Lightweight olefin block copolymers foams with shrinkable and recoverable performance via supercritical CO2 foaming

Hao Zheng; Pengke Huang; Patrick C. Lee; Nathan R.S. Chang; Yongqing Zhao; Yaozhuo Su; Fei Wu; Xiaoling Liu; Wenge Zheng

doi:10.1016/j.supflu.2023.105981

Lightweight olefin block copolymers foams with shrinkable and recoverable performance via supercritical CO₂ foaming

Hao Zheng, Pengke Huang, Patrick C. Lee, Nathan R.S. Chang, Yongqing Zhao, Yaozhuo Su, Fei Wu, Xiaoling Liu, Wenge Zheng

Department of Mechanical, Materials and Manufacturing Engineering

Research output: Journal Publication › Article › peer-review

14 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Thermoplastic elastomer foams with gas-rich structures occupy a high specific surface/volume ratio, which will take up lots of space for storage and transportation. Herein, micro-crosslinked olefin block copolymers (OBC) foams with shrinkable and recoverable functions were prepared via supercritical CO₂ foaming to subtly solve the storage problem, and the shrinkage and recovery mechanisms were studied. The storage volume of OBC foams could shrink up to ∼78.5 % and maintain low volume condition for a long time through vacuum sealing technology. Meanwhile, the shrunk OBC foams could also be quickly and fully recovered by N₂-assisted post-processing because of the regulation of gas exchange. And OBC foams with a density of 0.028 g/cm³ were prepared successfully. The compressive properties of OBC foams were investigated. Related design strategies can significantly reduce the transportation costs and energy consumption of OBC foams and are expected to be applied to other thermoplastic elastomers.

Original language	English
Article number	105981
Journal	Journal of Supercritical Fluids
Volume	200
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.supflu.2023.105981
Publication status	Published - Sept 2023

Keywords

Foams
Gas exchange
Olefin block copolymers
Shrinkage

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Chemical Engineering
Condensed Matter Physics
Physical and Theoretical Chemistry

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1016/j.supflu.2023.105981

Cite this

@article{74ac3694415a47ab85206b099d7a0022,

title = "Lightweight olefin block copolymers foams with shrinkable and recoverable performance via supercritical CO2 foaming",

abstract = "Thermoplastic elastomer foams with gas-rich structures occupy a high specific surface/volume ratio, which will take up lots of space for storage and transportation. Herein, micro-crosslinked olefin block copolymers (OBC) foams with shrinkable and recoverable functions were prepared via supercritical CO2 foaming to subtly solve the storage problem, and the shrinkage and recovery mechanisms were studied. The storage volume of OBC foams could shrink up to ∼78.5 % and maintain low volume condition for a long time through vacuum sealing technology. Meanwhile, the shrunk OBC foams could also be quickly and fully recovered by N2-assisted post-processing because of the regulation of gas exchange. And OBC foams with a density of 0.028 g/cm3 were prepared successfully. The compressive properties of OBC foams were investigated. Related design strategies can significantly reduce the transportation costs and energy consumption of OBC foams and are expected to be applied to other thermoplastic elastomers.",

keywords = "Foams, Gas exchange, Olefin block copolymers, Shrinkage",

author = "Hao Zheng and Pengke Huang and Lee, {Patrick C.} and Chang, {Nathan R.S.} and Yongqing Zhao and Yaozhuo Su and Fei Wu and Xiaoling Liu and Wenge Zheng",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2023 Elsevier B.V.",

year = "2023",

month = sep,

doi = "10.1016/j.supflu.2023.105981",

language = "English",

volume = "200",

journal = "Journal of Supercritical Fluids",

issn = "0896-8446",

publisher = "Elsevier",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Lightweight olefin block copolymers foams with shrinkable and recoverable performance via supercritical CO2 foaming

AU - Zheng, Hao

AU - Huang, Pengke

AU - Lee, Patrick C.

AU - Chang, Nathan R.S.

AU - Zhao, Yongqing

AU - Su, Yaozhuo

AU - Wu, Fei

AU - Liu, Xiaoling

AU - Zheng, Wenge

PY - 2023/9

Y1 - 2023/9

N2 - Thermoplastic elastomer foams with gas-rich structures occupy a high specific surface/volume ratio, which will take up lots of space for storage and transportation. Herein, micro-crosslinked olefin block copolymers (OBC) foams with shrinkable and recoverable functions were prepared via supercritical CO2 foaming to subtly solve the storage problem, and the shrinkage and recovery mechanisms were studied. The storage volume of OBC foams could shrink up to ∼78.5 % and maintain low volume condition for a long time through vacuum sealing technology. Meanwhile, the shrunk OBC foams could also be quickly and fully recovered by N2-assisted post-processing because of the regulation of gas exchange. And OBC foams with a density of 0.028 g/cm3 were prepared successfully. The compressive properties of OBC foams were investigated. Related design strategies can significantly reduce the transportation costs and energy consumption of OBC foams and are expected to be applied to other thermoplastic elastomers.

AB - Thermoplastic elastomer foams with gas-rich structures occupy a high specific surface/volume ratio, which will take up lots of space for storage and transportation. Herein, micro-crosslinked olefin block copolymers (OBC) foams with shrinkable and recoverable functions were prepared via supercritical CO2 foaming to subtly solve the storage problem, and the shrinkage and recovery mechanisms were studied. The storage volume of OBC foams could shrink up to ∼78.5 % and maintain low volume condition for a long time through vacuum sealing technology. Meanwhile, the shrunk OBC foams could also be quickly and fully recovered by N2-assisted post-processing because of the regulation of gas exchange. And OBC foams with a density of 0.028 g/cm3 were prepared successfully. The compressive properties of OBC foams were investigated. Related design strategies can significantly reduce the transportation costs and energy consumption of OBC foams and are expected to be applied to other thermoplastic elastomers.

KW - Foams

KW - Gas exchange

KW - Olefin block copolymers

KW - Shrinkage

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DO - 10.1016/j.supflu.2023.105981

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SN - 0896-8446

VL - 200

JO - Journal of Supercritical Fluids

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