Sythesis and foaming of water expandable polystyrene-activated carbon composites

Jintao Yang, Shu Kai Yeh, Zhihua Guo, Zhiqi Cai, L. James Lee, Nan Rong Chiou, Thomas Daniel

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

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Water can act as a co-blowing agent for carbon dioxide (CO2) based polystyrene foaming. With the introduction of water into the foaming process, it is possible to produce foams with ultra-lower density. Herein, we report a modified method to prepare water expandable polystyrene (PS)-activated carbon (AC) composites using suspension polymerization of inverse emulsion. PS is hydrophobic and does not absorb any water. Thus, a good water absorbent carrier such as activated carbon can be used to carry water in the foaming process. Activated carbon pre-saturated with water is introduced into the styrene monomer resulting in the formation of water-in-oil inverse emulsion. Via suspension polymerization, spherical water/activated carbon PS beads could be subsequently obtained. By the extrusion foaming process, a PS/AC composite foam with ultra-low density (∼0.03g/cc) is successfully produced.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationSociety of Plastics Engineers - 66th Annual Technical Conference of the Society of Plastics Engineers, Plastics Encounter at ANTEC 2008
Pages1013-1018
Number of pages6
StatePublished - May 2008
Event66th Annual Technical Conference of the Society of Plastics Engineers, Plastics Encounter at ANTEC 2008 - Milwaukee, WI, United States
Duration: 4 May 20088 May 2008

Publication series

NameTechnical Papers, Regional Technical Conference - Society of Plastics Engineers
Volume2

Conference

Conference66th Annual Technical Conference of the Society of Plastics Engineers, Plastics Encounter at ANTEC 2008
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityMilwaukee, WI
Period4/05/088/05/08

Keywords

  • Activated carbon
  • Carbon dioxide
  • Extrusion foam
  • Insulation foam
  • Polystyrene
  • Ultra-low density
  • Water expandable

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