Bubble Seeding Nanocavities: Multiple Polymer Foam Cell Nucleation by Polydimethylsiloxane-Grafted Designer Silica Nanoparticles.

ABSTRACT: We describe a successful strategy to substantially enhance cell nucleation efficiency in polymer foams by using designer nanoparticles as nucleating agents. Bare and poly(dimethylsilane) (PDMS)-grafted raspberry-like silica nanoparticles with diameters ranging from ∼80 nm to ∼200 nm were synthesized and utilized as highly efficient cell nucleators in CO2-blown nanocellular polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) foams. The successful synthesis of core-shell nanoparticles was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller measurements, and transmission electron microscopy. The cell size and cell density of the obtained PMMA micro- and nanocellular foams were determined by scanning electron microscopy. The results show that increased surface r

SUBMITTER: Liu S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7045700 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature