Polyurethane foam production space

Production of Polyurethane Foams in Space Gravitational and Vacuum Effects on Foam Formation... 

Embryogenic rice calli tend to form larger clumps during cultivation. Therefore, immobilization of the calli has hardly been carried out until now. Porous supports such as polyurethane foam have often been used for the immobilization of mycelial cells [64, 65] and plant cells [66-68]. In almost all cases, effective production of biological materials by the immobilized cells has been reported. To avoid the damage due to the hydrodynamic stress, we proposed the immobilization culture of rice callus using a macroporous urethane foam support. A turbine-blade reactor (TBR), which has been developed for hairy root culture, was also used in the culture. In the culture space, polyurethane foam was added as an immobilization support. 

With a moisture sensitive product, moisture pick by this means can be quite rapid. Alternative materials to wool are either plastic shapes or plugs of expanded polystyrene, polyethylene or polyurethane foams. Closures can also be obtained which incorporate spring extensions. Such closures may have chambers which hold desiccants. Transit tests (vibration/drops) would be advised to check whether space fillers are necessary. 

Toluene-2,4-diisocyanate (2,4-toulene diisocyanate, Br tolylene diisocyanate, TDI) n. H3CC6H3(NC0)2. A water-white to pale yellow liquid with a sharp, pungent odor, produced by reacting toluene-2,4-di-amine with phosgene (some of the 2,6-isomer is usually present). It reacts with water to produce carbon dioxide. TDI is widely used in the production of polyurethane foams and elastomers, but is toxic and requires careful handling to keep its concentration in work-space air below the permissible threshold limits. 

Experiments have been conducted using Consort series research rockets to evaluate production of polyurethane foams both in a microgravity environment and in a space environment. The results of those experiments are discussed. 

Wessling et al. reported the first polyurethane foam produced in reduced gravity in which they found major differences in the foam and cell structures formed, compared to those formed on Earth. 4,5) Bergman proposed that the space-based production of foams would prevent imperfections in the finished product caused by cell drainage and sedimentation. ) Curtin et al. sought to produce high quality foams in reduced gravity, free of defects in order to test heat transfer theories and for uses as a standard reference material. (7)... 

Miscellaneous silicone products. Most of the major silicone manufacturers sell over 100 different silicone products, and the applications of these cover a very wide range. Here there is space to mention only two more applications the first being the use of silicone oils and emulsions for the prevention of foam in numerous industrial processes, the other being the use of silicone-containing copolymers as surfactants in the manufacture of polyurethane foams from di-isocyanates, ethylene/propy-lene polyethers and a little water. Unless a suitable surface-active surfactant is added, polyurethane foams tend to collapse before the polymerization is complete. One of the best types of surfactant is a poly-siloxane to which polyethers are attached ... 

BP Chemicals have developed a polyurethane (PU) system for the production of integrally-molded sand-insulated carpets. The carpet is laminated with a PU backing to improve shape retention. It is then placed in a mold and PU foam is injected to fill the space between the car floor contours and the carpet. A carpet made with the system has been in use in the Fiat Turbo Uno. 

---