Foam Extrusion of Thermoplastic Elastomers Using CO2 as Blowing Agent

Abstract

An experimental investigation was conducted to research the foamability of different thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) using CO₂ as blowing agent and Hydrocerol as nucleating agent. For each material, different foaming temperatures, as well as blowing and nucleating agent percentages, were examined. A specific TPU-type showed the best foamability; a SEBS-type was also successfully foamed, and a PP/EPDM-blend especially developed for foaming with water was most difficult to foam with CO₂ as blowing agent.