Physical properties of water‐blown rigid polyurethane foams containing epoxidized soybean oil in different isocyanate indices

To explore the potential of isocyanate usage reduction, water‐blown rigid polyurethane foams were made by replacing 0, 20, and 50% of Voranoll® 490 in the B‐side of the foam formulation by epoxidized soybean oil (ESBO) with an isocyanate index ranging from 50 to 110. The compressive strength, density, and thermal conductivity of foams were measured. The foam surface temperature was monitored before and throughout the foaming reaction as an indirect indication of the foaming temperature. Increasing ESBO replacement and/or decreasing isocyanate index decreased the foam's compressive strength. The density of the foam decreased while decreasing the isocyanate index to 60. Further decrease in isocyanate index resulted in foam shrinkage causing a sharp increase in the foam density. The thermal conductivity of foams increased while decreasing the isocyanate index and increasing the ESBO replacement. Mathematical models for predicting rigid polyurethane foam density, compressive strength, and thermal conductivity were established and validated. Similar to compressive strength, the foaming temperature decreased while decreasing the isocyanate index and increasing the ESBO replacement. Because of the lower reactivity of ESBO with isocyanate, the rate of foaming temperature decrease with decreasing isocyanate index was in the order of 0% > 20% > 50% ESBO replacement. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

Modeling of the Dynamics of Water and R-11 blown polyurethane foam formation

Polyurethane foam formation involves both polymerization and expansion processes. The dynamics of the water and R-11 blown foams depend on the rates of chemical and physical blowing processes, along with the rate of viscosity increase of the reacting mixture. Experiments were carried out to study the dynamics of free rising, water and R-11 blown rigid polyurethane foams. The density and temperature change during the foam formation were monitored. A theoretical model was developed to predict the density and temperature variation with time. In the model, the physical blowing agent (R-11) evaporation process is assumed to be heat generation–controlled and the carbon dioxide generation process to be controlled by the rate of the water-isocyanate reaction. The kinetic parameters of the reactions of isocyanate with polyol and water were obtained separately and were asssumed to be independent of each other. The water-isocyanate reaction appears to follow first-order kinetics with respect to concentration of water. The theoretical predictions of the model show good agreement with the experimental data for density variation with time. The model predictions for temperature rise also match experimental data, except at the later stages of foaming when it is found to be slower than the experimental measurements. However, this deviation does not affect the dynamics of density change since it occurs after the completion of the expansion process.     

Effect of monomer temperature on foaming and properties of flexible polyurethane foams

Polyurethane foam formation involves simultaneous polymerization and expansion. In an open cell foam, foam lamellae rupture at some stage of foam formation, resulting in a foam with continuous air channels. Experiments are carried out to study the effect of initial temperature of monomers on the open cell content of water‐blown flexible polyurethane foams. The change in kinetics of the polymerization and blowing with initial monomer temperature is noted by measuring the gel and rise times during foaming. Both polymerization and blowing reactions are found to be faster with increasing monomer temperature. The cell size is found to increase with initial monomer temperature, and the height of the cured free rise foam is found to decrease. The open cell content of the foam increased considerably with initial monomer temperature, leading finally to the collapse of the foam at the highest temperatures studied. The mechanical properties of the foam at different monomer temperatures are determined by making molded foams. The indentation load deflection decreased with increasing monomer temperature indicating the formation of softer foams, but showed a slight increase near the temperature of collapse. Other mechanical properties showed a small degradation with increase in initial monomer temperatures. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2007     

聚氨酯泡沫材料的性能研究

聚氨酯泡沫具有多孔性、相对密度小、比强度高等特点,根据所用原料的不同和配方的变化可制成阻尼减震性能优异的材料。为了满足铝型材内填充材料的阻尼减震的要求,通过改变原料的组成和配比,制备了一种密度低、阻尼性能优异的聚氨酯泡沫材料。研究了发泡剂、N220和环氧树脂的含量对泡沫材料性能的影响,结果表明调节发泡剂用量可以改变材料的密度和粘接性能,N220和环氧树脂的加入可以提高聚氨酯泡沫的阻尼性能,所制得的聚氨酯泡沫材料可以满足铝型材填充材料的要求。     

蒸馏水含量对三明治结构硬质聚氨酯泡沫性能的影响

采用异氰酸酯、聚酯多元醇、发泡剂（水）等原料通过一体发泡成型技术制备出一种新型的三明治泡沫夹心复合材料。利用热重分析、扫描电子显微镜等对不同水含量（质量分数分别为0、0.5 %和1.0 %）的硬质聚氨酯泡沫材料的泡孔直径、密度、热导率、压缩性能、三点弯曲和热力学性能等做了研究,进而确定提高硬质聚氨酯性能的最佳工艺。结果表明,随着水含量的增加,硬质聚氨酯泡沫材料泡孔直径增大,密度变小,热导率降低,保温性能提高,而压缩性能和三点弯曲却呈下降趋势;综合考虑硬质聚氨酯泡沫材料泡孔结构和良好的保温隔热及弯曲等力学性能,其最佳含水量为0.5 %。     

Effect of different concentration of rapeseed‐oil‐based polyol and water on structure and mechanical properties of flexible polyurethane foams

Flexible polyurethane foams (FPURFs) with varied concentration of water from 3.2 to 4.2% and rapeseed oil based polyol (ROP) in the range of 13–22% in polyol premix were obtained. Effects of changes in polyurethane (PUR) formulation on the foaming process and mechanical properties of FPURFs were analyzed. It was found that the change of water content in PUR formulation influences its foaming process. Higher water content in the PUR formulation increases the growth velocity and the temperature of reaction mixture. In the case of foams modified with ROP, an opposite effect can be observed, where higher content of that component resulted in overall downturn of the foaming process and decreases of registered temperature inside the foams core. An addition of ROP beneficially influences on foams cellular structure favoring creation of finer cells. Such modification of PUR formulation with ROP increased apparent density, reduced hardness, and resilience of flexible foams. What is more the support factor of FPURFs with ROP was higher in comparison to the reference foam. Along with higher water content in the PUR formulation, apparent density and hardness has decreased and foams ability to absorb energy has been increased. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42372.     

Foam stability and polymer phase morphology of flexible polyurethane foams synthesized from castor oil

Foam stability and segmented polymeric phase morphology of polyurethane foams synthesized partially and completely from castor oil are investigated. Preliminary analysis of the impact of alterations in the polymeric phase on macroscopic stress dissipation in foams is also carried out. The stability and morphology show unique trends depending on the concentration of castor oil used in foam synthesis. While low and intermediate concentrations of castor oil does not significantly affect the foaming process; at high concentrations, the volumetrically expanding liquid matrix remains in a nonequilibrium state during the entire foaming period, resulting in significant foam decay from top. This increases the final foam cell density and decreases the plateau border thickness at bottom. In the polymeric phase of castor oil based foams, the fraction of monodentate urea increases at the cost of non‐hydrogen bonded urea. These monodentate urea domains undergo flocculation in foams synthesized completely from castor oil, thus prominently modifying the segmented morphology. The glass transition temperature of soft segments of partially substituted foams shows moderate increase, with indications of phase mixing between the polyether and castor oil generated urethane domains. Foams synthesized entirely from castor oil have significant sol fraction due to unreacted oligomers. The microscopic alterations in polymeric phase reduce the elastic recovery of partially substituted castor oil foams compared to its viscous dissipation under an applied stress. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 40668.     

超临界CO_2发泡聚苯乙烯工艺研究

以超临界CO_2为发泡剂,采用釜压法在不同发泡工艺条件下制备了聚苯乙烯(PS)发泡试样,通过扫描电子显微镜对PS发泡试样的泡孔形貌进行了表征,探讨了不同发泡工艺对PS发泡试样发泡性能的影响。结果表明,随发泡温度的升高,PS发泡试样泡孔尺寸增大,泡孔密度下降,而泡沫密度呈现先降低后升高的趋势,发泡倍率与此相反;增大保压时间和保压压力,可提高试样的发泡效果。当发泡温度为136℃,保压压力为20 MPa,保压时间为4 h时,PS发泡试样的发泡效果最好,其泡沫密度为0.043 g/cm~3,发泡倍率为24.4,泡孔尺寸为59.8μm,泡孔密度为6.20×107个/cm~3。     

聚氨酯阻燃软质泡沫体阻燃和发泡性能的研究

研究了阻燃剂种类和用量对聚氨酯软泡沫阻燃性能的影响,并对发泡剂、催化剂及搅拌时间等因素对软泡沫的密度和发泡高度的影响进行了探讨。     

聚氨酯泡沫塑料在低密度炸药制备中的应用

以软质聚氨酯泡沫塑料为载体，制备低密度炸药。探讨了聚氨酯泡沫塑料在低密度炸药中的应用。简单介绍了采用炸药溶液浸渍法、水分散液浸泡法和原料混合发泡法这三种方法的工艺过程以及产品的爆炸性能。     

Long‐term thermal conductivity of cyclopentane–water blown rigid polyurethane foams reinforced with different types of fillers

An understanding of the long‐term thermal conductivity of rigid polyurethane (RPU) foams presents great interest in the building field considering the conservation of energy efficiency. In this study, the effect of different types of particles (talc, diatomaceous earth and non‐porous silica) on the thermal conductivity of RPU foams blown with cyclopentane and water as blowing agents was investigated during 3 years of aging. The characterization of the cellular structure shows how the addition of particles causes a cell size reduction of the foams, and consequently an enhancement of the thermal properties just after production. However, this initial reduction is not maintained, because each foam shows a different thermal conductivity evolution with time. We have found, for the first time, a relationship between the slope of the thermal conductivity versus time at the first measurements and the internal temperature reached during the foaming process. The evolution of the RPU foams in which higher internal temperatures were reached is more pronounced than in those RPU foams where lower foaming temperatures were observed. This effect is related to the kinetics of the diffusion of the gas occluded inside the cells and imposes a new criterion for the selection of particles to reduce the thermal conductivity of RPU foams; these additives should ideally decrease the temperature reached during the foaming process. Moreover, the effect of aging on the thermal conductivity is explained by using theoretical models. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry     

Investigation and Development of Epoxy Foams

The development of low toxicity rigid epoxy foams as an alternative to polyurethane foams for electronics encapsulation is described. The basic foam components - epoxy resin, hardener, accelerator, blowing agent and surfactant - are blended to form a two part system which is mixed and foamed when required. Each foam component is selected for its contribution to the foaming reaction and the final foam properties. The balance of component miscibility, viscosity, reaction rate and exotherm determine foam quality. Foam properties are affected by (1) density (2) cell structure and (3) the molecular structure of the reactants. Initial foam development utilised epoxy/amine chemistry and produced two foams, Feldex F3 and F4. Subsequently, use of a more reactive polymercaptan hardener improved foam strength and process times, resulting in Feldex F5 and F6 which have been used successfully to prepare quality mouldings and encapsulated electronics. Recently, development has been extended to new areas of application, e.g. high temperature foams. The mechanical, electrical, thermal and chemical properties of the best epoxy foams have been evaluated; selected results are reported. The epoxy foams developed offer low density, high strength, low dielectric constant and loss tangent, high volume resistivity, good thermal insulation, low corrosivity and low toxicity. In addition, epoxy foams soften in acetone, an advantage over their polyurethane counterparts since encapsulated electronics may be retrieved without employing corrosive solvents. (Feldex is a registered trade mark of THORN EMI Electronics.)     

环境友好型阻燃高回弹聚氨酯软泡性能

开发环境友好型聚氨酯是目前聚氨酯（polyurethane,PU）泡沫塑料领域的热点课题。在PU中引入大豆分离蛋白质（soy protein isolate,SPI）,采用阻燃聚醚制备了环境友好型阻燃高回弹聚氨酯软泡。研究了SPI的不同添加方式及用量对聚氨酯软泡物理、力学、阻燃和生物降解性能的影响。结果表明,SPI以添加的方式而不是替代聚醚的方式加入软泡性能更好;少量添加SPI可以提高PU软泡的开孔率、密度、压陷硬度、舒适因子、回弹率和断裂伸长率,对压缩永久变形率、拉伸强度和极限氧指数影响不大。SPI改变了PU的硬段结构,可以有效促进聚氨酯泡沫的生物降解。     

Population balance modeling of polyurethane foam formation with pressure-dependent growth kernel

Polyurethane foams are widely used materials often chosen for their useful characteristics such as low thermal conductivity, ease of application, and high strength-to-weight ratios. Computational models are needed to predict the dynamics of the flow and expansion, and the resulting material properties, to improve manufacturing processes. In this paper, a model for PMDI, a water-blown polyurethane foam, is presented. By extending a kinetics-based approach by adding bubble-scale information via a population balance equation (PBE) using the quadrature method of moments, we can track bubble size distributions during foaming. We present results from a three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics model using arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian interface tracking implemented in finite element software. The model compares favorably with experimental data, including dynamics, bubble distributions measured by both camera and diffusion wave spectroscopy, and post-test bubble size from scanning electron microscopy and density measurements from x-ray computed tomography.     

Rigid polyurethane foams: A model of the foaming process

A model of the manufacture of rigid polyurethane foams by free rising is presented. The extent of cream and rise periods as well as the amount of blowing agent necessary to give the desired foam density are theoretically predicted. The rate of blowing agent evaporation is calculated from an experimental boiling temperature vs. composition curve. Experimental runs were carried out with a formulation consisting of a polymeric isocyanate, a polyether polyol based on sorbitol, a silicone-polyol block-copolymer as surfactant, dibutyltin dilaurate as catalyst, and trichlorofluoromethane as blowing agent. Mixing was performed in situ in the mold using a commercial foaming machine. Experimental results gave a satisfactory agreement with model predictions. A diagram containing all the relevant information may be theoretically built and used for the selection of adequate operating parameters for a given formulation.     

基于大豆蛋白的高回弹聚氨酯泡沫塑料的制备及性能研究

以大豆分离蛋白、高活性聚醚、聚合物多元醇、交联剂、发泡剂、泡沫稳定剂和混合异氰酸酯为原料,自由发泡、常温熟化制备了大豆蛋白基高回弹聚氨酯软泡。研究了大豆蛋白质(SPI)对聚氨酯泡沫物理性能、力学性能、孔结构和热性能的影响。结果表明:SPI添加量对泡沫物理和力学性能影响最大。随着SPI含量增加,泡沫的密度、尺寸稳定性提高,压陷硬度和舒适因子提高增大;回弹率下降,断裂伸长率减小,而拉伸强度先增大后减小。SPI能够提高聚氨酯的热稳定性,但最好低于150℃使用。     

新型疏水聚氨酯硬质泡沫的绿色制备及其性能研究

采用半预聚法作为发泡工艺,以全氟聚醚作为一种新型泡沫稳定剂,选用水作为绿色化学发泡剂,制备了疏水型聚氨酯硬质泡沫.结果表明,随着全氟聚醚含量的增加,材料的接触角增大,最高可达139.7°;添加全氟聚醚后,其泡沫具有较高的闭孔率,而且随着全氟聚醚含量的增加,泡孔更加均匀,泡孔尺寸逐渐减小,泡孔的密度增大,导热系数显著降低...     

Elaboration and Characterization of Advanced Biobased Polyurethane Foams Presenting Anisotropic Behavior

Biobased and open cell polyurethane (PU) foams are produced from a synthesized sorbitol‐based polyester polyol. Different formulations are developed with various blowing agent systems (chemical vs physical blowing). Synthetized foams are fully characterized and compared. The cell morphology is carefully investigated by tomography and scanning electron microscopy. The chemical nature of the primary compounds, foaming kinetics, density, thermal behavior, and conductivity are fully studied, with also the main transition materials temperatures. It is shown that blowing agents especially impact the foaming kinetics. In the case of chemically blowing foams, higher foaming rate and temperatures are obtained. The mechanical behavior is particularly analyzed using quasi‐static compression tests, according two main axes compared to the rise direction. A direct relationship is observed between the formulation, foam structure, foam morphology, and corresponding mechanical properties. Results clearly highlight unexpected properties of biobased PU foams with unveil anisotropic mechanical properties.     

Effect of foaming temperature and rubber grades on properties of natural rubber foams

Foaming temperature and grade of dry natural rubber were varied to evaluate their effects on the morphology and mechanical properties of natural rubber (NR) foams. Three different grades of NR were used; namely ENR‐25, SMR‐L, and SMR‐10. NR foams from these grades were produced at three different foaming temperatures, i.e. 140, 150, and 160°C. The study was carried out using formulated compositions containing sodium bicarbonate as the chemical blowing agent and were expanded using conventional compression molding technique via a heat transfer foaming process. The NR foams were characterized with respect to their relative foam density, density of crosslinking, cell size, compression stress, and compression set. Increase in foaming temperature resulted in lower relative density and larger cell size. It was also discovered that the crosslink density slightly decrease with increasing foaming temperature. For mechanical properties, the highest foam density resulted in the highest compression stress. Compression stress at 50% strain increased with increasing foaming temperature and ENR‐25 foam has the highest compression stress among the produced foams. The results showed that the morphology, physical, and mechanical properties of the rubber foams can be controlled closely by the foaming temperature and rubber grades. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Anomalous thickness increase in crosslinked closed cell polyolefin foams during heat treatments

When crosslinked closed cell polyolefin foams are under a temperature above the melting point of the base polymer, a reduction of their size is expected due to the gas diffusion out of the foam. However, some kinds of crosslinked closed cell polyolefin foams present one direction (thickness direction) in which the foam size increases during the first minutes of the thermal treatment. The thickness of the foams after the thermal treatment can be higher than the thickness of the original foams. An experimental study is presented on the thickness increase, as well as on the changes in the dimensions and the properties of foams with different densities, which were obtained from different foaming processes and made of different base polymers, as a function of the treatment temperature and the treatment time. This investigation sought to discover the physics mechanisms that control the anomalous thickness increase. The experimental results show that the thickness increase of these materials is related to the anisotropic cellular structure of the original foams. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 73: 2825–2835, 1999