Polymer Nanocomposite Foams Prepared by Environmentally Benign Supercritical Fluids

该项目旨在开发基于纳米颗粒技术和超临界流体（SCF）技术相结合的新型纳米复合材料泡沫。 通过适当设计纳米颗粒类型、含量、分散、取向、SCF在聚合物基质中的溶解度、含纳米颗粒的聚合物的流变性质以及成核和泡沫生长机制，可以定制以产生具有明确限定的孔结构的宽范围的泡沫。 它们包括封闭或开放的蜂窝结构;宏观，泥，和纳米蜂窝泡沫。 纳米颗粒的存在可以提供改善的机械强度和物理性能，例如扩散阻挡和阻燃性，这对于许多工程应用是必不可少的。 纳米颗粒的大表面积也可以用作模板，用于向聚合物泡沫添加功能。 例如，生物活性分子，如生长因子，以促进组织工程中的细胞生长，电磁干扰屏蔽的导电或导磁分子。该项目描述了直接响应监管行动，开发环境友好技术的科学努力。 为了在21世纪的建筑工业中保持活力和竞争力，生产聚合物泡沫产品的工业别无选择，只能以生态意识的方式操作。 教育的影响和招聘的代表性不足的少数民族是通过中心之间的合作，先进的聚合物和复合材料工程在俄亥俄州州立大学和佛罗里达A M大学- FSU。 通过将工业泡沫生产方面的专业知识与学术界的热力学、流变学和聚合物加工相结合，该项目展示了快速开发这种替代发泡剂的潜力。

This project seeks to develop novel nanocomposite foams, based on a combination of nanoparticle technology and supercritical fluids (SCF) technology. With proper design of the nanoparticle type, content, dispersion, an orientation, the solubility of SCF in the polymer matrix, the rheological properties of nanoparticle containing polymer, and nucleation and foam growth mechanism can be tailored to generate a wide spectrum of foams with well-defined pore structure. They include closed or open cellular structures; macro, mire, and nano-cellular foams. The presence of nanoparticles can provide improved mechanical strength and physical properties, such as diffusion barrier and fire retardance, that are essential for many engineering applications. The large surface area of nanoparticles may also serve as templates for added functions to the polymer foams. Examples are bioactive molecules such as growth factors to facilitate cell growth in tissue engineering, an electric or magnetic conductive molecules for EMI shielding.This project decribes a scientific effort at developing environmentally benign technology in direct response to regulatory action. In order to remain viable and compete in the construction industry of the twenty-first century, industries producing polymeric foam products have no choice but to operate in an ecologically conscious manner. Education impact and recruitment of underrepresented minorities is addressed through collaboration between the Center for Advanced Polymer and Composite Engineering at The Ohio State University and Florida A& M University - FSU. By combining expertise in foam production from industry with thermodynamics, rheology, and polymer processing in academia, this project demonstrates the potential for rapid development of this alternative blowing agent.