increased with increasing density.

Reference: Polymer International, 60 (2011) 146-152

DOI: 10.1002/pi.2931