Microcellular and Nanocellular Plastics

1
Microcellular and Nanocellular Plastics

• Vipin Kumar, PhD
• Department of Mechanical Engineering
• University of Washington

2

• MICROCELLULAR PLASTIC 10 µm CELLS
• 6 to 8 cells in a Human Hair( 75µm)
• NANOCELLULAR PLASTIC 10-100 nm cells
• 7500-750 cells across a human hair

3
What we can expect from Microcellular Plastics

• Lightweight
• Thermal insulation
• Sound insulation
• Cushion
• Energy absorption
• Filtration
• Tissue Engineering Scaffolds
• Selective light transmission/diffusion

4
PEI Foam Microstructure
Microfoam
Nanofoam

• 5 MPa Saturation Pressure
• Saturated Gas Concentration 102 mg/g
• Foaming Temperature 180 oC
• Cell Size120 nm
• Cell Density1.36 x 1014 cells/cm3

• 1 MPa Saturation Pressure Sample
• Saturated Gas Concentration 34.1 mg/g
• Foaming Temperature 200 oC
• Cell Size 1.54 um
• Cell Density12.9 x 1010 cells/cm3

5
Recycled PET
Cell Diameter 5-10 Micron
6
Results of GIT Development

• Reliable Production of Cups
• Service Temperature, Cycle Time, and Product
  Stiffness Goals Met

7
Microcellular Plastics Extrusion Recycled PET
and corn-based PLA

• Objective
• To develop a continuous microcellular extrusion
  process for environmentally benign plastics.
• funded by NSF
• 310,000
• 2007-2010

8
Some Application Areas for Micro/Nano Foams