Abstract:
The disclosure provides a composition or set of compositions and methods for producing cellular foamable, foamed, or blown perfluoropolymers or fluoropolymers and other thermoplastics to create products including a lower cost communications cable, conductor separator, conductor support-separator, jacketing, tape, wire insulation and in some cases a conduit tube as individual components or combined configurations that exhibit improved electrical, flammability and optical properties. The composition of the invention can be is chemically foamable yielding homogeneous foamed insulating structures which excel simultaneously in providing excellent insulating properties on metal wires or optical fibers, outstanding processing parameters for high speed cable manufacture and high performance ratings on flammability, smoke generation and fuel load. Specifically, the foamable perfluoropolymer cellular insulation composition comprises blending or individually utilizing; a selected perfluoropolymer in combination with magnesium carbonate, calcium carbonate and Aclyn® wax; a second composition comprising the first composition and an additional selected one or more perfluoropolymers; a third composition comprising; talc and the selected one or more perfluoropolymers; a fourth composition comprising; the second composition, the third composition and the selected one or more perfluoropolymers. A single compounded pellet or product resulting in cellular foams obtained from melt processing the pellets has also been realized by providing the melt combination of only talc and a perfluoropolymer. The present invention includes a foamable perfluoropolymer composition comprising at least one melt-processible per(halo)fluoropolymer; and a blowing agent comprising an effective amount of magnesium carbonate; and an active nucleating agent chosen among: at least one metal carbonate different from magnesium carbonate having decomposition temperature exceeding 350° C., generally chosen among CaCO3, BaCO3, ZnCO3 and PbCO3; and talc and mixtures thereof.
Abstract:
In some embodiments, a foamed polymer sheet comprises: a polymeric material and cells located in the polymeric material. The cells have a size distribution, D90 of greater than or equal to 300 μm and the sheet has a light transmission of greater than or equal to about 5%. In another embodiment, the cells have an average diameter, as measured along a major axis, of about 1 mm to about 4 mm, and the sheet has a light transmission of greater than or equal to about 5%. In another embodiment, a method of making a foamed polymeric sheet comprises: combining a blowing agent with a polymeric material to form a mixture, nucleating bubbles in the mixture, and cooling the mixture. The mixture is at a sufficient temperature and the cells have a sufficient cell size such that the sheet has a light transmission of greater than or equal to 10%.
Abstract:
The invention pertains to a process for producing a cross-linked polyolefin foam in a continuous process using standard processing equipment without using a moisture cross-linking step after processing. In this method, a vinyl functional silane compound is melt grafted onto a low density polyethylene in the presence of a free radical generator. The resulting silane grafted polyethylene resin is mixed and melted with a blowing agent in a continuous process in the presence of water to form a vinyl functional silane foam.
Abstract:
The present invention refers to a plastisol composition of an organic polymer, comprising water and at least one non-crosslinked, water-soluble polyelectrolyte. The invention also covers materials obtained from said composition, the process to obtain them and uses for said materials.
Abstract:
Process for the preparation of foamed thermoplastic polyurethanes characterised in that the foaming of the thermoplastic polyurethane is carried out in the presence of thermally expandable microspheres.
Abstract:
Porous polymers are made by adding biologically active agent and growth substrates (e.g., yeast and sugar, preferably in the presence of water or other suitable fluid) to a polymer forming material, which may be a liquid. The yeast acts on the sugar, forming carbon dioxide gas bubbles. The material is then polymerized so that the gas bubbles create permanent pores within the polymeric material. The polymer can be an epoxy for example. The pores will contain residue of the yeast. Also, porous metals can be made by combining a metal powder with yeast, sugar, and water. The porous metal paste is then sintered. Porous ceramics and semiconductors can be made by combining the yeast and sugar with a ceramic forming liquid such as polysilazane. Polysilazane converts to silica when heated, which helps to bind the ceramic or semiconductor powder particles at a reduced temperature. Biological agents other than yeast (e.g. bacteria, enzymes), and growth substrates other than sugar can also be used.
Abstract:
A foaming additive and a catalyst additive may be used to foam polymeric materials having a low melt flow rate. The foaming additive may include a blowing agent and a hydrophilic component, and the catalyst additive may include a catalyst and a hydrophilic component. Since both the blowing agent and the catalyst are initially combined with a hydrophilic component, the blowing agent and the catalyst are able to find each other easier after being added to the polymeric materials. This makes it simple and economical to make low density foamed materials using polymeric materials having a low melt flow rate.
Abstract:
A crosslinked olefin elastomer foam has a specific gravity of 0.05 to 0.2, an expansion ratio of 8 to 15, a compression set of 30 to 60% and a tear strength of 1.5 to 2.5 kg/cm. The crosslinked foam is obtained by heating an elastomer composition comprising a specific ethylene/null-olefin copolymer, an organic peroxide, a crosslinking auxiliary and a foaming agent. The crosslinked foam has a high expansion ratio, is free from surface roughening attributed to defoaming, realizes a soft touch, exhibits a low compression set and is excellent in mechanical strength (particularly tear strength) and heat resistance.
Abstract:
The present invention pertains to a process for foaming mixtures of bifunctionally-ending di-organopolysiloxanes and acyloxsilane cross-linking agents, involving the addition to the mixture of sufficient quantities of an ammonium, amino, sodium or potassiumn hydrocarbonate.
Abstract:
A composition which cures and foams at room temperature contains a acid-catalyzed, polymerizable resin, an acid and a filler which liberates gas in an endothermic reaction with the acid. The acid serves the dual purpose of catalyzing the polymerization reaction and generating the foaming gas.