Tailoring mechanical properties of highly porous polymer foams: Silica particle reinforced polymer foams via emulsion templating

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• 作者：Kristina Haibach ; Angelika Menner ; Ronald Powell and Alexander Bismarck
• 关键词：Polymer chemistry ; High internal phase emulsions ; PolyHIPEs
• 刊名：Polymer
• 出版年：2006
• 出版时间：14 June 2006
• 年：2006
• 卷：47
• 期：13
• 页码：4513-4519
• 全文大小：549 K

文摘

The aim of this work was to synthesise highly open porous low-density polymer foams with superior mechanical properties by the polymerisation of the organic phase of concentrated emulsions. The continuous organic phase of the concentrated emulsion template occupying up to 40 vol % was polymerised leading to polymer foams with much improved mechanical properties. The Young's modulus as well as the crush strength of the foams was further increased dramatically by reinforcing the polymer phase with nanosized silica particles. To ensure that the silica particles were covalently incorporated into the polymer network, methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (MPS) was added to the formulation, which reacts with the silica via hydrolysis reactions. The Young's modulus of silica reinforced foams increased by 280 % and the crush strength by 218 % in comparison to foams without reinforcement.