A Baseline Model for the Simulation of Polyurethane Foams via the Population Balance Equation. Issue 4 (19th May 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Karimi, Mohsen; Marchisio, Daniele L.
• Is Part Of: Macromolecular theory and simulations. Volume 24:Issue 4(2015)
• Page Start: 291
• Page End: 300
• Publication Date: 2015-05-19
• Subjects: Macromolecules -- Periodicals; Polymers -- Periodicals; Polymerization -- Periodicals; Macromolécules -- Périodiques; 547.705
• DOI: 10.1002/mats.201500014
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1022-1344

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="mats201500014-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <p>In this work, a novel approach, based on the population balance equation (PBE), is presented and applied for the first time to the simulation of expanding polyurethane foams. The solution of the PBE allows to determine the evolution of the bubble size distribution (BSD) of the foam, which in turn defines the mechanical and thermal properties. The approach includes a kinetic model for the polymerization and blowing reactions, accounts for the presence of a physical blowing and for the total energy balance. Model predictions are compared with experiments from the literature for 12 different chemical recipes, highlighting acceptable agreement.<inline-graphic xlink:href="ark:/27927/pgj2fnfvr77" content-type="mats201500014-gra-0001" xlink:type="simple" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" /></p> </sec> </abstract>