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3. Mechanisms
The expansion process can be modeled in three stages:
initiation of the bubble formation process: nucleation ;
bubble growth: swelling ;
structure stabilization.
3.1 Nucleation
There are two nucleation mechanisms:
homogeneous nucleation or auto-nucleation, which leads to the appearance of randomly distributed microbubbles in a pure, perfectly homogeneous matrix;
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heterogeneous nucleation – heterogeneous because it takes place in a matrix made up of several phases – which allows better "control" of the distribution of microbubbles:
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Mechanisms
Bibliography
- (1) - ZHANG (H.) - Scale-Up of Extrusion Foaming Process for Manufacture of Polystyrene Foams Using Carbon Dioxide. - Graduate Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto http://tspace.library.utoronto.ca
- ...
Patents
Welsh, G.C., and. al., U.S. Patent 6, 544, 450, April 8, 2003 / Process for producing thermoforming foam sheet using a physical blowing agent. Dow patent (original).
CO2RE Foaming Technology. Styron patent
Directory
Rauwendaal http://www.rauwendaal.com
Turbo-Screws http://www.turboscrews.com
Styron http://www.styron.com
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