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泡沫。通过对纳米颗粒的类型、含量、分散、取向、SCF在聚合物基体中的溶解度、含聚合物纳米颗粒的流变性能、成核和泡沫生长机制的适当设计，可以生成具有明确孔隙结构的广谱泡沫。它们包括封闭或开放的细胞结构；宏观泡沫、泥潭泡沫和纳米泡沫。纳米颗粒的存在可以提供更好的机械强度和物理性能，如扩散屏障和阻燃性，这对许多工程应用至关重要。纳米颗粒的大表面积也可以作为模板添加功能的聚合物泡沫。例如生物活性分子，如在组织工程中促进细胞生长的生长因子，用于电磁干扰屏蔽的导电或导电分子。该项目描述了一项科学努力，旨在开发对环境无害的技术，以直接响应管制行动。为了在21世纪的建筑行业中保持生存和竞争，生产聚合物泡沫产品的行业别无选择，只能以生态意识的方式运作。俄亥俄州立大学高级聚合物和复合材料工程中心与佛罗里达农工大学（FSU）合作，解决了教育影响和未被充分代表的少数民族的招聘问题。通过将工业泡沫生产的专业知识与热力学、流变学和学术界的聚合物加工相结合，该项目展示了这种替代发泡剂快速发展的潜力。

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.