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Nanocomposites foams of poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) with short and long nanocellulose fibers and foaming with supercritical CO2

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Abstract

Nanotechnology applied to polymer foams is an emerging field, because even at low filler contents, different cellular morphologies can be obtained in the development of foams. Based on these premises, this work addresses the development of poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate)—EVA foams reinforced with two types of nanocellulose (a) short fibers (NC), and (b) long fibers (NCF). The foams were expanded in an autoclave with supercritical carbon dioxide (CO2). Different expansion conditions were evaluated, with variations of temperature and pressure. The main results indicate that the presence of the fibers significantly reduces the size of the cells and increase the number of cells per unit area. However, by increasing the NC content, nanocellulose fibers agglomeration is observed, resulting in the formation of a bimodal cellular structure.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the National Council of Technological and Scientific Development (CNPq) and the Secretariat of Science, Innovation and Development of Rio Grande do Sul (SCT/RS) for the financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate Program in Mining, Metals and Materials Engineering (PPGE3M), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, 91501-970, Brazil

    Matheus V. G. Zimmermann & Ruth M. C. Santana

  2. Graduate Program in Process and Technology Engineering (PGEPROTEC), University of Caxias do Sul (UCS), 95070-560, Caxias do Sul, Brazil

    Ademir J. Zattera

Authors
  1. Matheus V. G. Zimmermann
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  2. Ademir J. Zattera
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  3. Ruth M. C. Santana
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Correspondence to Matheus V. G. Zimmermann.

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Zimmermann, M.V.G., Zattera, A.J. & Santana, R.M.C. Nanocomposites foams of poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) with short and long nanocellulose fibers and foaming with supercritical CO2 . Polym. Bull. 75, 1789–1807 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-017-2123-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-017-2123-y

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