Some thermodynamic and kinetic properties of the system PETG-CO2, and morphological characteristics of the CO2-blown PETG foams.: An article from: Polymer Engineering and Science

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From the author: The solubility of C[O.sub.2] in PETG, a glycol-modified PET, was measured at different temperatures and over a broad pressure range, and diffusion coefficients were derived at the corresponding conditions. The solubility of C[O.sub.2] is quite high. For example, almost 15 wt% C[O.sub.2] can be dissolved in PETG at 35 [degrees] C and 6.0 MPa. Consequently, C[O.sub.2] is a good blowing agent for PETG, Cellular foams in the density range of about 0.04 to 1.2 g/[cm.sup.3] and cell diameters in the range of about 10 to 150 [[micro]meter] were produced. The foam density and the cell size were found to depend on the foaming temperature and time, with larger cells obtained at higher temperatures or when the sample was foamed for a longer time. The foam density decreased with an increase in the foaming temperature to about 90 [degrees] C, beyond which the density tended to increase slightly due to the cell collapse or coalescence. The density reduction also depended on the pressure at which the polymer was saturated with C[O.sub.2]; the higher the saturating pressure at a given temperature, the greater the density reduction.

From the supplier: Microcellular PETG cells are formed by temperature manipulation or liquid anti-solvent injection to effect phase inversion on a polymer solution. Since the solubility of CO2 is high, it is used as the ideal chemical agent for blowing PETG cellular foams. Studies have shown that foam density and cell size depended largely on temperature and step time. The longer the foaming process, the larger the cells. Foam density decreased as temperature is increased. This caused some of the cells to collapse and coalesce.

Citation Details
Title: Some thermodynamic and kinetic properties of the system PETG-CO2, and morphological characteristics of the CO2-blown PETG foams.
Author: Y. Paul Handa
Publication:Polymer Engineering and Science (Refereed)
Date: January 1, 1999
Publisher: Society of Plastics Engineers, Inc.
Volume: 39 Issue: 1 Page: 55(7)

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