Responsive Aqueous Foams

Remarkable properties have emerged recently for aqueous foams, including ultrastability and responsiveness. Responsive aqueous foams refer to foams for which the stability can be switched between stable and unstable states with a change in environment or with external stimuli. Responsive foams have been obtained from various foam stabilizers, such as surfactants, proteins, polymers, and particles, and with various stimuli. Different strategies have been developed to design this type of soft material. We briefly review the two main approaches used to obtain responsive foams. The first approach is based on the responsiveness of the interfacial layer surrounding the gas bubbles, which leads to responsive foams. The second approach is based on modifications that occur in the aqueous phase inside the foam liquid channels to tune the foam stability. We will highlight the most sophisticated approaches, which use light, temperature, and magnetic fields and lead to switchable foam stability.     

Foams from non-aqueous systems

The multi-phase approach to clarify the fundamentals of the stability of foams from non-aqueous liquids has been further developed. The two-phase liquid/liquid crystal line of attack for the liquid oil variety has been extended to foams stabilized by solid particles, in turn leading to progress in the fundamental science of solid metal foams and plastic foams.     

Nanoporous Metal Foams

Nanoporous metal foams (NMFs) have been a long sought‐after class of materials in the quest for high‐surface‐area conductive and catalytic materials. Herein we present an overview of newly developed synthetic strategies for producing NMFs along with an in‐depth discussion of combustion synthesis as a versatile and scalable approach for the preparation of nanoporous, nanostructured metal foams. Current applications of NMFs prepared using combustion synthesis are also presented including hydrogen storage and catalysis.     

The Acoustics of Liquid Foams

Beside other transport properties of liquid foams, like the optical or electrical ones, the acoustics of liquid foams reveals a great complexity and non-trivial features. Here we present a review of recent experimental and theoretical results on how a sound wave interacts with either a macroscopic foam sample or with its isolated building blocks (films and Plateau borders). The analysis of the literature allows us to determine what is now well understood, what could be measured in foams by acoustics, and what are the remaining issues and perspectives in this research field.     

智能水基泡沫研究进展

作为典型的软物质,水基泡沫因具有较小的粒径、较大的比表面积和良好的流动性而广泛应用于洗涤剂、化妆品、食品工程、油气开采等领域。在实际应用中,泡沫的稳定性起着制约性作用。近年来,在环境因素刺激下,能在稳定和非稳定状态之间转变的可控智能泡沫引起了极大关注。针对近年来智能水基泡沫的研究进展,本文综述了基于温度、磁场、光、pH和CO₂响应等智能水基泡沫体系,讨论了不同类型的智能水基泡沫的形成机理及相应性能,展望了智能水基泡沫的应用前景和发展方向。     

Synthesis of CO2 Copolymer Based Polyurethane Foams

CO2-copolymer based polyurethane foams were synthesized and characterized in this paper. The foams were found to have higher strength and lower heat of combustion than the conventional polyether polyurethane foams. They may find wide applications in many fields.     

Silicon Oxycarbide Foams from a Silicone Preceramic Polymer and Polyurethane

Ceramic open-cell foams were obtained from a preceramic polymer (a silicone resin) and blown polyurethanes, by pyrolysis at 1200°C in nitrogen. Silicon carbide submicron powders were also added to the silicone resin to give SiOC + SiC composite foams. The morphology of the foams was dependent on the architecture of the blown polyurethanes. The crushing strength as well as the elastic modulus increased with increasing relative density, reaching values as high as 14 and 450 MPa, respectively. Some of the foams displayed an excellent thermal stability (resistance to oxidation in air and decomposition in inert atmosphere) up to elevated temperatures.     

强度增强泡沫炭的制备、结构与性能

本文采用石油系中间相沥青为原料,通过发泡、炭化和石墨化制备了沥青基泡沫炭,用聚碳硅烷（PCS）浸渍-裂解（PIP）工艺增强泡沫炭的机械强度。采用扫描电子显微镜（SEM）分析其微观结构, X射线衍射（XRD）分析确认PCS的裂解产物为β-SiC。经过三次PIP工艺,压缩强度测试表明泡沫炭的压缩强度随PIP次数的增加而显著提高。     

Spectral Properties of Foams and Emulsions

The optical and spectral properties of foams and emulsions provide information about their micro-/nanostructures, chemical and time stability and molecular data of their components. Foams and emulsions are collections of different kinds of bubbles or drops with particular properties. A summary of various surfactant and emulsifier types is performed here, as well as an overview of methods for producing foams and emulsions. Absorption, reflectance, and vibrational spectroscopy (Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy-FTIR, Raman spectroscopy) studies are detailed in connection with the spectral characterization techniques of colloidal systems. Diffusing Wave Spectroscopy (DWS) data for foams and emulsions are likewise introduced. The utility of spectroscopic approaches has grown as processing power and analysis capabilities have improved. In addition, lasers offer advantages due to the specific properties of the emitted beams which allow focusing on very small volumes and enable accurate, fast, and high spatial resolution sample characterization. Emulsions and foams provide exceptional sensitive bases for measuring low concentrations of molecules down to the level of traces using spectroscopy techniques, thus opening new horizons in microfluidics.     

Fabrication of Stable Polyaniline Foams and Their Photoelectric Conversion Behaviors

We report a foaming‐polymerization method to prepare stable polyaniline (PANI)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) foams. The formation mechanism of the foam materials is investigated and the photoelectric conversion properties of PANI/PVA foams are studied in detail. The enhancement of photoelectric conversion behavior in foams is achieved, which has potential application in solar cells and nano‐electronics devices.     

Stabilization of Liquid Foams through the Synergistic Action of Particles and an Immiscible Liquid

Liquid foams are familiar from beer, frothed milk, or bubble baths; foams in general also play important roles in oil recovery, lightweight packaging, and insulation. Here a new class of foams is reported, obtained by frothing a suspension of colloidal particles in the presence of a small amount of an immiscible secondary liquid. A unique aspect of these foams, termed capillary foams, is the particle‐mediated spreading of the minority liquid around the gas bubbles. The resulting mixed particle/liquid coating can stabilize bubbles against coalescence even when the particles alone cannot. The coated bubbles are further immobilized by entrapment in a network of excess particles connected by bridges of the minority liquid. Capillary foams were prepared with a diverse set of particle/liquid combinations to demonstrate the generality of the phenomenon. The observed foam stability correlates with the particle affinity for the liquid interface formed by spreading the minority liquid at the bubble surface.     

Foams and foam films stabilised by solid particles

Recent developments in the field of particle-stabilised aqueous foams and foam films are reviewed. Reports on ultrastable foams stabilised by solid particles are highlighted and factors responsible for the extraordinary foam stability are discussed in view of the recent experimental and theoretical results. Mechanisms of foam film stabilisation by solid particles and the role of different factors in the film stability are considered. Link between the film stability and that of particle-stabilised foams is discussed.     

水发泡淀粉挤出泡沫的结构与性能

以水为发泡剂,普通玉米淀粉为原料,采用双螺杆挤出机制备淀粉泡沫材料,研究了发泡剂用量及聚乙烯醇的加入量对泡沫材料结构与性能的影响。 用扫描电子显微镜观察了泡沫材料截面的形态,用万能材料试验机测试了泡沫材料的力学性能。 结果表明,水的质量分数为8%时淀粉泡沫径向膨胀率和发泡倍率最高,分别为22倍和17.6倍,压缩模量最高（4.07 MPa）。 加入质量分数10%的聚乙烯醇(PVA)使淀粉泡沫的孔径变大至1.29 mm,壁厚增加至82.43 μm,同时压缩模量增加至9.70 MPa。     

Effects of Oil on Aqueous Foams: Electrical Conductivity of Foamed Emulsions

Three‐phase foams containing dispersed oils (also called foamed emulsion) are usually encountered in such areas as enhanced oil recovery, food foams, and in foams containing antifoams. The presence of oil causes these complex fluids to exhibit extraordinary properties in contrast to aqueous foams. We experimentally investigated, for the first time, the conductive properties of the foamed emulsions and found that the electrical conductivity increases monotonically with the volumetric liquid fraction, presenting a linear relationship. Combined with the analysis on the foaming capacity and microstructure of this complex fluid, the conductive mechanism is revealed. In these foamed emulsions, the whole conductive network is comprised of two levels of structural hierarchy, which displays a different mechanism from those of the conventional aqueous foams. The lamella of emulsions is taken as primary electrical channel, whereas the secondary electrical channel occurs in the lamella between two bubbles. This conductive behaviour is attributed to the microstructure properties of the foamed emulsions. We believe that such findings are potentially important for a better understanding of the fundamentals of these tri‐phase dispersion systems.     

闭孔泡沫塑料结构与性能研究进展

综述了近年来对闭孔泡沫塑料,主要是发泡聚烯烃的结构与性能关系研究的进展。总结了有关泡沫塑料的常见结构模型以及性能结构关系的解析式表达,并介绍了常见表征泡沫塑料结构、性能的方法以及近年来出现的新的表征手段。文章讨论了近年来研究塑料泡沫结构与性能尤其是力学性能之间关系的新结果、新进展,并对研究进行了展望。     

基于天然聚多糖的环境友好材料（II）-麻纤维和芦苇纤维多元醇的生物降解聚氨酯

以麻纤维和芦苇纤维制备的植物多元醇为原料,合成具有良好性能的生物降解 性硬质聚氨酯泡沫体,其密度40 kg/m~3左右,压缩强度150 kPa,弹性模量4 MPa 。而且多元醇中植物原料含量越大,其性能越好,这使植物原料的充分利用和材料 生产成本的降低成为可能。土壤掩埋实验表明,泡沫体有很好的土壤微生物降解性 。     

Environmentally Compatible Hybrid-Type Polyurethane Foams Containing Saccharide and Lignin Components

Semi-rigid polyurethane (PU) foams were prepared using lignin-molasses- poly(ethylene glycol) polyols. Two kinds of lignin, kraft lignin (KL) and sodium lignosulfonate (LS), were used. Both lignin and molasses polyols were mixed with various ratios and were reacted with poly(phenylene methylene) polyisocyanate (MDI) in the presence of silicone surfactant and di-n-butyltin dilaurate. A small amount of water was used as a foaming agent. The apparent density of PU foams increased with increasing lignin content. The compression strength and elastic modulus linearly increase with increasing apparent density, suggesting that mechanical properties are controllable by changing reaction conditions. The PU foams were amorphous and glass transition was detected by differential scanning calorimetry. The glass transition temperature (T_g ) maintained an almost constant value, regardless of the mixing ratio. This indicates that both the phenolic group of lignin and the glucopyranose ring of molasses act as rigid components in PU crosslinking network structures, and both groups contribute to the main chain motion to the same extent. By thermogravimetry (TG), it was confirmed that PU foams are thermally stable up to around 300 °C. By differential scanning calorimetry, T_g was observed at temperatures from 80 to 120 °C.     

New Generation of MOF-Monoliths Based on Metal Foams

Herein, it has been developed a method to prepare metallic foams starting from Zamak5 (ZnAlCu alloy) with different pore sizes. The Zamak5 metallic foam is designed to serve as a support and metallic precursor of ZIF-8. In this way, composite materials MOF-metal can be prepared, these composites have a large number of application in energy exchange processe such as: adsorption or chemical reactions. Additionally, this method of sythesizing MOFs is environmentally friendly thanks to absence of solvents. Hanerssing the low melting point of the linker, the linker is infiltrated into the foam where the foam and the linker react to form the ZIF-8. In this way we have managed to transform part of the foam into ZIF-8 crystals that remain adhered to the foam. The foams have been characterized and modeled studying the mechanical and electrical properties, finding that both can be predected by various models. Among these, Ashby and Mortensen models for mechanical properties and Ashby and Percolation model for electrical properties stand.     

Precipitating Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate to Create Ultrastable and Stimulable Foams

Ultrastable foams are made very simply by adding salt (NaCl or KCl) to sodium dodecyl sulfate. The addition of high concentrations of salt leads to the precipitation of the surfactant on the bubble surfaces and as crystals in the interstices between the bubbles. As a consequence, the ageing of the foams is stopped to make them stable indefinitely, or until they are heated above the melting temperature of the crystals. The use of KCl is shown to be much more effective than that of NaCl because potassium dodecyl sulfate has a higher melting temperature and faster rates of crystallization. The crystalline structures have been investigated inside the foam using small angle neutron scattering. The larger lattice spacing of the crystals formed with NaCl in comparison with KCl has been evidenced. These simple temperature stimulable foams could have many potential applications.     

Effect of Aging on the Stability of Ceramic Foams Prepared by Thermostimulated Sol-Gel Process

This work presents a new route of preparation of zirconium ceramic foams based on the thermostimulated sol-gel process. This method produces gelled bodies with up to 90% of porosity in the wet gel and can be used to make complex-shaped components. Unfortunately, the shrinkage during the drying step allows to a catastrophic reduction (>50%) of the foam porosity. To improve the foam stability we carried out a systematic study of the effect of gel foam aging on the drying process. Samples were aged in closed vessel at 25°C during different time period (from 6 to 240 h). The shrinkage and the mass loss during drying at 50°C were measured in situ, using a non-contact technique performed with a special apparatus. The results show that the total linear shrinkage decreases from 46% to 8% as the aging period increase from 6 to 240 h. This behavior is followed by a small change of total mass loss, from 42 to 54%. It indicates that by aging the structural stiffness of the foams increases due to secondary condensation reactions. Thus, by controlling the aging period, the porosity can be increased from 67 to 75% and the average size of mesopores of dried foams can be screened from 0.3 to 0.9 m. Finally, these results demonstrate that the thermostimulated sol-gel transition provides a potential route to ceramic foams manufacture.