Preparation and dielectric properties of polyimide foams containing crosslinked structures

In order to obtain cellular materials with low dielectric properties, crosslinked polyimide foams were prepared using 3,3′,4,4′‐benzophenonetetracarboxylic dianhydride (BTDA), 4,4′‐oxydianiline (ODA) and 2,4,6‐triaminopyrimidine (TAP) as monomer via a poly(ester‐amine salt) precursor process. The structures of the precursors and the polyimide foams were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and FT‐IR, while the morphologies of the polyimide foams were viewed from scanning electron microscopy (SEM) measurements. The results revealed that the poly(ester‐amine salt) precursor containing TAP could successfully be converted to a crosslinked polyimide foam with relatively uniform cell structure. Also, the crosslinking of TAP improved the mechanical properties of foams in comparison with the non‐crosslinking systems. With increasing content of TAP, the dielectric constants of the polyimide foams decreased gradually. For the foam with TAP molar ratio at 15%, the dielectric constant was as low as 1.77 at the frequency of 10 kHz. Though the thermal resistance decreased slightly for crosslinked foams, the decomposition temperatures were still maintained above 520°C. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Comparative Analysis of the Properties of Tween‐20, Tween‐60, Tween‐80, Arlacel‐60, and Arlacel‐80

Foamability and foam stability, emulsifying power, surface tension, and interfacial tension were investigated for Tween‐20 (polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate), Tween‐60 (polyoxyethylene sorbitan monostearate), Tween‐80 (polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate), Arlacel‐60 (Sorbitan stearate), and Arlacel‐80 (Sorbitan oleate). Among all the surfactants tested for their foaming power and foamabilty, Arlacel‐60 and Arlacel‐80 showed the best results; the foaming power and foamability was found to be 100%. The surfactants having foam stability more than 50% can be considered as metastable and those less than 50% are considered as low‐stability foams. In case of surface tension and interfacial tension property measurements, Arlacel‐80 showed the best results. At 1% surfactant concentration, the surface tension and interfacial tension of Arlacel‐80 was found to be 29.9 dynes/cm and 1.1 dynes/cm at 30°C ambient temperature. Also, Arlacel‐60 was found to exhibit the best emulsifying power among all the surfactants tested. At 30°C, the emulsifying property of Arlacel‐60 was 6 hours.     

Lanthanum phenylphosphonate–based multilayered coating for reducing flammability and smoke production of flexible polyurethane foam

In the present work, lanthanum phenylphosphonate (LaPP)–based multilayered film was fabricated on the surface of flexible polyurethane (PU) foam by layer‐by‐layer self‐assembled method. The successful deposition of the coating was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy‐dispersive X‐ray (EDX). Subsequently, the thermal decomposition and burning behavior of untreated and treated PU foams were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and cone calorimeter, respectively. The TGA results indicated that T_max2 of treated PU foams were increased by approximately 15°C to 20°C as compared with untreated PU foam. The peak heat release rate (PHRR) and total heat release (THR) of PU‐6 (with 19.5 wt% weight gain) were 188 kW/m² and 20.3 MJ/m², with reductions of 70% and 15% as compared with those of untreated PU foam, respectively. Meanwhile, the smoke production of treated PU foam was suppressed after the construction of LaPP‐based coating.     

A steady‐state mass balance model of the polycarbonate–CO2 system reveals a self‐regulating cell growth mechanism in the solid‐state microcellular process

A simple mechanism regulating polymer mobility is demonstrated to determine initial and final growth states of solid‐state microcellular foams. This mechanism, governed by the extent of plasticization of the polymer by the dissolved gases, is examined with a mass balance model and results from foam growth experiments. Polycarbonate was exposed to CO₂, which acted as both a plasticizing gas and a physical blowing agent driving foam growth. The polycarbonate specimens were saturated to the equilibrium gas concentration at 25 °C for CO₂ pressures of 1–6 MPa in 1‐MPa increments. Equilibrated specimens were heated in a glycerin bath until thermal equilibrium was reached, and a steady foam structure was attained. Glycerin bath temperatures of 30–150 °C in 10 °C increments were examined. Using knowledge of gas solubility, the equation of state for CO₂, the effective glass‐transition temperature as a function of gas concentration, and a model for mass balance within a solid‐state foam, we demonstrate that foam growth terminates when sufficient gas is driven from the polycarbonate matrix into the foam cells. The foam cell walls freeze at the elevated bath temperature because of gas transport from the polycarbonate matrix and the associated rise in the polymer glass‐transition temperature to that of the heated bath. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 39: 868–880, 2001     

Prediction of the Properties of a Binary Surfactant Mixture of Arlacel‐165 and Myrj‐59 in Aqueous System

Foamability and foam stability, emulsifying power, surface tension, and interfacial tension were investigated for different ratios of binary surfactant system of Arlacel‐165 (glyceryl stearate (and) PEG‐100 stearate) and Myrj‐59 (polyoxyethylene 100 stearate). Among all the ratios tested for their foaming power and foamabilty, the ratios 8:2, 5:5, 4:6, 2:8, and 1:9 of Arlacel‐165 and Myrj‐59 showed the best results. At these ratios, the foaming power and foamability was found to be 100%. The surfactants having foam stability more than 50% can be considered as metastable and those less than 50% are considered as low‐stability foams. In case of surface tension and interfacial tension property measurements, 8:2 and 9:1 showed the best results. At 8:2 and 9:1 of Arlacel‐165 and Myrj‐59, the surface tension was found to be 37.7 dynes/cm and 1.33 dynes/cm respectively at 30°C ambient temperature. Also, 7:3 of this binary mixture was found to exhibit the best emulsifying power among all the ratios tested. At 30°C, the emulsifying property of the binary mixture was 6 hours.     

BET Measurements: Outgassing of Minerals

Outgassing minerals at elevated temperatures prior to BET measurements can lead to phase changes, especially in the case of amorphous and poorly crystalline materials. In order to evaluate the applicability of the BET method when low outgassing temperatures are required, selected aquifer minerals were outgassed at different temperatures and for different times. The studied minerals are 2-line ferrihydrite, goethite, lepidocrocite, quartz, calcite, alpha-alumina, and kaolinite. The results demonstrate that measured specific surface areas of iron oxides are strongly dependent on outgassing conditions because the surface area increased by 170% with increasing temperature. In the poorly crystalline minerals, phase changes caused by heating were observed at temperatures lower than 100 degrees C. Therefore low outgassing temperatures are preferable for minimizing phase changes. As demonstrated in this study, stable BET values can be obtained by increasing the outgassing time without heating iron oxides. For quartz, calcite, alpha-alumina, and kaolinite, stable BET values were obtained after outgassing the minerals at 100 to 250 degrees C for 2 h. However, outgassing these minerals at room temperature (20 degrees C) only resulted in minor errors, implying that aquifer sediments containing poorly crystalline materials can be outgassed at low temperatures if the outgassing time is increased. Scanning electron microscopy of the studied minerals demonstrated that the particle size as calculated from BET data compares well with particle size observed by scanning electron microscopy images. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.     

The Influences of Polymers and Temperature on the Foam Properties of 3‐Dodecylalkoxyl‐2‐hydroxylpropyl Trimethylammonium Chloride

The foam performances of 3‐dodecoxy‐2‐hydroxypropyl trimethylammonium chloride (C₁₂TAC) have been determined in the existence of different relative amount of polymer. The experimental results show that the foaming ability of the mixture systems of the C₁₂TAC/PEG and C₁₂TAC/PVP is stronger than that of the surfactant solutions in the absence of polymer, and with the increase of relative amount of polymer both foaming efficiency and foam stability of the surfactant solutions are evidently enhanced. For the aqueous solution of the surfactant, effect of temperature on foaming properties has also been examined. The results show that both the foaming ability and stability of the foams of the surfactant solutions are highest (or strongest) at 30°C.     

Microcellular foams made from gliadin

We have generated closed-cell microcellular foams from gliadin, an abundantly available wheat storage protein. The extraction procedure of gliadin from wheat gluten, which involves only the natural solvents water and ethanol, respectively, is described with emphasis on the precipitation step of gliadin which results in a fine dispersion of mostly spherical, submicron gliadin particles composed of myriad of protein molecules. A dense packing of these particles was hydrated and subjected to an atmosphere of carbon dioxide or nitrogen in a high-pressure cell at 250 bar. Subsequent heating to temperatures close to but still below 100 °C followed by sudden expansion and simultaneous cooling resulted in closed-cell microcellular foam. The spherical gliadin templates along with the resulting foam have been analyzed by scanning electron microscope (SEM) pictures. The size distribution of the primary particles shows diameters peaked around 0.54 μm, and the final foam cell size peaks around 1.2 μm, at a porosity of about 80 %. These are the smallest foam cell sizes ever reported for gliadin. Interestingly, the cell walls of these microcellular foams are remarkably thin with thicknesses in the lower nanometer range, thus nourishing the hope to be able to reach gliadin nanofoam.     

Effect of Molecular Modification on PCL Foam Formation and Morphology of PCL

Poly(ϵ-caprolactone) was chemically modified by using dicumyl peroxide from 0.25 to 2 % (w/w) and the effects of molecular architecture on the density and morphology of PCL foams were examined. The polymer was first blended with dicumyl peroxide at a low temperature (80°C), to prevent premature peroxide decomposition. The peroxide modification was then performed at different temperatures, from 110°C to 150°C. The reaction kinetic was followed by measuring the dynamical rheological properties of the melt in isothermal experiments by using a parallel plate rheometer. The evolution of the macromolecular structure during the chemical reaction was followed by analyzing the time evolution of the complex viscosity. Foams were prepared from the peroxide modified PCL with a batch foaming process using nitrogen as the foaming agent under different process conditions. As expected, the increase of the molecular modification led to a shift towards higher temperatures of the foaming window and, moreover, influenced the viscoelastic behavior of the expanding polymeric matrix so that the final foam properties are affected.     

Room temperature processable heat‐resistant epoxy‐oxazolidone‐based syntactic foams

Syntactic foams based on oxazolidone‐modified epoxy resin using glass microballoons as reinforcing filler with varying densities were processed. The influence of various grades of microballoons and their concentration on the mechanical, thermal, thermomechanical, and flammability characteristics were investigated. The effect of temperature on the compressive strength with density was monitored in detail. By incorporating the microballoons, T_g of the syntactic foam increased from 90 °C to 115 °C. Thermal conductivity was found to decrease from (0.064 to 0.056 W/(m·K)) in conjunction with decreasing resin to filler ratio. In the case of composites filled with K25 alone, the creation of large voids due to less effective packing between the microballoons led to lower thermal conductivity. The specific heat of the different composites was in the range of 0.32 to 0.44 cal/g/°C, and the coefficient of thermal expansion was in the range of 13.2 to 17.4 × 10⁻⁶/°C with limiting oxygen index of 28% to 33%.     

Effects of monomer structures on the foaming processes and thermal properties of polyimide foams

Four polyimide (PI) foams were prepared from polyamide acid precursors. The effects of monomer structures on the foaming processes and thermal properties of PI foams were investigated. The foaming processes of PI foams were observed by a self‐made visualization device. The thermal properties of four PI foams were studied by the methods of dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and thermogravimetry/differential thermogravimetry (TG/DTG) analysis. The results indicated that the inflation onset temperatures and maximum inflation degrees of four precursors increased from 123 to 171°C and decreased from 28 to 15 times with the increasing rigidity of the precursor molecule, respectively. The glass transition temperatures, the 5% weight loss temperatures, the decomposed activation energies, and pre‐exponential factors of PI foams increased with increase in the rigidity of monomer. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis,Characterization and Crystal Structures of new 1,2,4‐Triazole based Schiff‐bases and their Copper(I) Complexes

The reaction of 4‐amino‐5‐methyl‐2H‐1,2,4‐triazole‐3(4H)‐thione (AMTT, 1 ) with 4‐methoxy benzaldehyde and 3‐methoxybenzaldehyde in methanol led to the iminic derivatives 4‐(4‐methoxybenzylideneamino)‐5‐methyl‐2H‐1,2,4‐triazole‐3(4H)thione ( 2 , L1) and 4‐(3‐methoxybenzylideneamino)‐5‐methyl‐2H‐1,2,4‐triazole‐3(4H)‐thione ( 3 , L2). The reaction of the latter with [(PPh₃)₂CuCl] in methanol solution gave the first Cu^I complex of 3 , [(PPh₃)₂CuCl(L2)] ( 4 ) and in chloroform solution the complex [(PPh₃)₂CuCl(L2)]·2CHCl₃ ( 5 ). All compounds were characterized by infrared spectroscopy, elemental analyses as well as by X‐ray diffraction studies. Crystal data for 2 at ?80 °C: space group P2₁/c with a = 1351.3(3), b = 399.4(1), c = 2225.2(5) pm, β = 96.50(2)°, Z = 4, R₁ = 0.0667, for 3 at ?80 °C: space group R3c with a = b = 3020.4(2), c = 708.2(1) pm, Z = 18, R₁ = 0.0435, for 4 at ?80 °C: space group P2₁/c with a = 1427.8(1), b = 1129.0(1), c = 2622.8(2) pm, β = 97.19(1)°, Z = 4, R₁ = 0.0517 and for 5 at ?80 °C: space group with a = 1280.5(1), b = 1316.1(1), c = 1731.4(1) pm, α = 78.14(1)°, β = 86.06(1)°, γ = 64.69(1)°, Z = 2, R₁ = 0.0525.     

Synthesis,Characterization, and Crystal Structure of the New Schiff‐Bases derived from 1,2,4‐Triazole and the Structure of [(PPh3)2Cu(AMTT)]NO3·EtOH (AMTT = 4‐Amino‐5‐methyl‐2H‐1,2,4‐triazole‐3(4H)‐thione)

The reactions of 4‐amino‐5‐methyl‐2H‐1,2,4‐triazole‐3(4H)‐thione (AMTT, L1 ) with 2‐thiophen carbaldehyde, salicylaldehyde and 2‐nitrobenzaldehyde in methanol led to the corresponding Schiff‐bases ( L1a‐c ). The reaction of L1 with [(PPh₃)₂Cu]NO₃ in ethanol gave the ionic complex [(PPh₃)₂Cu(L1)]NO₃·EtOH ( 2 ) All compounds were characterized by infrared spectroscopy, elemental analyses as well as by X‐ray diffraction studies. Crystal data for L1a at 20 °C: space group P2₁/n with a = 439.6(2), b = 2074.0(9), c = 1112.8(4) pm, β = 93.51(3)°, Z = 4, R₁ = 0.0406, L1b at ?80 °C: space group P2₁/n with a = 1268.9(2), b = 739.3(1), c = 1272.5(1) pm, β = 117.97(1)°, Z = 4, R₁ = 0.0361, L1c at ?80 °C: space group P2₁/n with a = 847.8(1), b = 1502.9(2), c = 981.5(2) pm, β = 110.34(1)°, Z = 4, R₁ = 0.0376 and for 2 at ?80 °C: space group with a = 1247.8(1), b = 1270.3(1), c = 1387.5(1) pm, α = 84.32(1)°, β = 84.71(1)°, γ = 63.12(1)°, Z = 2, R₁ = 0.0539.     

Synthesis,Characterization and Molecular Structure of a New Tetrameric Palladium(II) Complex Containing Schiff‐Bases Derived from AMTTO (AMTTO = 4‐amino‐6‐methyl‐1,2,4‐triazine‐thione‐5‐one)

The reactions of AMTTO = 4‐amino‐6‐methyl‐1,2,4‐triazine‐thione‐5‐one (AMTTO, 1 ) with 2‐hydroxybenzaldehyde (salicylaldehyde) and 4‐hydroxybenzaldehyde in methanol under reflux conditions led to the corresponding Schiff‐bases ( H₂L1 and H₂L2 ). The reaction of H₂L1 with palladium acetate in ethanol and additional recrystallization from toluene gave the tetrameric complex [Pd(L)]₄·2C₇H₈ ( 2 ). All compounds were characterized by infrared spectroscopy, elemental analyses as well as by X‐ray diffraction studies. Crystal data for H₂L1 at ?80 °C: space group P2₁/c with a = 1285.4(1), b = 707.7(1), c = 1348.2(1) pm, β = 109.32(1)°, Z = 4, R₁ = 0.0328, H₂L2 at ?80 °C: space group P4₃2₁2 with a = 762.5(1), b = 762.5(1), c = 4038.9(2) pm, Z = 8, R₁ = 0.025 and for 2 at ?103 °C: space group C2/c with a = 2862.5(6), b = 2847.6(6), c = 1727.8(4) pm, β = 105.18(3)°, Z = 8, R₁ = 0.0704.     

Synthesis,Characterization of a Novel 1,2,4‐Thiotriazine Derivative (CAMTTO), and Copper(I) and Silver(I) Complexes thereof (CAMTTO = {(4‐[(4‐Chlorobenzylidene)‐amino]‐6‐methyl‐3‐thioxo‐[1,2,4]‐triazin‐3,4‐dihydro(2H)‐5‐one)}

The reaction of 4‐amino‐6‐methyl‐1,2,4‐triazin‐thione‐5‐one (H₂AMTTO, 1 ) with 4‐chlorobenzaldhyde led to the corresponding iminic compound {(4‐[(4‐chloro‐benzylidene)‐amino]‐6‐methyl‐3‐thioxo[1,2,4]‐triazin‐3,4‐dihydro(2H)‐5‐one), CAMTTO ( 2 ). Treatment of 2 with copper(I) chloride in chloroform gave the dimeric complex [{(CAMTTO)₂CuCl}₂]·2CHCl₃ ( 3 ). Treatment of 2 with copper(I) chloride and silver(I) nitrate in the presence of the co‐ligand triphenylphophane gave the complexes [(CAMTTO)CuCl(PPh₃)₂] ( 4 ) and [(CAMTTO)Ag(PPh₃)₂]NO₃·2CHCl₃ ( 5 ). All compounds have been characterized by elemental analyses, ¹H NMR spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy, and partly by mass spectrometry and X‐ray diffraction studies. In addition 4 and 5 have been characterized by ³¹P{¹H} NMR spectroscopy. Crystal data for 2 at ?80 °C: monoclinic, space group P2₁/c, a = 1370.3(1), b = 767.8(1), c = 1268.7(1) pm, β = 107.12(1)°, Z = 4, R₁ = 0.0379; for 3 at ?80 °C: monoclinic, space group P2₁/c, a = 1442.6(2), b = 878.8(1), c = 2558.7(3) pm, β = 95.31(1)°, Z = 2, R₁ = 0.0746; for 4 at ?80 °C: triclinic, space group , a = 1287.9(1), b = 1291.7(1), c = 1359.5(1) pm, α = 90.44(1)°, β = 94.81(1)°, γ = 107.54(1)°, Z = 2, R₁ = 0.0359 and for 5 at ?80 °C: triclinic, space group , a = 1060.5(1), b = 1578.2(2), c = 1689.6(2) pm, α = 87.70(1)°, β = 86.66(1)°, γ = 76.84(1)°, Z = 2, R₁ = 0.0487.     

Preparation and performance of a novel polyimide foam

A new type of polyimide foam (PIF) was prepared and characterized based on a one‐pot process by the reaction of a first solution with different ratios of a second solution. The first solution was comprised of pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA), N, N‐dimethyl formamide (DMF), methanol, water, surfactant, and catalysts, while the second solution contained polyaryl polymethylene isocyanate (PAPI). In the present study, the relationships among compositions, structures, and properties of PIFs were investigated. The results indicated that with the increase in the weight ratio of PAPI/(first solution), the foaming degrees of PIFs increased from 10.14 to 10.52 times and the apparent densities before postcure decreased from 15.96 to 14.51 kg/m³. The open cell contents, average sound absorption coefficients, and average cellular diameters of PIFs after postcure increased with increase in the weight ratio of PAPI/(first solution). The glass transition temperatures (T_g) of PIFs after postcure first increased from 287 to 299°C, then decreased to 292°C, and the 5% weight loss temperatures and 10% weight loss temperatures presented the same trend as well. The compressive and flatwise tensile properties scaled very well with the relative densities of the foams after postcure, with the highest compressive strength of 0.03 MPa and the highest flatwise tensile strength of 0.15 MPa. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Towards novel super‐elastic foams based on isoperene rubber: Preparation and characterization

A novel and conventional closed cell polyisoprene rubber (IR) foams were produced by a single step limited‐expansion and two step unlimited‐expansion foaming process, respectively. The effect of 3 to 12 part per hundred rubber (phr) of azodicarbonamide (ADC) foaming agent on their structure and properties of developed novel foams were studied. In developed novel foams, the density was strangely independent of ADC content; however, the cell sizes conversely related to ADC content and it decreased by 60% (555‐330 μm) and the internal cell pressure build up from 1 to 3.7 atm, which was related to pressure‐free foaming method. The both reasons of compressed gas trapped inside cells and constant density not only caused unique enhancement in novel foams mechanical properties as hardness and modulus but also improved their dynamic properties as hysteresis and elasticity. Results of conventional IR foams showed that, their foam density as well as dynamic and mechanical properties sharply decreased with increasing ADC content from 3 to 12 phr. For clear expression, in samples with 12 phr of ADC, novel developed foams have more foam density (180%), more hardness (240%), more modulus (290%), and smaller cell size (75%) than conventional foams. Finally, novel developed foams were super‐elastic material with no hysteresis and no plastic deformation while conventional foams had 40% hysteresis and 10% plastic deformation under the same compression conditions.     

Fabrication‐controlled morphology of poly(butylene succinate) nano‐microcellular foams by supercritical CO2

Poly(butylene succinate) urethane ionomer (PBSUIs) foams with nano‐microcellular morphology were fabricated using supercritical CO₂ (sc‐CO₂) at different parameters. Effect of urethane ionic group (UIG) content (ranged from 1% to 5%) on the rheology and crystallization of PBSUIs were evaluated by intrinsic, dynamic rheological, X‐ray diffraction, and differential scanning calorimetry measurements. The results show that the complex viscosity of PBSUIs vastly improved, while their intrinsic viscosity and crystallinity decreased. They also evidenced that CO₂ promoted the formation of crystallites in the amorphous and increased the X_c of PBSU and PBSUIs foams. Scanning electron microscope was employed to explore the influences of UIG content and foaming parameters on the morphologies of PBSUIs microcellular foams, and it revealed that UIG content was the dominated factor. The cell size and cell densities of PBSUIs microcellular foams were smaller than 5.0 micrometers and higher than 1.5 × 10¹⁰ cells/cm³, respectively, even foamed at diverse variations of foam temperature and pressure. Interestingly, PBSUIs with 3% and 5% UIG content achieved microcellular foams in nano‐cells, high‐stretched elliptical shape. The mechanism was ascribed that these PBSUIs with high melt viscosities could retard the CO₂ bubbles to merge during the foam process and induce the cells to stretch and orient in depressururization direction. This study proposed a novel method for fabricating PBS nano‐microcellular foams.     

Critical parameters controlling the properties of monolithic poly(lactic acid) foams prepared by thermally induced phase separation

Monolithic poly(lactic acid) (PLA) foams were produced by thermally induced phase separation. PLA solutions with concentrations 8–22 wt % were prepared in tetrahydrofuran/methanol (THF/MeOH) solvent/nonsolvent mixtures at 55 °C. Homogenous solutions were quenched at ?20 °C to induce phase separation and gelation. Resulting gels were mechanically stabilized by solvent exchange. Subsequent supercritical CO₂ drying yielded monolithic PLA foams. Crystal structure and degree of crystallinity of the foams were obtained by x‐ray diffractometry and differential scanning calorimetry. Morphologies were determined by scanning electron microscopy. Tuning the PLA concentration and THF/MeOH ratio enabled preparation of monolithic PLA foams. Depending on the experimental conditions various morphologies, such as: interconnected networks, thin platelets, lamellar stacks, axialites, and spherulites were formed. Monoliths obtained were highly crystalline. By changing the PLA concentration monoliths with controlled average pore sizes (170–1440 nm) and porosities (80–90%) were produced. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2019 , 57, 98–108     

Tungsten‐loaded SMP foam nanocomposites with inherent radiopacity and tunable thermo‐mechanical properties

Shape memory polymer (SMP) foams have been developed for use in neurovascular occlusion applications. These materials are predominantly polyurethanes that are known for their biocompatibility and tunable properties. However, these polymers inherently lack X‐ray visibility, which is a significant challenge for their use as implantable materials. Herein, low density, highly porous shape memory polyurethane foams were developed with tungsten nanoparticles dispersed into the foam matrix, at increasing concentrations, to serve as a radiopaque agent. Utilizing X‐ray fluoroscopy sufficient visibility of the foams at small geometries was observed. Thermal characterization of the foams indicated altered thermal response and delayed foam actuation with increasing nanoparticle loading (because of restricted network mobility). Mechanical testing indicated decreased toughness and strength for higher loading because of disruption of the SMP matrix. Overall, filler addition imparted x‐ray visibility to the SMP foams and allowed for tuned control of the transition temperature and actuation kinetics for the material. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.