Density modeling of polyurethane box foam. Issue 7 (11th July 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shen, Lu; Zhao, Yusheng; Tekeei, Ali; Hsieh, Fu‐Hung; Suppes, Galen J.
• Is Part Of: Polymer engineering & science. Volume 54:Issue 7(2014:Jul.)
• Page Start: 1503
• Page End: 1511
• Publication Date: 2013-07-11
• Subjects: Polymer engineering -- Periodicals; Polymers -- Periodicals; 668.9
• DOI: 10.1002/pen.23694
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0032-3888

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>A model based on about a dozen fundamental differential equations is used to evaluate and simulate the urethane reactions and physical processes of urethane box foaming. This work focuses on quantitative modeling of foam density for foams using water and physical blowing agents. The final densities of foams range from 30 to 90% of the density as projected with full utilization of the blowing agent. The primary sources of inefficient use of blowing agent are loss of the physical blowing during open‐air mixing and degassing—basically, physical blowing agents with boiling points between 25 and 80°C will evaporate and experience cell rupture in box foams. This loss of blowing agent would not apply to in‐line mixers used for commercial production and should be taken into account with scaling up box or cup foams commercial processes. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 54:1503–1511, 2014. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers</p> </abstract>