Synthesis and foaming of water expandable polystyrene-activated carbon (WEPSAC)

In this study, water acts as a co-blowing agent to support carbon dioxide (CO2) in the extrusion foaming process of polystyrene (PS) to produce foams with very low density for thermal insulation applications. Herein, we report a simple suspension polymerization method to prepare water expandable pol...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Polymer (Guilford) 2009-07, Vol.50 (14), p.3169-3173
Main Authors: Yang, Jintao, Yeh, Shu-Kai, Chiou, Nan-Rong, Guo, Zhihua, Daniel, Thomas, Lee, L. James
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Activated carbon
Applied sciences
Carbon dioxide
Cellular
Exact sciences and technology
Forms of application and semi-finished materials
Polymer industry, paints, wood
Technology of polymers
Water expandable PS for foam extrusion
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Summary:In this study, water acts as a co-blowing agent to support carbon dioxide (CO2) in the extrusion foaming process of polystyrene (PS) to produce foams with very low density for thermal insulation applications. Herein, we report a simple suspension polymerization method to prepare water expandable polystyrene (WEPS) based on a PS/water containing activated carbon (AC) composite. AC pre-saturated with water was introduced into the styrene monomer to form a water-in-oil inverse emulsion without emulsifiers. Via suspension polymerization, water expandable PS/AC (WEPSAC) beads could be subsequently obtained. Low density PS foams (∼0.03g/cc) were successfully produced in the CO2 extrusion foaming process using WEPSAC. Because of lower foam density and better IR absorption due to the presence of water containing AC, WEPSAC foams provided a lower thermal conductivity than conventional talc reinforced PS foams. [Display omitted]
ISSN:0032-3861
1873-2291
DOI:10.1016/j.polymer.2009.05.007