We present results on foaming of a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) using water as the physical blowing agent. The TPE is a blend of polypropylene and fully crosslinked EPDM rubber made by a dynamic vulcanization process. The influence of the blowing agent content, and the processing conditions on foam density, cell nucleation, and foam structure are discussed. A brief discussion about the similarities and the differences between foaming in homopolymers and in TPEs is also included.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
1. L. A. Utracki and R. Simha (to be published).
2.
2. Handbook of Polymeric Foams and Foam Technology, Eds. K. C. Klempner and D. Frisch, Hanser, New York, 1991.
3.
3. J. Throne, Thermoplastic Foams,Sherwood Publishers, Hinckley, Ohio, 1996.
4.
4. C. P. Rader, in Handbook of Thermoplastic Elastomers, 2nd ed., B. M. Walker and C. P. Rader (Eds.), Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 1988, p. 85-85.
5.
5. A. Dutta and M. Cakmak, Rubber Chem. and Technology, 65, 932-932 (1992).
6.
6. D. Kropp, W. Michaeli, T. Herrmann and O. Schröder, SPE ANTEC Tech. Papers, 43, 3473-3473 (1997).
7.
7. Y. Coran and R. P. Patel, in Thermoplastics Elastomers,2nd ed., G. Holden, N.R. Legge, R. Quirk and H.E. Schroeder (Eds.), Hanser, New York, 1996, p. 153-153.
8.
8. G. L. Dumbauld, US Patent 5,070,111, (1991).
9.
9. M. B. Bradley and E. M. Phillips, SPEANTECTech. Papers, 36, 717-717 (1990).
10.
10. J. S. Colton and N.P. Suh, Polym. Eng. & Sci., 27, 485-485 (1987).
11.
11. F. A. Shutov, in Handbook of Polymeric Foams and Foam Technology, Eds. K. C. Klempner and D. Firsch, Hanser, New York, 1991, p. 17-17.
12.
12. V. Kumar and N. P. Suh, Polym. Eng. and Sci., 30, 1323-1323 (1990).
13.
13. L. A. Goettler, J. Richwine and F. J. Wille, Rubber Chem. Technol., 55, 1448-1448 (1982).
14.
14. T. Araki and J. L. White, Polym. Eng. Sci., 38; 590-590 (1998).