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The Mechanical Behavior of Microcellular Foams

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 February 2011

M. H. Ozkul
Affiliation:
Department of Chemistry and the Polymer Research Center University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221-0172
J. E. Mark
Affiliation:
Department of Chemistry and the Polymer Research Center University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221-0172
J. H. Aubert
Affiliation:
Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM 87185
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Abstract

The mechanical behavior of microcellular open-cell foams prepared by a thermally induced phase separation process are investigated. The foams studied were prepared from isotactic polystyrene, polyacrylonitrile, and poly(4-methyl-1-pentene) (rigid foams), and polyurethane and Lycra (elastomeric foams). Their densities were in the range 0.04–0.27 g/cm3. Conventional polystyrene foams were used for comparison. The moduli and collapse stresses of these foams were measured in compression and compared with the current constitutive laws which relate mechanical properties to densities. A reinforcement technique based on the in-situ precipitation of silica was used to improve the mechanical properties.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1991

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