• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.58 no.4
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• pp.208-215
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• 2023

In this study, the properties of polyurethane-polydimethylsiloxane (PU-PDMS) hybrid foams containing different types and contents of physical blowing agents (PBAs) were investigated. Two types of blowing agents, namely physical blowing agents and thermally expandable microspheres (TEM), were applied. The apparent density was measured using precisely cut foam samples, and the pore size was measured using image software. In addition, the microstructure of the foam was confirmed via scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The thermal conductivities related to the microstructures of the different foams were compared. When 0.5 phr of the hydrocarbon-based PBA was added, the apparent density and pore size of the foam were minimal; however, the pore size was larger than that of neat foam. In contrast, the addition of 3 phr of TEM effectively reduced both the apparent density and pore size of the PBAs. The increase in resin viscosity owing to TEM could enhance bubble production stability, leading to the formation of more uniform and smaller pores. These results indicate that TEM is a highly efficient PBA that can be employed to decrease the weight and pore size of PU-PDMS hybrid foams.

• Journal of Climate Change Research
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.399-406
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to propose a methodology for estimating greenhouse gas emission reduction through HFCs used in the foam industry. This study investigated characteristics of HFCs and greenhouse gas emissions from production processes in the foam industry, which uses HFCs as a blowing agent. Also, we investigated fluorinated gas removal technology to determine a proper technology for the foam industry. And we confirmed the criteria and characteristics of External Project for methodology development. According to criteria of External Project and foam industrial process emission, a methodology for calculating the amount of greenhouse gas emission reduction in foam industry was developed. Lastly, we analyzed the amount of greenhouse gas emission reduction and KOC (Korea Of Offset) in the foam industry based on the domestic government's plan to reduce HCFCs and imported amount of HFCs used as a blowing agent. The results of this study demonstrate that linking greenhouse gas reduction in the foam industry and the domestic greenhouse gas reduction system can contribute to achieve the domestic greenhouse gas reduction goal.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.30-34
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• 2016

In this study, we synthesized a phenol foam using a resol-type phenol resin as a research for replacing the polyurethane foam used as an insulator for cryogenic temperature, such as LNG or LPG. Foaming agents for synthesizing a phenolic foam was used HCFC-141b or n-pentane, cyclopentane, n-hexane, cyclohexane and a mixture of HFC-365mfc and HFC-227ea respectively. Cyclohexane as a blowing agent exhibited the most superior insulating performance and compressive strength. The heat resistance of polyurethane foam and phenolic foam blown by the cyclohexane, was higher than polyurethane foam.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.58 no.2
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• pp.65-69
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• 2023

To reduce the weight of the engineering plastic Nylon 6 resin, two high-temperature foaming agents, p-toluenesulfonyl semicarbazide (PTSS) and 5-phenyltetrazole (5-PT) (0-10 phr), were added and foamed without other additives. We investigated the effects of the foaming agent type and content on the foam density (g/cm³) and percent weight reduction rate of the Nylon 6 foam, and 5-PT exhibited better foaming performance than PTSS. In the case of 5-PT, the weight reduction rate was above 36% when the blowing agent content was 1.5 phr or higher, indicating that 5-PT is an effective blowing agent for reducing the Nylon 6 foam weight. Additionally, we studied the effect of the nucleating agent Talc content (0-0.4 phr) on Nylon 6 foaming, and the nucleating agent Talc considerably reduced foaming.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.52-60
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• 2001

Physical properties of foams depend on the density of foams, Physical properties of base polymers, open ceil contents, and cell structures including the size, size distribution, shape of ceil and the thickness of membrane and strut. The density of foam is affected by raw materials, concentration oi crosslinking agent and blowing agent and process parameters such as processing technique and condition. Ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer(EVA) foam is a crosslinked cellular material. The foaming characteristics and physical properties of EVA foam are affected by decomposition rate of blowing agent. In this study, the decomposition rate of blowing agent and crosslinking rate, foaming characteristics and physical properties of foams were evaluated. The slow decomposition rate of blowing agent results in low density foam, good shock absorption property and uniform cell size distribution compared to the high decomposition rate of blowing agent.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.267-271
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• 2006

Metal foam is a class of attractive materials, which exhibits unique combinations of physical, mechanical, thermal, electrical and acoustic properties. In particular, it is light and good at absorbing energy, which makes it attractive in automotive and aerospace applications weight is critical. In this paper, the Mg alloy foam was prepared by melt foaming method by addition of calcium as thickening agent, and $TiH_2$ or $CaCO_3$ powder as blowing agent. The macrostructural observation of foamed Mg showed that the pore structures of Mg alloy foam made by $CaCO_3$ as blowing agent were much better than that of foams made by $TiH_2$ as blowing agent. In addition, this paper showed the possible reason of fabrication magnesium alloy foam in proportion to blowing agent and the porosity range was about 40 to 76% as results value.

• Transactions of Materials Processing
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.256-261
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• 2009

Polyurethane has been one of the most important materials for automobile elastic parts such as bumper, head rest, instrument panel and so on since it covers very wide range of mechanical characteristics with low production costs. The processing variables such as formulation of ingredients and mold temperature, mixing speed, etc. can affect the quality of produced polyurethane foams so that process conditions should be determined appropriately. In this study, foaming behaviors of semi-rigid polyurethane were investigated by conducting cup foam tests with two major processing variables such as environmental temperature and blowing agent content. In addition, it was verified that processing conditions of real practice can be determined effectively by considering foaming characteristics obtained by the cup foam tests.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.15 no.7
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• pp.676-681
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• 2007

A process designed to synthesize rigid polyurethane foam (PUF) with insulative properties via the modulation of PUF cell size via the addition of clay and the application of ultrasound was assessed. The blowing agents utilized in this study include water, cyclopentane, and HFC-365mfc, all of which are known to be environmentally-friendly blowing agents. The rigid PUFs were prepared from polymeric 4,4'-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (PMDI) and polyether polyol with a density of $50kg/m^3$. In addition, rigid PUFs/clay nanocomposites were synthesized with clay modified by PMDI with and without the application of ultrasound. The PUF generated using water as a blowing agent evidenced the highest tensile strength. The tensile strength of the PUF/nanocomposites was higher than that of the neat PUF and the strength was even higher with the application of ultrasound. The cell size of the PUF/clay nanocomposites was less than that of the neat PUF, regardless of the type of blowing agent utilized. It appears that the higher tensile strength and lower cell size of the PUF/clay nanocomposites may be attributable to the uniform dispersion of the clay via ultrasonic agitation. The thermal conductivity of the PUF/clay nanocomposites generated with HCFC-141b evidenced the lowest value when PUF/clay nanocomposites were compared with other blowing agents, including HFC-365mfc, cyclopentane, and water. Ultrasound has also proven effective with regard to the reduction of the thermal conductivity of the PUF/clay nanocomposites with any of the blowing agents employed in this study. It has also been suggested that the uniformly dispersed clay particles in the PUF matrix function as diffusion barriers, which prevent the amelioration of the thermal insulation property.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.8 no.2 s.23
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• pp.1-7
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• 2004

The physical properties of rigid polyurethane foam(PUF) synthesized using various types of blowing agents such as water, HFC-365mfc, HFC-245fa, HCFC-l4lb, CFC-11 and n-pentane were studied. The blending effect of blowing agents were also studied. The thermal conductivity, reaction rate, and cell morphology of the PUF with various blending ratio of blowing agents were investigated. The PUF blown by water shows the highest compressive strength among other single blowing agents. The thermal conductivity of PUFs blown by HFC-245fa and HFC-365mfc are close to that of PUFs blown by CFC-11. When HFC-365mfc was mixed with HFC-245fa(30mo1e$\%$) as coblowing agent, the mechanical property shows the highest value among other coblowing agents. It is that the thermal conductivity of PUFs depends on cell size of PUFs as well as thermal conductivity of blowing agent in gaseous form.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.5 no.4 s.16
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• pp.79-84
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• 2001

In this study, the effect of polyol structure(OH-value, functionality) on the reactivity, mechanical property and cell morphology of polyurethane foam and the possibility of replacing HFC-36smfc was examined by evaluating how each blowing agent(CFC-11, HCFC-l4lb, HFC-36smfc) affects the reactivity, mechanical property and cell morphology. Results of the experiment showed that as the functionality and OH-value of polyol increased, there was an increase in the temperature profile, reaction rate, density and compressive strength. However. as the functionality and OH-value increased. the ceil size became smaller The use of different kinds of blowing agents did not appear to have and significant influence on the temperature profile, reaction rate, density and compressive strength. The foam using HFC-365mfc produced more uniform cells compared to the foam using HCFC-l4lb.