Foams density

As a good first approximation (187), the heat conduction of low density foams through the soHd and gas phases can be expressed as the product of the thermal conductivity of each phase times its volume fraction. Most rigid polymers have thermal conductivities of 0.07-0.28 W/(m-K) and the corresponding conduction through the soHd phase of a 32 kg/m (2 lbs/fT) foam (3 vol %) ranges 0.003-0.009 W/(m-K). In most cellular polymers this value is deterrnined primarily by the density of the foam and the polymer-phase composition. Smaller variations can result from changes in cell stmcture. 

A low (<0.4 W / (m-K)) thermal conductivity polymer, fabricated iato alow density foam consisting of a multitude of tiny closed ceUs, provides good thermal performance. CeUular plastic thermal insulation can be used in the 4—350 K temperature range. CeUular plastic materials have been developed in... 

Figure 9.20 shows the setup for a symmetric plate impact test. The projectile here has a facing plate of ceramic and is backed with a low-density foam, for support of the ceramic during launch. The facing plate of the target is also made of ceramic. The lithium fluoride slab, which backs the target sample, serves as a window for the laser velocity interferometer (VISAR) that measures the time-resolved particle velocity at the sample/window interface. 

Foamed polyurethane. The basic chemicals are mixed in the liquid state with foaming agents, and swell into a low-density foam which sets by polymerization into a rigid mass. As the swelling material will expand into any shape required, it is ideal for the core of sandwich panels, and the sheet material skins may be flat or profiled. When the panels are manufactured the mixture is injected between the inner and outer skins and expands to the thickness required, adhering to the lining materials. 

In addition to developing solid RP structures, work has been conducted on sandwich structures such as filament-wound plastic skins with low-density foamed core or a plastic honeycomb core to develop more efficient strength-to-weight structures. Sandwich structures using a syntactic core have been successfully tested so that failures occurred at prescribed high-hydrostatic pressures of 28 MPa (4,000 psi). 

Property ASTM Test Phenolics Foamedin Syntactic Place Castable Polyvinyl Chloride Rigid Closed Cell Phenylene Oxide Foamable Resin Polycarbonate Polystyrene Medium-Density Foam Polystyrene Molded Extruded Polyurethane Rigid Closed Cell... 

Low-detonation pressure composites consisting of PETN (and other expls) in a low-density (foam) plastic matrix (eg polyurethanes) are described by Abegg et al (Ref 33)... 

Some interesting results for very low density foamed PETN or expanded NC were obtained... 

Microcellular elastomers16 bridge the gap between solid elastomers and low-density foams. Although they may appear to be noncellular, these materials have a microscopic cell structure and so are by definition high-density foams, with densities between noncellular solids and standard foams. The most commercially important applications include shoe soles, carpet backing, chair armrests,... 

The use of statistically designed experiments in the development of both PS and RF foams has led to very significant progress, where critical problems were identified and solved quickly and where previously unexplored ranges of variables led to substantially improved materials. We shall continue to employ it in our development of low-density foams, and we strongly recommend it to other researchers. 

The physical properties important for the projected use of hydraulic fluids are viscosity, density, foaming behavior, and fire resistance. There is no generally recognized test method for measuring flammability of hydraulic fluids, although various test methods maybe utilized (Moller 1989). 

We prepare force versus compression plots in a similar fashion to force versus elongation plots. We generally perform compressive testing over a much more limited range of strain than tensile testing. Samples typically take the form of thick pads, which do not break in the same manner as tensile specimens. The limit of compressive strain can approach 100% for low density foams, but is much less for other samples. The most common property that we obtain from this mode of testing is compressive modulus. 

Polyether-based foams account for more than 90% of all flexible polyurethane foams. The properties of foams are controlled by the molecular structure of the precursors and the reaction conditions. In general, density decreases as the amount of water increases, which increases the evolution of carbon dioxide. However, the level of water that can be used is limited by the highly exothermic nature of its reaction with isocyanate, which carries with it the risk of self-ignition of the foamed product. If very low density foams are desired, additional blowing agents, such as butane, are incorporated within the mixing head. 

Cold curing permits the formation of dual density foam products. We either sequentially inject different formulations or we mold the first foam then mold the second around or on top of it. When making dual density foams, it is important that the first component develop a continuous skin prior to the injection of the second reactive mixture. 

The foaming propensity of surfactants generally reaches a maximum at the critical micelle concentration, beyond which there appears to be little further contribution to foam density. Foam stabilisers are also added in some cases. The two important steps in the foam treatment of textile materials are generating the foam and applying it to the substrate ... 

The polyethersulfone foams are specific low-density foams, named Airex R80.90 , specially developed by Airex to obtain a good balance of ... 

This low-density foam with closed cells is associated with ... 

The styrene content affects the crystallinity of ESI (131) for >50% styrene the copolymers are amorphous. As the styrene content is increased from 50 to 70% styrene the Tg increases from -15 °C to 20 °C. Low density foams were made (8) from a blend of 50% of various ESI polymers, 33% of EVA and 17% of azodicarbonamide blowing agent. Thermal analysis showed that the blends, with an ESI having approximately 70% styrene, had a Tg in the range 22 to 30 °C. Dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) traces (see Section 5.1) show that these blends... 

When low density foams are produced, the polymer melt must undergo high biaxial extension in order to... 

For the EVA foam midsoles of running shoes, the durability for repeated impact appears to improve with increased density. However the polymer conhibution to the impact response reduces after simulated (and real) use (a. 18), since wrinkles and some holes appear in the cell walls. Consequently these applications require high density foams. 

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... 

The benefits of the Sioplas moisture crosslinking process for the manufacture of crosslinked PE foam and the end-uses of such foams are discussed. The process involves grafting of alkoxysilanes onto ethylene homo- or copolymers to provide moisture crosslinkable polymers suitable for the manufacture of flexible, rigid, open-ceUed, closed-cell or very low density foams. 11 refs. 

An experimental and theoretical study of the degassing of an LDPE high-density foam is presented. Measurements of the mass, dimensions, and density as a function of storage time are reported. A geometrical model is described to represent the basic mass transport and volume relaxation processes in a cellular system. Model predictions were compared with experimental results. 12 refs. 

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