CONTROLLED POLYMER FOAMING BY TUNING SURFACE INTERACTIONS BETWEEN BLOWING AGENTS AND MINERALS

摘要

A method of producing a polymer foam may include providing a polymer composition, introducing an alkaline earth metal silicate into the polymer composition, and foaming the polymer composition using a gas to form a polymer foam. A method of producing a polymer-matrix may include providing a polymer composition, nucleating the polymer composition with an alkaline earth metal silicate, and using a blowing agent to form a polymer foam from the polymer composition. The alkaline earth metal silicate may facilitate nucleation of the cells in the polymer foam. A polymer foam composition may include a polymer-based foam matrix and an alkaline earth metal silicate within a cell of the polymer-based foam matrix.