Abstract
Foamed solid polymers, also referred as microcellular composites or expanded composites or sponge materials are a class of materials that are extensively used in everyday applications from the foamed polyurethane mattress we sleep onto the polystyrene based Styrofoam cup in which we have our morning coffee. According to some estimates, the market of foam products in the world stands at 14 billion US Dollars and is expected to grow at a phenomenal rate of 14% for the next 5 years. This growth will be largely triggered by phenomenal demand of China who in recent times accounts for 26% of world’s polystyrene and 34% of polyurethane foam world’s consumption. Several polymers can be foamed to desired low densities to suit applications based on properties such as weight reduction, insulation, buoyancy, energy dissipation, convenience and comfort characteristics like cushioning factor etc.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Zhang, S., Rodrigue, D.: Preparation and morphology of polypropylene/wood flour composite foams via extrusion. Polym. Compos. 26, 731–738 (2006)
Li, Q., Matuana, L.M.: Foam extrusion of high density polyethylene/wood-flour composites using chemical foaming agents. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 88, 3139–3160 (2002)
Matuana, L.M., Mengeloglu, F.: Microcellular foaming of impact-modified rigid PVC/wood-flour composites. J. Vinyl Addit. Technol. 7(2), 67–76 (2001)
Matuana, L.M., Park, C.B., Balatinecz, J.J.: Processing and cell morphology relationships for microcellular foamed PVC/wood-fiber composites. Polym. Eng. Sci. 37(7), 1137–1147 (1997)
Rachtanapun P., Selke S.E., Matuana L.M.: Microcellular foam of polymer blends of HDPE/PP and their composites with wood fiber. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 88(12), 2842–2860 (2003)
Bledzki, A.K., Faruk, O.: Injection moulded microcellular wood fibre-polypropylene composites. Compos. Part A. 37, 1368–1367 (2006)
Bledzki, A.K., Faruk, O.: Influence of processing temperature on microcellular injection-moulded wood-polypropylene composites. Macromol. Mater. Eng. 29(10), 1226–1232 (2006)
Gosselin, R., Rodrigue, D., Riedl, B.: Injection molding of postconsumer wood–plastic composites I: morphology. J. Thermoplast. Compos. Mater. 19(6), 639–667 (2006)
Gosselin, R., Rodrigue, D., Riedl, B.: Injection molding of postconsumer wood–plastic composites II: mechanical properties. J. Thermoplast. Compos. Mater. 19(6), 659–669 (2006)
Mengeloglu, F., Matuana, L.M.: Manufacture of rigid PVC/wood-flour composite foams using moisture contained in wood as foaming agent. J. Vinyl Addit. Technol. 8, 264–270 (2002)
Zhang, H., Rizvi, G.M., Park, C.B.: Development of an extrusion system for producing fine-celled HDPE/wood-fiber composite foams using CO2 as a blowing agent. Adv. Polym. Technol. 23(4), 263–276 (2004)
Rizvi, G.M., Park C.B., Matuana, L.M.: Foaming of PS/wood fiber composites using moisture as a blowing agent. Polym. Eng. Sci. 40(10), 2124–2132 (2000)
Goel, S.K., Beckman, E.J.: Generation of microcellular polymeric foams using supercritical carbon dioxide. II Cell growth and skin formation. Polym. Eng. Sci. 34, 1148–1166 (1994)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2010 Springer Berlin Heidelberg
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Kim, J.K., Pal, K. (2010). Expanded Wood Polymer Composites. In: Recent Advances in the Processing of Wood-Plastic Composites. Engineering Materials, vol 32. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-14877-4_7
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-14877-4_7
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-642-14876-7
Online ISBN: 978-3-642-14877-4
eBook Packages: Chemistry and Materials ScienceChemistry and Material Science (R0)