Smart Foams: Switching Reversibly between Ultrastable and Unstable Foams

Smart foams: Ultrastable foams with an optimal foamability are obtained using hydroxy fatty acids tubes. The stabilization results from the adsorption of monomers at the air-water interface and from the presence of tubes in the plateau borders. Upon heating, tubes transform to micelles, leading to foam destabilization and thus to the first foams to exhibit temperature-tuneable stability.     

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.     

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.     

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。     

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.     

Foams under dynamic conditions

This review has been focused on the importance of dynamic effects in foam formation and stability. It has been demonstrated that as foams are always formed under dynamic conditions so the equilibrium adsorption coverage's will usually not yet be attained. This fact may have a pronounced effect on the magnitude of the forces stabilizing the foam films. It has been underlined that more attention should be focused on the conditions of the foams' formation and existence because the mutual importance of the different types of the foam stabilizing forces can vary significantly depending on the stage of foam life and the conditions of its existence. Thus, none of these forces can solely determine the properties of the varying foam systems.     

基于聚氨酯的磁性碳化泡沫的制备及其吸油性能研究

以废弃聚氨酯泡沫(PUF)为原料,在其表面依次修饰聚丙烯酸(PAA)、Fe~(3+),然后在230℃条件下,通过高温碳化处理,制备了具有多孔结构的磁性碳化泡沫材料.用光学显微镜、红外吸收光谱(FTIR)、X-射线衍射(XRD)、接触角对磁性碳化泡沫进行表征.详细考察了AA含量、Fe~(3+)浓度对材料吸附容量、吸附速率的影响.材料具有明显的亲油、疏水特性,对各种有机溶剂和油类分子吸附容量都在10 g/g以上,而且在5 min内就可吸附饱和,同时材料密度小,可漂浮于水面对有机溶剂进行快速吸附,并通过外界磁场实现快速分离.因此,该材料在原油泄漏处理、油水分离、油田采出液处理、工业污水净化等领域具有重要的应用价值.     

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.     

耐高温聚酰亚胺泡沫材料

聚酰亚胺泡沫具有低介电、隔热、吸声、高比强度以及高经济效益等诸多优点,因而近些年来在航空、航天、船舶航舰、能源与环境保护等领域有着广泛的应用。聚酰亚胺泡沫按照泡孔结构分为软质开孔泡沫和硬质闭孔泡沫两大类,其通常是由芳香族二酐与芳香族二胺通过缩聚反应制备得到分子量可控的聚酯铵盐,再将其作为前驱体经过热发泡制备得到最终的聚酰亚胺泡沫。前驱体的化学结构对最终的聚酰亚胺泡沫的机械性能和热性能都有非常显著的影响,同时前驱体的分子量也会对泡沫的密度、机械性能和热性能有非常显著的影响。聚酰亚胺泡沫的研究进展,特别是其化学结构、性能和应用都会在本文中逐一阐述。     

Biopolymer Aerogels and Foams: Chemistry,Properties, and Applications

Biopolymer aerogels were among the first aerogels produced, but only in the last decade has research on biopolymer and biopolymer–composite aerogels become popular, motivated by sustainability arguments, their unique and tunable properties, and ease of functionalization. Biopolymer aerogels and open‐cell foams have great potential for classical aerogel applications such as thermal insulation, as well as emerging applications in filtration, oil–water separation, CO₂ capture, catalysis, and medicine. The biopolymer aerogel field today is driven forward by empirical materials discovery at the laboratory scale, but requires a firmer theoretical basis and pilot studies to close the gap to market. This Review includes a database with over 3800 biopolymer aerogel properties, evaluates the state of the biopolymer aerogel field, and critically discusses the scientific, technological, and commercial barriers to the commercialization of these exciting materials.     

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.     

Safer Polyurethane Foams with Cyclic Carbonates

Polyurethanes (PUs) are a class of materials usually synthesized from isocyanates, diols, and water. Water is essential for producing carbon dioxide (CO₂) which is used for the self-blowing of the foams. Due to safety concerns with the production of isocyanates, alternative chemistries have been evaluated and cyclic carbonate systems have shown great promise. In a recent advancement by Bourguignon, Grignard, and Detrembleur, a cyclic carbonate and diamine system is capable of generating CO₂ for self-blowing through hydrolysis of the carbonate-based monomer. The authors demonstrate that with a simple variation of the diamine monomer a wide range of physical and thermo-mechanical properties were achievable. This work represents a significant step towards safer and more environmentally friendly PUs.     

Well‐Controlled Biodegradable Nanocomposite Foams: From Microcellular to Nanocellular

Via a batch process in an autoclave, the foam processing of neat polylactide (PLA) and two different types of PLA/layered silicate nanocomposites has been conducted using supercritical carbon dioxide as a foaming agent. The morphological correlation between the dispersed silicate particles with nanometer dimensions in the bulk and the obtained closed‐cell structure of the foam is discussed. This is the first report that deals with the possibility of preparing biodegradable nanocellular polymeric foams via nanocomposite technology.

SEM image of the freeze‐fracture surface of a PLA/layered silicate foam, exhibiting closed‐cell structure.     

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.     

Hydrophobicity Enhances the Formation of Protein-Stabilized Foams

Screening proteins for their potential use in foam applications is very laborious and time consuming. It would be beneficial if the foam properties could be predicted based on their molecular properties, but this is currently not possible. For protein-stabilized emulsions, a model was recently introduced to predict the emulsion properties from the protein molecular properties. Since the fundamental mechanisms for foam and emulsion formation are very similar, it is of interest to determine whether the link to molecular properties defined in that model is also applicable to foams. This study aims to link the exposed hydrophobicity with the foam ability and foam stability, using lysozyme variants with altered hydrophobicity, obtained from controlled heat treatment (77 °C for 0–120 min). To establish this link, the molecular characteristics, interfacial properties, and foam ability and stability (at different concentrations) were analysed. The increasing hydrophobicity resulted in an increased adsorption rate constant, and for concentrations in the protein-poor regime, the increasing hydrophobicity enhanced foam ability (i.e., interfacial area created). At higher relative exposed hydrophobicity (i.e., ~2–5 times higher than native lysozyme), the adsorption rate constant and foam ability became independent of hydrophobicity. The foam stability (i.e., foam collapse) was affected by the initial foam structure. In the protein-rich regime—with nearly identical foam structure—the hydrophobicity did not affect the foam stability. The link between exposed hydrophobicity and foam ability confirms the similarity between protein-stabilized foams and emulsions, and thereby indicates that the model proposed for emulsions can be used to predict foam properties in the future.     

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.     

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.     

Sorption-Photometric Determination of 1-Naphthol with Polyurethane Foams

Abstract

Two approaches to sorption-photometric determination of 1-naphthol in waters with application of polyurethane foams are offered. The first approach was based on sorption of a coloured 1-naphthol azoderivative, which was formed by the reaction with 4-nitrophenyldiazonium tetrafluoroborate (NFD). In the second variant, 1-naphthol is first sorbed by a polyurethane foam, and it is then transformed into a coloured azoderivative by sorbent treatment of a NFD solution. A coloured 1-naphthol azoderivative was determined immediately in the polyurethane foam using diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. Calibration graphs are linear in the interval of concentrations of 0.01 - 1 μg/ml. The analytical results indicated that a selective and sensitive analytical procedure could be easily applied to determination of 1-naphthol concentration in waters.