MODIFICATION OF THERMOPLASTICS FOR DENSITY AND GAS PERMEABILITY THROUGH ADDITIVES AND REACTIVE PROCESSING

摘要

Transport properties of thermoplastics such as thermal conductivity and gas permeability are usually controlled through foaming and the formation of lamellar microstructures respectively. Production of low-density foams by extrusion in the presence of physical blowing agents requires materials with particular rheological characteristics. Reactor/post-reactor branching or controlled cross-linking is commonly carried out in the presence of multifunctional additives. Low vapor/gas permeability structures may be formed through the incorporation and subsequent orientation of impermeable lamellar fillers, or the in-situ formation of lamellar microstructures during processing of mixtures of immiscible polymers. Examples of available technologies in both areas and recent research results will be presented.