Experimental Investigation on the Foaming Dynamics and Cell Microstructure of Polystyrene/Nanosilica/n-Pentane Nanocomposites

In this study the foaming dynamics and cell microstructure of polystyrene (PS) and polystyrene/nanosilica nanocomposites containing n-pentane foaming agent were investigated. In order to evaluate the nucleation and growth of bubbles in samples, in-situ microscopic observation method was used, and their foaming process in a discontinuous system was investigated. Nanocomposites were prepared by solution mixing method and their rheological properties were determined by rheological test. The contact angle method was used surface tension measurements. Incorporating of nanosilica into PS matrix decreased the contact angle and increased the surface tension of the samples. In order to investigate the foaming dynamics of samples, sheets with thickness of 200 µm were saturated in a high temperature and pressure chamber. Foaming dynamics was studied by the designed system. The temperature effect on the foaming dynamics was investigated in the samples containing of 3 %wt. n-pentane. Although the nucleation and growth rate of bubbles with temperature increasing from 140 to 160 ºC has almost been doubled, but broader cell size distribution was observed. In nanocomposite samples the nucleation has been increased compared to polystyrene, and the onset of nucleation has been dropped. By increasing n-pentane content to 5 %wt., the nucleation in nanocomposite samples was significantly increased compared to polystyrene. For further investigation of the final microstructure of foams, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images were prepared and the results showed that silica nanoparticles have generated more uniform cells in the final microstructure