Physical Property Modifications of Low-Density Polyethylene Foams

Abstract

The physical properties of a plastic foam can be related to a set of independent struc tural parameters or variables of the foam. The structural variables necessary to describe plastic foams are density, cell size, cell ge ometry, polymer phase composition, and gas phase composition. Experimental data are presented to demon strate the relationship of cell size, cell geom etry and polymer phase composition on the physical properties of polyethylene foams. Theories are presented to explain these rela tionships between structural variables and physical properties. The relationships between measured physi cal properties of flexible foams and some of the more general terms used to describe these foams (i.e., soft, flexible) are discussed.