Nanocellular and microcellular expanded PLA bead foams

Mohammadreza Nofar, Chul B. Park*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

In this study, expanded polylactide (EPLA) bead foams were produced with cellular morphology ranging from nanocellular to microcellular. This was achieved by using bead foaming technology while a double crystal melting peak structure was generated. The high melting peak crystals generated during the gas saturation played an important role on controlling the cell size and expansion ratio of the foamed beads. As the amount of high melting peak crystals increased, the cell sizes were reduced to around 350 nm while the expansion ratio was around 3-fold. In other words, the induced perfected crystals significantly promoted the heterogeneous cell nucleation while hindering the cell growth. On the other hand, with the reduced amount of these perfected crystals, the cell sizes were increased to around 15 μm and the expansion ratio of the foamed beads increased to 30-fold.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationSociety of Plastics Engineers - 12th International Conference on Foam Materials and Technology, FOAMS 2014
PublisherSociety of Plastics Engineers
Pages70-74
Number of pages5
ISBN (Electronic)9781510808348
Publication statusPublished - 2014
Externally publishedYes
Event12th International Conference on Foam Materials and Technology, FOAMS 2014 - Iselin, United States
Duration: 10 Sept 201411 Sept 2014

Publication series

NameSociety of Plastics Engineers - 12th International Conference on Foam Materials and Technology, FOAMS 2014

Conference

Conference12th International Conference on Foam Materials and Technology, FOAMS 2014
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityIselin
Period10/09/1411/09/14

Keywords

  • Bead foaming
  • Crystallization
  • Microcellular
  • Nanocellular
  • Polylactide

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Nanocellular and microcellular expanded PLA bead foams'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this