微孔聚丙烯的分形特征

泡孔结构具有分形特征,可以用分形维数来描述其形态复杂性。文中应用MATLAB编写的数盒子算法,计算了应用超临界二氧化碳作为发泡剂间歇发泡制备的微孔聚丙烯的盒维数,并讨论了二值化阈值对分形维数的影响。结果表明,聚丙烯微孔结构具有典型的分形特征,分形维数与微孔聚丙烯的泡孔密度有关,在一定阈值下,分形维数随着泡孔密度的增加而增加。分形维数是发泡聚丙烯微孔结构的几何特性之一,体现了聚丙烯在特定条件下的发泡能力。     

Fabrication and investigation of influence of CaCO3 as foaming agent on Al-SiCp foam

Closed cell aluminum foams have been used in various disciplines of engineering. Aluminum foams provide high strength with the advantage of low weight. In the current research, CaCO₃ is used as a foaming agent for producing closed-cell aluminum foams. For the fabrication of homogenous foam, optimization of process parameters was done. The effect of SiC as a thickening agent on structural property of foams viz. density and porosity have been inspected. Foams with density 0.40–0.86 g/cm³ were produced. The produced foams were studied under axial compression tests for evaluating mechanical properties. It can be inferred from the results that by adding 3 wt.% CaCO₃, the uniform viscosity of melt was achieved and a homogeneous foam structure is achieved with optimum porosity. Also, 5 wt.% addition of CaCO₃ in melt and stirring speed at 1400 rpm tend to increase porosity and decrease cell wall thickness. The optimum values for thickening agent SiC, foaming agent CaCO₃ at stirring speed 1400 rpm were found out to be 15 wt.%, 3 wt.%. The effect of relative density, the addition of thickening and foaming agent is studied.     

Ternary nano-CaCO3/poly(ethylene terephthalate) fiber/polypropylene composites: Increased impact strength and reinforcing mechanism

The binary nano-CaCO₃/polypropylene (PP), poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) fibers/PP and ternary nano-CaCO₃/PET fibers/polypropylene composites were prepared by melt blending method, and their structure and mechanical properties were investigated. The results show that the ternary nano-CaCO₃/PET fibers/PP composite displays significantly enhanced mechanical properties compared with the binary PET fibers/PP and nano-CaCO₃/PP composites, and neat PP. The X-ray diffraction, dynamic mechanical analysis, scanning electron microscopy and analysis of the non-isothermal crystallization kinetics were used to investigate the reinforcement mechanism of composites. The results indicate that the interfacial action and compatibility between PET fiber and PP are obviously enhanced by the addition of modified nano-CaCO₃ particles in the ternary composites and the mechanical property enhancement in the ternary system may be mainly originated from the formation of β-form crystallites of PP induced by the synergistic effect between PET fibers and nano-CaCO_3.     

Nanoporous structure of the cell walls of polycarbonate foams

Using CO₂ to prepare microcellular polycarbonate foams resulted in a pore diameter of 45 nm and a pore density of 10⁸ cm^?2 on the walls of microscale cells, which created nano/micro foams with an open cell structure. In this study, the craze nucleation theory and the bubble nucleation theory of foaming were combined to explain the mechanism of the foaming-induced nanopores (microvoids) on the cell walls. In the foaming process, the strain energy was developed in the cell walls by bubble nucleation and growth. With large strain energy, a nanoporous structure of the cell walls was formed by initiation of crazing. Because the foaming temperature affected the strain energy in the cell wall, the temperature became a key factor of forming microcellular structure as well as the nanopores on the cell walls. Our experimental results showed that the diameter and density of the nanopores were determined by the competitive movements between chain stretching and relaxation. Furthermore, certain solvents, such as acetone, were found to increase the nanopore density of the walls by exploiting the plasticization effect of the solvent on the reduction of surface tension and viscosity.     

Development of PLA/cellulosic fiber composite foams using injection molding: Crystallization and foaming behaviors

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and northern bleached softwood kraft (NBSK) or black spruce medium density fiberboard (MDF) fibers were melt compounded using a co-rotating twin screw extruder and subsequently microcellular injection molded. Poly(ethlylene glycol) (PEG) was used as a lubricant. The microcellular structure, thermal properties, and crystallization behaviors were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and wide angle X-ray diffraction. Results show that cellulosic fibers, acting as crystal nucleating agents, increased the crystallization temperature and the crystallinity and decreased the crystallization half time. The dissolved N₂, the shear stress, and biaxial stretching during foaming also enhanced the crystallinity of PLA. Compared to PLA/PEG, a finer and more uniform cell structure was achieved in the cellulosic fiber composite foams. The improved foam morphology was attributed to the cell nucleating effects of the fibers and the increased melt strength by the addition of cellulosic fibers and by the gas- and fiber- induced crystallization.     

Fabrication of ferrous metallic foams by reduction of ceramic foam precursors

A process has been developed for obtaining closed cell metallic foams using a ceramic foam precursor. In the present study, the major constituent of the ceramic foam precursor was iron oxide (Fe₂O₃), which was mixed with various foaming/setting additives. The mixture set rapidly at room temperature, stabilizing the foam generated by hydrogen release. The oxide foam was then reduced by annealing at 1240^∘C in a non-flammable hydrogen/inert gas mixture to obtain a metallic foam with a relative density of 0.23 ± 0.017, and an average cell diameter of 1.32 ± 0.32 mm. The iron foams were tested in compression and yielded an average compressive strength of 29 ± 7 MPa. The compressive stress-strain curves obtained were typical of cellular metals. The normalized strengths of the metal foams obtained in the present study compare favorably with those of steel foams produced by other techniques.     

Thermal conductivity anisotropy in polypropylene foams prepared by supercritical CO2 dissolution

Different relative density polypropylene foams were prepared by means of two foaming processes: chemical foaming by compression moulding and physical foaming by high pressure CO₂ dissolution. By controlling the foaming parameters, such as blowing agent concentration, foaming temperature, pressure drop and pressure drop rate, it was possible to regulate the cellular structure, foams showing from markedly isotropic-like cellular structures to ones with highly-elongated cells in the vertical foam growth direction (honeycomb-like cell orientation). The thermal conductivity was measured using the transient plane source method. Using this technique, it was possible to measure the global conductivity and the thermal conductivity in both the axial and radial directions of a given sample. Results show that the global thermal conductivity of foams was mainly regulated by their relative density. In addition, the honeycomb-like cell orientation of the CO₂ dissolution foams resulted in considerably higher values in axial direction when compared to radial, demonstrating that there was a direct influence of cellular structure on the thermal conduction behaviour of these foams, enabling the development of new polypropylene foams with direction-dependent thermal properties.     

弹性体对微发泡聚丙烯复合材料发泡行为的影响

以化学发泡为主线,在聚丙烯(PP)基体中添加弹性体三元乙丙橡胶(EPDM)制备微发泡聚丙烯复合材料。利用旋转流变仪、差示扫描量热法和扫描电镜等手段,系统地研究EPDM对微发泡PP材料发泡行为的影响。结果表明,EPDM的加入提高了PP材料的熔体强度,对PP材料发泡质量有明显改善;同时使PP复合材料的降温结晶峰向高温移动,能有效抑制泡孔的变形及并泡等恶化现象。当EPDM的质量分数为20%时,泡孔形态较为理想,其泡孔直径和泡孔密度分别为14.43μm,2.49×10⁷cm^-3。与未加EPDM的微发泡PP复合材料比较,EPDM的加入能够拓宽发泡PP复合材料的发泡温度窗口,发泡温度范围为180~195℃。     

SiC-particulate aluminum composite foams produced from powder compacts: foaming and compression behavior

The foaming behavior of SiC-particulate (SiC_p) aluminum composite powder compacts containing titanium hydride blowing agent was investigated by heating to 750°C in a pre-heated furnace. Aluminum powder compacts were also prepared and foamed using similar compaction and foaming parameters in order to determine the effect of SiC_p-addition on the foaming and compression behavior. The SiC_p-addition (10 wt%) was found to increase the linear expansion of the Al powder compacts presumably by increasing the surface as well as the bulk viscosities. The compression tests conducted on Al and 10 and 20% SiC_p foams further showed a more brittle compression behavior of SiC_p/Al foams as compared with Al foams. The collapse stresses of Al and 10% SiC_p/Al foams were also predicted using the equations developed for the open and closed cell foams. Predictions have shown that Al foam samples behaved similar to open cell foams, while 10% SiC_p/Al foam collapse stress values were found between those of open and closed cell foams, biasing towards those of the open cell foams.     

Preparation of Microcellular Epoxy Foams through a Limited‐Foaming Process: A Contradiction with the Time–Temperature–Transformation Cure Diagram

3D cross‐linking networks are generated through chemical reactions between thermosetting epoxy resin and hardener during curing. The curing degree of epoxy material can be increased by increasing curing temperature and/or time. The epoxy material must then be fully cured through a postcuring process to optimize its material characteristics. Here, a limited‐foaming method is introduced for the preparation of microcellular epoxy foams (Lim‐foams) with improved cell morphology, high thermal expansion coefficient, and good compressive properties. Lim‐foams exhibit a lower glass transition temperature (T_g) and curing degree than epoxy foams fabricated through free‐foaming process (Fre‐foams). Surprisingly, however, the T_g of Lim‐foams is unaffected by postcuring temperature and time. This phenomenon, which is related to high gas pressure in the bubbles, contradicts that indicated by the time–temperature–transformation cure diagram. High bubble pressure promotes the movement of molecular chains under heating at low temperature and simultaneously suppresses the etherification cross‐linking reaction during post‐curing.     

Poly(D,L-lactide) (PDLLA) foams with TiO2 nanoparticles and PDLLA/TiO2-Bioglass® foam composites for tissue engineering scaffolds

Porous poly(D,L-lactide) PDLLA foams containing 0, 5 and 20 wt% of TiO₂ nanoparticles were fabricated and characterised. The addition of Bioglass^® particles was also studied in a composite containing 5 wt% of Bioglass^® particles and 20 wt% of TiO₂ nanoparticles. The microstructure of the four different foam types was characterised using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and their mechanical properties assessed by quasi-static compression testing. The in vitro behaviour of the foams was studied in simulated body fluid (SBF) at three different time points: 3, 21 and 28 days. The degradation of the samples was characterised quantitatively by measuring the water absorption and weight loss as a function of immersion time in SBF. The bioactivity of the foams was characterised by observing hydroxyapatite (HA) formation after 21 days of immersion in SBF using SEM and confirmed with X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. It was found that the amount of HA was dependent on the distribution of TiO₂ nanoparticles and on the presence of Bioglass^® in the foam samples.     

Characterization of rigid polyurethane foams containing microencapsulated Rubitherm<Superscript>®</Superscript> RT27: catalyst effect. Part II

Catalyst Tegoamin 33 has been used for the synthesis of rigid polyurethane (RPU) foams containing microencapsulated Rubitherm^® RT27 and having a high mechanical resistance. These materials could be employed in buildings for thermal insulation and thermal energy storage (TES). The fillers content influence on the foaming process and also the foam properties was evaluated. It was observed that a foam containing up to a 18 wt% of microcapsules can be manufactured, improving the TES capacity while maintaining the mechanical properties of the neat foam. Besides, it was observed that the mechanical resistance of foams synthesized using catalyst Tegoamin 33 are higher than those obtained when catalyst Tegoamin BDE was employed, with the mechanical resistance of the foam containing 21 wt% being higher than those of foams synthesized with catalyst BDE containing only 11 wt% of fillers while maintaining the advantages of an improvement in TES capacity. A general model of reaction curve of n tank-in-series of a same time constant was used to fit the rising curves. This model allowed to predict the final volume of the synthesized foam. Finally, TES capacities and mechanical properties of the synthesized foams were in the range of those reported in literature. Moreover, foam densities satisfied the restriction established by the Spanish regulation for building applications.     

纳米蒙脱土对木粉/聚丙烯复合材料发泡性能的影响

采用高压釜间歇式发泡法,结合超临界CO₂微孔发泡技术制备了发泡木粉-纳米蒙脱土(NMMT)/聚丙烯(PP)复合材料。通过对复合材料的结晶行为、流变性能、泡孔形貌及压缩性能进行分析,主要研究了NMMT对其微孔结构及力学性能的改善作用。结果表明:NMMT的引入使木粉/PP复合材料中PP基体的结晶速率加快,结晶度减小,有利于发泡均相体系的形成和泡孔生长;PP分子链的运动受到NMMT片层的抑制作用,导致木粉/PP复合材料的熔体弹性提高,泡孔合并与塌陷的现象减少,发泡材料的平均泡孔直径从30.4 μm降低至20.3 μm,并且泡孔尺寸的均匀性得到明显改善,压缩强度和模量分别提高了187%和223%。      

滑石粉对微孔发泡木粉/聚丙烯复合材料结晶行为及泡孔结构的影响

以滑石粉为成核剂,超临界CO_2为发泡剂,采用间歇釜式方法制备微孔发泡木粉/聚丙烯复合材料。采用DSC、XRD和SEM对微孔发泡木粉/聚丙烯复合材料的结晶行为与泡孔结构进行了测定与分析。结果表明:滑石粉的添加能够提高微孔发泡木粉/聚丙烯复合材料的结晶温度,诱导产生不完善的α晶型;能够提高聚合物基体的熔体黏度,减小泡孔尺寸,增加泡孔密度,促使泡孔尺寸分布更均匀,最终能够形成泡孔密度为1.0×10~9个/cm~3、平均泡孔半径为16.4μm、发泡倍率为18倍、表观密度约为0.055g/cm~3的微孔发泡木粉/聚丙烯复合材料。     

聚丙烯微孔发泡材料泡孔结构控制的研究进展

聚丙烯微孔发泡材料具有较好的性能和较高的比强度,泡孔结构是影响聚丙烯微孔发泡材料性能的关键因素,其主要由聚丙烯基体性质、共混改性、添加纳米粒子、控制工艺条件等因素控制。从这些影响因素出发,综述了近年来聚丙烯微孔发泡材料泡孔结构控制的研究进展,并展望了其应用前景。     

Production of Metallic Foams From Ceramic Foam Precursors

A process has been developed for obtaining closed cell metallic foams using a ceramic foam precursor. In this approach, the major constituent of the ceramic foam precursor is iron oxide (Fe₂O₃), which is mixed with various foaming/setting additives. The mixture sets rapidly at room temperature to stabilize the foam generated by hydrogen release. The oxide foam is then reduced in a non‐flammable hydrogen/inert gas mixture to obtain a metallic foam with a cell diameter of 0.5–2 mm. Iron foams with a relative density of 0.23 were tested in compression and yielded an average compressive strength of ～ 34 MPa. The compressive stress‐strain curves obtained were typical of cellular metals. The normalized strengths of the metal foams obtained in the present study compare very favorably with that of steel foams produced by other techniques.     

微发泡聚丙烯/晶须复合材料的发泡行为与力学性能

将改性的MgSO4和CaCO3晶须加入聚丙烯中,在二次开模条件下制备微发泡聚丙烯(PP)/晶须复合材料,通过晶须在基体中的分散性、泡孔直径大小分布和泡孔密度,分析了不同晶须对材料的发泡行为与力学性能的影响.结果表明,晶须具有一定成核效应,CaCO3晶须的泡孔尺寸25.27μm左右,填充增强效果差;MgSO4晶须的泡孔尺...     

LH-PP/Nano-clay共混挤出的发泡成型

以超临界CO2为发泡剂,马来酸酐接枝改性聚丙烯（PP-g-MAH）为相容剂,使用单螺杆挤出发泡系统研究了线性均聚聚丙烯（LH-PP）/纳米粘土（Nano-clay）共混物的发泡成型过程,研究了口模温度和共混配方对发泡样品膨胀率、泡孔密度以及口模压力的影响。研究发现,Nano-clay和PP-g-MAH的加入提高了LH-...     

Synergistic effects of toughening of nano-CaCO3 and toughness of β-polypropylene

High performance β-polypropylene (β-PP) nanocomposites were prepared by nano-CaCO₃ with β-nucleation (β-CC) filled PP, and the crystallization and mechanical properties of β-PP nanocomposites were investigated. The results show that β-CC prepared by nano-CaCO₃ supported β-nucleating agent calcium pimelate (CaPA) does not only increase the crystallization temperature of PP, but also induce the forming of a number of β-PP. It indicates that the nucleation mechanism of nano-CaCO₃ has been changed from α- to β-nucleation. The notched impact strength of β-CC filled PP nanocomposites was higher than that of CC filled PP and CaPA nucleated PP. It is suggested that there is a synergistic effect of toughening of CC and toughness of β-PP. Meanwhile, the reinforcing of CC nanoparticles increased the stiffness of β-PP. The synergistic toughening effect of CC and β-PP was discussed. This method can be extended to prepare other high performance filled β-PP composites.     

The influence of the nitriding parameters on the microstructure and strength of the open-cell reaction bonded silicon nitride foams fabricated via wet processing

In this study, the parameters which influence strength of the open-cell reaction bonded silicon nitride foams were investigated. These parameters include the monomer content in the suspension, the porosity level of the foam, the nitriding atmosphere including N₂ and N₂–4 %H₂, and the nitriding temperature ranging from 1350 to 1425 °C. The nitriding mechanisms dominating under different nitriding conditions were also studied based on the phase and microstructural analysis. It was observed that there is a minimum monomer concentration of 25 wt% required in the premix solution to obtain a defect-free and homogeneous RBSN foam. Increasing the monomer content only from 15 to 20 wt% resulted in a threefold increase in the foam strength. The high porosity level of the foam which is above 70 vol% significantly affects the nitriding mechanisms and microstructures compared to those of dense RBSN ceramics. The maximum strength was obtained for the foams nitrided under N₂–H₂ atmospheres, and the nitriding temperature had a negligible effect on the foam strength when H₂ is present in the atmosphere. α-Si₃N₄ is also the dominant phase in the microstructure in the presence of H₂ regardless of the nitriding temperature. It was observed that β-Si₃N₄ can also be present in high quantities when N₂ atmospheres are used. β-Si₃N₄ is present in the microstructures in two different morphologies including interlocking rods and angular grains. Each morphology forms based on a specific nitriding mechanism.