Dissemination of IT for the Promotion of Materials Science (DoITPoMS)

DoITPoMS Micrograph Library Full Record for Micrograph 580

Full Record for Micrograph 580

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Micrograph no
580
Brief description
High magnification SEM image of open cell polyurethane foam
Keywords
cell Link to MATTER Glossary entry for cell, composite material Link to MATTER Glossary entry for composite material, foam Link to MATTER Glossary entry for foam, polymer Link to MATTER Glossary entry for polymer, polymer composite foam, polyurethane (PU), thermoset
Categories
Composite, Foam, Polymer, Polymer composite foam
System
Polyurethane (PU)
Composition
Not specified
Standard codes
Reaction
Processing
Applications
This open celled polymer foam is a compliant space-filler, used for padding and in furniture. It may also be used as a precursor in processes such as the two-stage casting of a metal foam.
Sample preparation
The foam has been sputter-coated with gold, to give a conducting surface
Technique
Scanning electron microscopy (SEM)
Length bar
160 μm
Further information
If a gas is injected into a liquid it forms a cellular foam structure. When a thermoset prepolymer of low viscosity is foamed, the polymer can drain from the cell walls (driven by surface tension) before it sets at the cell edges, leaving an open-celled foam. The cell edges have three concave sides, and some remnants of collapsed cell walls can be seen at the cell edges.
Contributor
J A Curran
Organisation
Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy, University of Cambridge
Date
03/10/02
Licence for re-use
Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International
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