Sandwich-Structured Polypropylene/Polyurethane Composite Foam with High Thermal Insulation for Infrared Radiation...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Science
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Growing demand for green buildings and energy conservation necessitates advanced insulation materials.
• Traditional insulation foams face challenges in achieving comprehensive high-performance properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a high-performance Polypropylene/Polyurethane/Polypropylene (PP/PU/PP) sandwich foam.
• To enhance thermal insulation and moisture resistance properties for energy-efficient applications.

Main Methods:

• Chemical foaming and nonsolvent-induced phase separation were employed.
• A sandwich structure with Polypropylene (PP) outer layers and Polyurethane (PU) core was fabricated.
• PTFE nanoparticles were incorporated to optimize the PP foam structure.

Main Results:

• The PP/PU/PP foam exhibited significantly reduced thermal conductivity (51.27 mW/(m·K)) at a low expansion ratio (3.71).
• The PP outer layers provided excellent moisture and air shielding for the PU core.
• Incorporation of PTFE nanoparticles increased the tensile modulus to 321 MPa, enhancing mechanical strength.

Conclusions:

• The developed PP/PU/PP sandwich foam offers a scalable strategy for producing materials with low foaming ratios and high thermal insulation.
• This material demonstrates potential for applications in green buildings and energy conservation.
• The unique structure effectively minimizes heat transfer through conduction, convection, and radiation.