Microcellular Polymers: Novel Materials for the 21st Century

Abstract

Microcellular polymer's produced by gas nucleation, refer to closed cell thermoplastic foams with a very large number of very small cells—typically 108 or more cells per cm3 of order 10μm in diameter. First produced in the early 1980's with the objective of reducing the amount of polymer used in mass produced items, these novel materials have the potential to revolutionize the way thermoplastic polymers are used today. Microcellular plastics have been produced from a number of polymers ranging in relative density from 0.1 to 1.0, containing 108 to 1011 cells per cm3, offering the engineer a new range of properties for design. The microcellular polymers appear to possess improved fatigue life and energy absorption characteristics as well as a higher specific strength. This paper reviews recent progress in this emerging technology and discusses the areas where this technology is likely to make an impact in the future.