Blowing agents, chemical physical

There are two forms of blowing agents (physical or chemical) and these must satisfy the following requirements ... 

Foaming can be achieved by chemical or physical blowing agents. 

Blends of poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PETP) and polypropylene (PP) with different rheological properties were dry blended or compounded, and extrusion foamed using both physical blowing and chemical agents, and the foam properties compared with those of foam produced from the individual components in the absence of compatibilisers and rheology modifiers. The foams were characterised by measurement of density, cell size and thermal properties. Low density foam with a fine cell size was obtained by addition of a compatibiliser and a co-agent, and foamed using carbon dioxide. The presence of PP or a polyolefin-based compatibiliser did not effect... 

However, as cell growth proceeds, the physical as well as chemical constraints of the triblock terpolymers inhibit pronounced growth within the PB phase. Instead, the nucleated cells tend to grow into the SAN/PMMA phase. As the PPE/PS phase still stores a significant amount of carbon dioxide, the blowing agent is subsequently transported along the interface towards the foam cells. Apparently the PPE/PS phase still acts similar to a solid phase. 

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