Measurement and Analysis on Cell Morphology of Polycarbonate Foam in Different Processing Parameters

Abstract:

The purpose of this research is to analysis on cell morphology of PC (Polycarbonate) foam in different processing parameters. In this study, foamed PC was produced using a dynamic simulation foaming setup designed by ourselves. Cell morphology was compared as different temperatures, pressures, gas saturation time, pressure drop rates and different shear rates were used. Cell morphology of foamed samples was measured by using scanning electron microscopy（SEM）. It was found that foamed samples with better morphology could be obtained as pressure, pressure drop rate and gas saturation time increased.

• Periodical: Applied Mechanics and Materials (Volume 36)
• Pages: 135-143
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.36.135
• Online since: October 2010
• Authors: Bing Li, Qiao Zhou Nan, Bao Shan Shi, Xue Mei Qin
• Keywords: Measurement, Microcellular Plastics, Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Vibration

References

[1] Martini, J. ; Waldman, F. A. ; Suh, N. P. The Production and Analysis of Microcellular Thermoplastic Foams; SPE ANTEC Technical Papers XXVIII; Society of Plastics Engineers: Greenwich, CT, (1982) pp.674-676.

[2] Martini, J. E. The Production and Analysis of Microcellular Foam. S. M. Thesis, Massachusettes Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, (1981).

[3] Doroundani, S. ; Park, C. B.; Kortschot, M. T. Processing and Characterization of Microcellular Foamed High-Density Polyethylene/lsotactic Polypropylene Blends. Polym. Eng. Sci. (1998), P. 1205-1215.

DOI: 10.1002/pen.10289

[4] Rachtanapun, P.; Selke, S. E.; Matuana, L. M. Relationship Between Cell Morphology and Impact Strength of Microcellular Foamed High-Density Polyethylene/Polypropylene Blends. Polym. Eng. Sci. (2004), P. 1551-1560.

DOI: 10.1002/pen.20152

[5] Rachtanapun, P.; Selke, S. E.; Matuana, L. M. Microcellular Foam of Polymer Blends of HDPE/PP and Their Composites with Wood Fiber. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2003, 88, 2842-2850.

DOI: 10.1002/app.12170

[6] Lee, Y. H.; Wang, K. H.; Park, C. B.; Sain, M. Effects of Clay Dispersion on the Foam Morphology of LDPE/Clay Nanocomposites. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. (2007), P. 2129-2134.

DOI: 10.1002/app.24908

[7] Sun, X. H.; Liu, H. J.; Li, G.; Liao, X.; He, J. S. Investigation on the Cell Nucleation and Cell Growth in Microcellular Foaming by Means of Temperature Quenching. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. (2004), P. 163-171.

DOI: 10.1002/app.20445

[8] Wang, J.; Cheng, X.G.; Zheng, X. J.; Yuan, M. J.; He, J. S. Preparation and Characterization of Microcellular Polystyrene/Polystyrene Ionomer Blends with Supercritical Carbon Dioxide. J. Polym. Sci. Part B: Polym Phys. (2003), P. 368-377.

DOI: 10.1002/polb.10371

[9] Baldwin, D. F.; Park, C. B.; Suh, N. P. A Microcellular Processing Study of Poly( Ethylene Terephthalate) in the Amorphous and Semicrystalline States. Part I: Microcell Nucleation. Polym. Eng. Sci. (1996), P. 1437-1445.

DOI: 10.1002/pen.10538

[10] Matuana, L. M.; Park, C. B.; Balatinecz, J. J. Cell Morphology and Property Relationships of Microcellular Foamed PVC/Wood-Fiber Composites. Polym. Eng. Sci. (1998), P. 1862-1872.

DOI: 10.1002/pen.10356

[11] Han, X. M.; Koelling, K. W.; Tomasko, D. L.; Lee, L. J. Continuous Microcellular Polystyrene Foam Extrusion With Supercritical CO2. Polym. Eng. Sci. (2002), P. 2094-2106.

DOI: 10.1002/pen.11100

[12] Han, X. M.; Koelling, K. W.; Tomasko, D. L.; Lee, L. J. Effect of Die Temperature on the Morphology of Microcellular Foams. Polym. Eng. Sci. (2003), P. 1206-1220.

DOI: 10.1002/pen.10102

[13] Chong, T. H.; Ha, Y. W.; Jeong, D. J. Effect of Dissolved Gas on the Viscosity of HIPS in the Manufacture of Microcellular Plastics. Polym. Eng. Sci. (2003), P. 1337-1344.

DOI: 10.1002/pen.10113

[14] Seeler, K. A.; Kumar, V. Tension-tension fatigue of microcellular polycarbonate: Initial results . J. Rein. Plast. Comp. (1993), P. 359－376.

DOI: 10.1177/073168449301200308

[15] Kumar, V.; Michael V. W. Experimental characterization of the tensile behavior of microcellular polycarbonate foams. J. Eng. Mater. Technol. (1994), P. 439－445.

[16] Huang, Q.; Seibig, B.; Paul, D. Polycarbonate hollow fiber membranes by melt extrusion. J. Membr. Sci. (1999), P. 287-291.

DOI: 10.1016/s0376-7388(99)00122-2

[17] Richard, G.; Louis, E. D. Continuous extrusion of microcellular polycarbonate . Polym. Eng. Sci. (2003), P. 1361-1377.

[18] Tang, M.; Huang, W. H.; Chen Y.P. Comparisons of the sorption and diffusion of supercritical carbon dioxide into polycarbonate and polysulfone. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. (2004), P. 474-482.

DOI: 10.1002/app.20895

[19] John, W. S. L.; Wang, K.Y.; Park, C. B. Challenge to extrusion of low-density microcellular polycarbonate foams using supercritical carbon dioxide. Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. (2005), 44(1), P. 92-99.

DOI: 10.1021/ie0400402

[20] Huang, Q.; Klotzer, R.; Seibig, B.; Paul, D. Extrusion of Microcellular Polysulfone Using Chemical Blowing Agents. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. (1998), 69, P. 1753-1760.

DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1097-4628(19980829)69:9<1753::aid-app9>3.0.co;2-a

[21] Kaewmesri, W.; Rachtanapun, P.; Pumchusak, J. Effect of Solvent Plasticization on Polypropylene Microcellular Foaming Process and Foam Characteristics. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. (2008), 107, P. 63-70.

DOI: 10.1002/app.27103