Study of Extrusion of Polystyrene Nanocomposite foams with supercritical carbon dioxide
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Date
2005-08
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Publisher
The Ohio State University
Abstract
The cell density (bubbles/cm3 of polymer) and bubble size of the intercalated polystyrene nano-clay composite foams are reviewed as a function of concentration and temperature. 5% intercalated polystyrene nano-clay composites were mixed with pure polystyrene and diluted to prepare 3%, 1%, 0.3%, 0.1% and 0.03% intercalated polystyrene nano-clay composites by mechanical blending with a screw rotation speed of 150 RPM and a temperature of 200° C. Once these nano-clay composites were prepared, they were foamed with supercritical carbon dioxide as the foaming agent in a batch foaming process at the temperatures of 80° C, 100° C and 120° C. Different concentrations of these intercalated polystyrene nano-clay composite foams were compared with the pure polystyrene foam at 120° C. Also, 3% intercalated polystyrene nano-clay composite foam at 80° C, 100° C and 120° C were compared. The number of bubbles/cm3 of polymer increased and the bubble size decreased with the increase in concentration of the intercalated polystyrene nano-clay composite foams, other conditions being constant, although the pure polymer was found to have the maximum cell density and the least bubble size. The cell density decreased and the bubble size increased with the increase in temperature at which the intercalated polystyrene nano-clay composite was foamed. Only three samples were used in examining the effect of temperature and there was inconsistency in the results obtained. Hence, a convincing conclusion for the relation between the temperature at which the polymer nanocomposite was foamed and the cell density as well as the bubble size was not obtained.
Description
Senior Honors Thesis
Keywords
Polystyrene Nanocomposites foamed with supercritical carbon dioxide, Polystyrene Nanocomposite foams