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Foams for Thermal Insulation

ACS Symposium Series, ISSN: 1947-5918, Vol: 1440, Page: 145-165
2023
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Metric Options:   Counts1 Year3 Year

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  • Citations
    6
    • Citation Indexes
      6
  • Captures
    15

Book Chapter Description

Polymer foams have a broad range of applications, owing to their impact resistance, low weight, damping, and high thermal insulation capabilities. They are mainly mixtures of polymers and gases, which provides a microcellular structure. Depending on the occurrence of open or closed cells, the polymer foams can be classified as flexible or rigid. Several industries have employed polymer foams, such as the building and construction, automotive, bedding, packaging, electrical, medical, and aerospace sectors. The three major phases of the polymer foaming process are cell formation, expansion, and stabilization. If the structure has pores that permit fluid to pass through the foam, it is referred to as an “open cell structure.” An open cell structure would become waterlogged, but a closed cell structure is a stronger than the open cell.Closed cell foams are more rigid and ideal for thermal insulation, making them a better lightweight material for automobile and aerospace applications, whereas open cell foams are generally preferred for bedding, acoustical insulation, automobile sealing, and furniture. The thermal properties of thermoplastic foams are their degrees of crystallinity, viscosity, and melt strength, which results in strengthening cell morphology. Numerous commercial and government enterprises make extensive use of these foams because of their effective sound insulation, high specific strength, low density, and high resistance to corrosion. Additionally, these foams have strong thermal insulation properties. This chapter covers foaming and processing, foaming agents, foaming theory, and experimental advancements in various foaming techniques and their applications. This chapter primarily focuses on the different categories of common thermoplastic foams (closed cell polymer-based foams), such as polypropylene, polyurethane, polyethylene, and polystyrene.

Bibliographic Details

Puja Das; Prakash Kumar Nayak; Radha Krishnan Kesavan; Sukumar Muthusamy

American Chemical Society (ACS)

Chemistry; Chemical Engineering

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