Preparation of microcellular SAN foam using supercritical CO2

Kyung Nam Lee, Yong Joon Suh, Hae Joon Lee, Jung Hyun Kim

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Microcellular polymeric foam structures have been generated using a pressure induced phase separation in concentrated mixtures of supercritical CO2 and SAN. The process typically generates microcellular core structure encased by nonporous skin. Pore growth will occur through two mechanisms : diffusion of CO2 from polymer-rich regions into the pores and also through CO2 gas expansion. The effects of saturation pressure, temperature, and swelling time on the cell size, cell density, and bulk density of the porous materials have been studied. Higher CO2 pressure lowered polymer viscosity and interfacial tension between SAN and CO2 to produce cells with smaller average size but higher cell density, resulted from increase in swollen CO2 into SAN matrix. This trend was similar to what was observed in swelling time series. While the average cell size increased with increasing temperature, the cell density decreased. The trend of bulk density was similar to that of cell size.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)181-188
Number of pages8
JournalPolymer (Korea)
Volume23
Issue number2
Publication statusPublished - 1999

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Chemical Engineering
  • Polymers and Plastics
  • Materials Chemistry

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