Open-cell systems

A basic distinction is made between closed-cell systems, where spherical or roughly spherical voids (cells) are fully separated by matrix material, and open cell systems where there are interconnections between voids. 

The standard DSC heat-flow calibration procedure with indium is not longer accurate enough, due to the change from a closed to an open cell system (the standard platinum cell lids are removed). Demineralised water is used, therefore, as calibration substance for the vaporisation experiments. The heat of vaporisation of demineralised water was measured six times which each of the sample cups. The average heat of vaporisation measured was compared with the known heat of vaporisation of water (43.9 kJ/mol., [20]) to calculate a correction factor for each sample cup ... 

A typical phenohc foam system consists of hquid phenohc resia, blowiag agent, catalyst, surface-active agent, and modifiers. Various formulations and composite systems (65—67) can be used to improve one or more properties of the foam ia specific apphcations such as iasulation properties (63,68—71), flammabihty (72—74), and open cell (76—78) (quahty). 

In intact cell systems or vivo, the primary products of a-hydroxylation, 22. have not been detected. The principal urinary metabolites of NNN resulting from a-hydroxylation are keto acid 21 from 2 -hydroxyl at ion and hydroxy acid 21 from 5 -hydroxylation. Trace amounts of 7 y 21> H ve also been detected as urinary metabolites (34). The interrelationships of these metabolites as shown in Figure 2 have been confirmed by administration of each metabolite to F-344 rats (37). The other metabolites which are routinely observed in the urine are NNN-1-N-oxide U1 and 5-(3-pyridyl)-2-pyrrolidinone [norcotinine, ]. The p-hydroxy derivatives 2. 1 were also detected in the urine of NNN treated rats, but at less than 0.1% of the dose (36). An HPLC trace of the urinary metabolites of NNN is shown in Figure 3. Urine is the major route of excretion (80-90% of the dose) of NNN and its metabolites in the F-344 rat in contrast to NPYR which appears primarily as CO2 (70%) after a dose of 16 mg/kg (17). This is because the major urinary metabolite of NNN, hydroxy acid 21> fs not metabolized further, in contrast to 4-hy-droxybutyric acid [2, Figure 1] which is converted to CO2. In addition, a significant portion of NNN is excreted as NNN-l-N-oxide U ], a pathway not open to NPYR. 

Successful development of such systems will lead to foamed materials having useful stress-absorbing characteristics in addition to controlled physics properties. Although our work in this area is currently in a very early stage, prototype materials have been successfully synthesized and assessed structurally using three-dimensional (3D) X-ray microtomography. The technique offers a unique insight into the internal microstructure of cellular materials (see Fig. 3). The diameter of the mainly open cell pores varies from approximately 100 to 250 pm (the resolution of the instrument is 5 pm), with cell walls of variable thickness. 

The dimensional stability of low density, water blown rigid PU foams for pour-in-place thermal insulation applications was improved by the use of a phthalic anhydride based polyester polyol containing a dispersed cell opening agent. The foam systems obtained allowed some of the carbon dioxide to be released through the cell windows immediately after filling of the cavity, and to be rapidly replaced by air. Studies were made of the flowability, density, open cell content, dimensional stability, mechanical properties, thermal conductivity and adhesion (particularly to flame treated PE) of these foams. These properties were examined in comparison with those of HCFC-141b blown foams. 21 refs. 

Until 1920, the only flexible foam available was the natural sponge, but chemically foamed rubber and mechanically foamed rubber latex were introduced before World War II. These foams may consist of discrete unit cells (unicellular, closed cell), or they may be composed of interconnecting cells (multicellular, open cells) depending on the viscosity of the system at the time the blowing agent is introduced. Over 1.5 million tons of foamed plastic is produced annually in the United States. 

This chapter introduces readers to the versatility of polyurethane polymers without spending too much time on the chemistry. The next chapter will discuss a more classical view of the molecule and how it is developed. Our point, however, is to present a functional view of this system. We have examined its physical characteristics, focusing our attention on the uniqueness of reticulated foams. All the chemical points we have made apply to all polyurethane polymers, whether they are open-celled foams, closed-cell foams, or thermoplastic elastomers. 

Diffusion Cell System A diffusion cell system with a standard open cap ground glass surface with 15 mm diameter orifice and total diameter of 25 mm. 

The density of CO2 in the absorption cell, however, is a function of both concentration and bulk air density. In normal process analyzers, where temperature and pressure within the absorption cell are controlled, measurements can be easily referred to gas density by a simple calibration curve. In an open path system, changes in bulk air density must be measured. Indeed, one of the major problems faced in testing the sensor was the development of test facilities where we could control the temperature, pressure and CC>2 more accurately than the sensor could measure. Even the small changes in building pressure associated with ventilation system fluctuations resulted in output signal changes three to four times the sensor signal to noise level. In operation, pressure and temperature near the open cell are measured and used to calculate gas density. 

A new small-scale test has been developed which needs only a few g of thermally unstable material, which may be contained in an open cell version of the apparatus if aerobic processes are involved, otherwise in a closed cell apparatus, both with full temperature control and monitoring systems. Such materials may be divided into 2 types, depending on the behaviour of a sample after introduction into adiabatic storage at elevated temperature. The first type, which after attaining the adiabatic temperature shows a steady further increase in temperature in line with Frank-Kamenetski s thermal explosion theory, exhibit thermal combustion (TC) behaviour. In the second type, after adiabatic temperature has been reached, the sample shows a sudden rapid rate of rise, exhibiting autocatalytic (AC) behaviour as chain branching... 

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