Cellular morphology evolution of chain extended poly(butylene succinate)/organic montmorillonite nanocomposite foam

Polymer foam with complex cellular structure (CCS) possessing both large cell and small cell simultaneously has lower density as well as better mechanical and thermal properties than those with mono-porous cell structure, which could be applied in the fields of packaging and construction materials. In this article, organic montmorillonite (OMMT) was introduced into chain-extended poly(butylene succinate) (CPBS) through melt blending method. CCS in the resultant CPBS samples were generated in a stainless steel autoclave using supercritical CO2 as physical blowing agent by a cooling and two-step depressurization method. The crystallization temperature and crystallinity of CPBS increased by 4 degrees C and 2% respectively, due to the introduction of OMMT. Exfoliated structure of OMMT and some fish scale-like OMMT were observed in the CPBS/OMMT nanocomposites. The optimum range of the first depressurization between 1 and 7 MPa for fabricating the CCS in the CPBS foams with different contents of OMMT was obtained. (c) 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 47107