Abstract:
This application relates to a process for the preparation of a polymeric foam material. The process has the steps of: preparing an oil phase and water phase and mixing the phases to make a water-in-oil emulsion wherein the emulsion has a volume to weight ratio of water phase to oil phase of at least about 4:1 and from about 20% to about 80% of the final volume to weight ratio of water phase to oil phase; increasing the volume to weight ratio of water phase to oil phase in the emulsion to 100% of the final volume to weight ratio of water phase to oil phase by the mixing of additional amount of water phase with the emulsion and curing the monomer component in the oil phase of the water-in-oil emulsion using a polymerization reaction to form a saturated polymeric foam material.
Abstract:
The present invention comprises compositions and methods of making high internal phase emulsion foam (HIPE) and inverse high internal phase emulsion foam (I-HIPE) using super critical fluids. Such foams may be used in a wide variety of articles such as absorbent articles.
Abstract:
A method for dehydrating a porous cross-linked polymer conveniently to a low final water content is provided. A porous cross-linked polymer sheet is produced by a method which comprises causing a porous cross-linked polymer obtained by forming and polymerizing a water-in-oil type higher internal phase emulsion to be dehydrated by the use of non-woven fabric rolls furnished with an aspiration mechanism. Properly in this case, the porous cross-linked polymer is subjected to preliminary squeezing. In accordance with the present invention, a porous cross-linked polymer abounding in a water absorbing property to be dehydrated to a low final water content with a small number of rolls.
Abstract:
The invention relates to foam composites having improved properties. These polymeric foams are prepared by polymerization of certain water-in-oil emulsions having a relatively high ratio of water phase to oil phase, commonly known in the art as high internal phase emulsions, or nullHIPEs.null The HIPE-derived foam materials used in the present invention comprise a generally hydrophobic, flexible, semi-flexible, or rigid nonionic polymeric foam structure of interconnected open-cells. These foam structures have a density of less than about 100 mg/cc, a glass transition temperature (Tg) of between about null40null and 90null C., and at least about 1% by weight compatible fibers incorporated into the foam. The foam composites have improved tensile properties compared to foams having no incorporated fibers or foams having noncompatible fibers incorporated therein.
Abstract:
Described is a method of forming and curing high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs) into shaped three dimensional foam implements. In general the method uses the steps of: providing a HIPE, depositing the HIPE into a mold cavity having a predetermined three dimensional shape, curing the HIPE in the mold cavity to form a HIPE foam, and stripping the HIPE foam from the mold cavity to form the three dimensional foam implement. The molded implements are widely useful as components in absorbent articles, toys, insulation, and other uses where a combination of low density and tridimensional shape are desired.
Abstract:
This invention has for an object thereof the provision of a method for the production of a porous cross-linked polymer which can freely control the upper and lower surface behavior of the porous cross-linked polymer, the width and the thickness of the polymer and can perform continuously a process ranting from a step of supplying the emulsion through a step of polymerizing it. The object of this invention, in the production of a porous cross-linked polymer by polymerizing a water-in-oil type high internal phase emulsion, is accomplished by a method for the production of a porous cross-linked polymer characterized by performing continuously a process ranting from a step of supplying the emulsion through a step of polymerizing it while having the outer surface part of the emulsion retain an atmosphere or a state having a lower oxygen content than the ambient air.
Abstract:
This application relates to microporous, open-celled polymeric foam materials with physical characteristics that make them suitable for a variety of uses produced from high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs). This application particularly relates to oxidatively stable emulsifiers used to stabilize the HIPE and the foams produced from such HIPEs.
Abstract:
Disclosed are microporous, open-celled polymeric foams formed by polymerizing a high internal phase water-in-oil emulsion comprising a continuous oil phase and discontinuous water phase where the foam has a Limiting Oxygen Index (LOI) value of at least about 18% Such foams are commonly known in the art as "HIPEs". The foams have a variety of flame retardant applications, including use in insulation.
Abstract:
Stable high internal phase water-in-oil emulsions containing polymerizable vinyl monomers, crosslinking monomers and initiators are obtained, useful in producing low density porous crosslinked polymeric materials by using a surfactant system containing (a) an anionic surfactant, the anionic surfactant having an oil soluble tail and an anionic functional group and (b) one or more quatemary salts having one or more hydrocarbon groups having greater than or equal to 8 carbon atoms. A water-in-oil emulsion can be formed with lower surfactant concentration than sorbitan fatty acid ester alone and improved surfactant performance at elevated temperatures is obtained.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a HIPE-derived heterogeneous polymeric foam structure of interconnected open-cells, wherein the foam structure has at least two distinct regions. Such heterogeneous foams have various applications, such as energy and fluid absorption, insulation, and filtration. The invention further relates to a heterogeneous absorbent polymeric foam that, upon contact with aqueous fluids (in particular body fluids such as urine and blood), can acquire, distribute, and store these fluids. The foams of the invention have at least two distinct regions having different density, polymer composition, surface properties, and/or microcellular morphology. The invention further relates to a process for obtaining the heterogeneous foams by polymerizing a high internal phase water-in-oil emulsion, or HIPE. In one aspect, the process utilizes at least two distinct HIPEs, with each emulsion having a relatively small amount of an oil phase and a relatively greater amount of a water phase.