Cellular Polymers 

About: Cellular Polymers is an academic journal published by SAGE Publishing. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Blowing agent & Polyurethane. It has an ISSN identifier of 0262-4893. Over the lifetime, 573 publications have been published receiving 5892 citations.

Design of a fastener based on negative Poisson's ratio foam

Abstract: We make use of the negative Poisson's ratio of recently developed cellular solids in the design of a press-fit fastener. Insertion of the fastener is facilitated by the lateral contraction which negative Poisson's ratio materials exhibit under compression. Removal of the fastener is resisted by the corresponding elastic expansion under tension

Structures and mechanical properties of microcellular foamed polyvinyl chloride

Abstract: In this paper, microcellular foamed polyvinyl chloride (PVC) with unique cell morphology and mechanical properties is characterised. Microcellular foamed structures were produced in PVC by first saturating the polymer with CO 2 under high pressure followed by rapidly decreasing the solubility of CO 2 in the samples. The void fraction of the microcellular foamed PVC was controlled by tailoring the foaming temperature and foaming time. Tensile and impact tests were performed on the foamed PVC to investigate the dependence of these properties on the void fraction of foamed specimens. The notched Izod impact strength of microcellular foamed PVC increased as the void fraction increased. When the void fraction was 80%, the notched Izod impact strength of foamed PVC was four times as high as that of the unfoamed PVC. However, the tensile strength and modulus decreased as the void fraction increased. Experimental results indicate that the relative density of microcellular foamed PVC should be determined in consideration of the material saving, weight reduction, enhanced impact strength and reduced tensile strength and modulus to optimise performance of the foamed materials.

Microcellular polymers: novel materials for the 21st Century

Abstract: Microcellular polymer's produced by gas nucleation, refer to closed cell thermoplastic foams with a very large number of very small cells-typically 10 8 or more cells per cm 3 of order 10 μm in diameter. First produced in the early 1980's with the objective of reducing the amount of polymer used in mass produced items, these novel materials have the potential to revolutionize the way thermoplastic polymers are used today. Microcellular plastics have been produced from a number of polymers ranging in relative density from 0.1 to 1.0, containing 10 8 to 10 11 cells per cm 3 , offering the engineer a new range of properties for design. The microcellular polymers appear to possess improved fatigue life and energy absorption characteristics as well as a higher specific strength

Mechanical Performance of Auxetic Polyurethane Foam for Antivibration Glove Applications

Abstract: In this study the static and dynamic characteristics of conventional open cell polyurethane (PU), of auxetic (negative Poisson’s ratio) and of iso-density foams were analysed. The specimens were produced from conventional gray open-cells polyurethane foam with 30-35 pores/inch and 0.0027 g/cm 3 density, by means of process which has been previously defi ned by the authors. Poisson’s ratio measurements were performed under quasi-static conditions using an MTS 858 servo-hydraulic test machine and a video image acquisition system. For the auxetic foams the results suggested similar behaviour to that previously reported in the literature, with signifi cant increases in stiffness during compressive loading, and a signifi cant dependence of the Poisson’s ratio on the applied strain. Transmissibility tests, performed in accordance with the ISO 13753 procedure for antivibration glove materials, suggested a strong dependence of the transmissibility on the foam manufacturing parameters. Within the frequency range from 10 to 31.5 Hz the transmissibility was found to be greater than 1, while it was less than 1 at all frequencies greater than 31.5 Hz. The transmissibility results were similar to the mean values for 80 resilient materials tested by Koton et. al., but were higher than the fi ve best materials (not all polymeric) identifi ed by the same researchers. In this study it has been suggested that the resilient behaviour of glove isolation materials should also be evaluated in terms of the indentation characteristics. A simple, linear elastic, Finite Element simulation was therefore performed, and the indentation results suggested that auxetic foams offer a signifi cant decrease in compressive stresses with respect to conventional PU foams.

Current Issues and Challenges in Polypropylene Foaming: A Review

Abstract: Thermoplastic foams have several advantages in comparison with unfoamed polymers such as lightweight, high strength to weight ratio, excellent insulation property, high thermal stability, high impa