Suspension polymerization and foaming of water containing activated carbon-nano/microparticulate polymer composites
AssigneesThe Ohio State University, Nanomaterial Innovation Ltd.
InventorsLy James Lee, Jintao Yang, Nan-Rong Chiou, Shu-Kai Yeh
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Synthesis of polystyrene and/or other thermoplastic polymers or polymer blends which, for example, contain activated carbon and/or bamboo carbon carrying a co-blowing agent such as water and/or at least one of 1-dimensional, 2-dimensional, and 3-dimensional nano/micro-materials in suspension polymerization without using the inverse emulsion process. CO2 or other blowing agent based foaming processes such as extrusion, batch foaming, and injection molding may then be carried out to produce polymer foams that have low density, high-R value, bimodal structures, good mechanical properties, and high fire retardance.
Claims18
A method of making a foamed polymer, said method comprising:
- (a) preparing a foamable polymeric material precursor comprising:
- (1) an aqueous suspension polymerization of a mixture comprising:
- i. styrene or other monomer;
- ii. solid polymeric material selected from the group consisting of polystyrene;
- iii. foaming facilitating material having affinity for a suspension liquid, said foaming facilitating material selected from the group consisting of activated carbon, said foaming facilitating material adapted to absorb said suspension liquid in the absence of any surfactant-like molecules or polymers;
- iv. selected additional material selected from the group consisting of 1-dimensional nano/micro-materials;
- v. a suspension stabilizer selected from the group consisting of hydroxyethyl cellulose;
- and
- vi. said suspension liquid selected from the group consisting of water;
- and
- (2) a blowing agent selected from the group consisting of CO2, N2, hydrofluorocarbons, fluorocarbons, and mixtures thereof;
- and
- (b) preparing a foamed polymer by a method selected from the group consisting of extrusion, injection molding, and batch foaming of said foamable polymeric material precursor.
A method of making a foamed polymer, said method comprising:
- (a) preparing a foamable polymeric material precursor comprising:
- (1) an aqueous suspension polymerization of a mixture comprising:
- i. styrene or other monomer;
- ii. solid polymeric material selected from the group consisting of polystyrene;
- iii. foaming facilitating material having affinity for a suspension liquid, said foaming facilitating material selected from the group consisting of activated carbon, said foaming facilitating material adapted to absorb said suspension liquid in the absence of any surfactant-like molecules or polymers;
- iv. selected additional material selected from the group consisting of 1-dimensional nano/micro-materials;
- v. a suspension stabilizer selected from the group consisting of hydroxyethyl cellulose;
- and
- vi. said suspension liquid selected from the group consisting of water;
- and
- (2) a blowing agent comprising CO2;
- and
- (b) preparing a foamed polymer by a method selected from the group consisting of extrusion, injection molding, and batch foaming of said foamable polymeric material precursor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.