Foams 498 INDEX

Fill the tubes to one third of their height with the liquid to be tested and four control solutions. Stir the tubes for 5 seconds, parallel to their axes. By comparing the test liquid with the control solutions, we are able to assign the liquid a foaming index. 

The next step is to apply a number of loss control credit factors such as process control (emergency power, cooling, explosion control, emergency shutdown, computer control, inert gas, operating procedures, reactive chemical reviews), material isolation (remote control valves, blowdown, drainage, interlocks) and fire protection (leak detection, buried tanks, fire water supply, sprinkler systems, water curtains, foam, cable protection). The credit factors are combined and appHed to the fire and explosion index value to result in a net index. 

As an example, a foam prepared from III, alumina trihydrate as a filler, benzoyl peroxide as a curing agent, and azobis formamide as a blowing agent, leads to a material with an oxygen index of 48, a long-term stability to at least 150 °C, and a smoke density about one fifth that of a commercial foam [284]. 

Aryloxyphosphazene copolymers can also confer fireproof properties to flammable materials when blended. Dieck [591] have used the copolymers III, and IV containing small amounts of reactive unsaturated groups to prepare blends with compatible organic polymers crosslinkable by the same mechanism which crosslinks the polyphosphazene, e.g. ethylene-propylene and butadiene-acrylonitrile copolymers, poly(vinyl chloride), unsaturated urethane rubber. These blends were used to prepare foams exhibiting excellent fire retardance and producing low smoke levels or no smoke when heated in an open flame. Oxygen index values of 27-56 were obtained. 

Flexible foams with oxygen index values of 40-53 were also prepared by the same authors from blends of copolymer IV and a silicone elastomer, (a phenyl vinyl polydimethylsiloxane) [592]. 

Table V. Oxygen Index Data for Structural Foam Samples...

To obtain a measure of the dielectric constant and anisotropy of thin films, the refractive index of thin film samples was measured. It has been shown that the measured dielectric constant is approximately the square of the refractive index at 633 nm wavelength [the actual relationship is roughly e (refractive index) -i- 02.] and the anisotropy is obtained from the difference between the in-plane and out-of-plane refractive index [97]. The measured anisotropy of foamed polyimides is lower than that observed for non-foamed polyimides. In addition, a drop in refractive index of the samples was observed upon foaming. The polyimide PMDa/3FDA has a measured dielectric constant of ca. 2.9 at 70 °C. A foamed sample of PMDA/3FDA derived from copolymer 6f showed a drop in dielectric constant of 2.3 [97]. 

A foam comprising a blend of a low density polyethylene and an ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer is disclosed. The ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer is preferably LLDPE and has a density ranging from about 0.86 to 0.94 grams/cubic centimeter and a melt flow index of greater than 10 g/10 minutes. 

Dow Chemical has launched a range of foams which are said to exceed industry standards for softness and toughness. This article supplies brief details of the foams which are based on Dow s Insite catalyst technology. Synergy Soft Touch Foams are produced using Dow s Index Interpolymers, a new thermoplastic polymer family based on the copolymerisation of ethylene and styrene. The foams are offered in three grades of softness, and other properties include shock absorption, vibration damping and insulation. 

Improved compositions useful for the production of foamed rotomoulded articles are provided. The compositions of the invention are comprised of a first thermoplastic resin component which is an ethylene polymer in pellet form containing a foaming agent and a second thermoplastic resin component which is a powder consisting of a mixture of different particle size and melt index ethylene polymers. An improved process for producing foamed rotomoulded articles having uniformly foamed interiors and smooth exterior skins which are snbstantially free of surface defects is also provided. 

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