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)技术的新型纳米复合泡沫。通过对纳米粒子的类型、含量、分散性、取向、SCF在聚合物基质中的溶解度、含聚合物纳米粒子的流变性以及成核和泡沫生长机理的适当设计，可以生成具有良好孔结构的广谱泡沫。它们包括封闭或开放的多孔结构；大孔、泥浆和纳米泡沫塑料。纳米颗粒的存在可以提供更好的机械强度和物理性能，如扩散阻隔和阻燃，这对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向聚合物泡沫塑料添加功能的模板。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，用于电磁屏蔽的导电分子。这个项目描述了一项科学努力，开发环境友好的技术，以直接响应监管行动。为了在二十一世纪的建筑业中保持生存和竞争，生产聚合物泡沫塑料产品的行业别无选择，只能以具有生态意识的方式运营。通过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的合作，解决了未被充分代表的少数族裔的教育影响和招募问题。通过将工业泡沫塑料生产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，该项目展示了这种替代发泡剂快速开发的潜力。

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.