Polymer Foams 2007 Conference From AMI - Call For Papers
Newark, NJ - The global polymer foams industry has shown steady progress in the past few years with innovations in technology and applications. It is of vital importance to keep the momentum going by offering a platform to create more synergies. Applied Market Information, LLC (AMI) is therefore organizing an international conference with a clear focus on applications and applied technology. Polymer Foams 2007 will take place from 2 to 3 October at the Doubletree Hotel in Newark, NJ, USA.
The inherent foam characteristics include insulation, energy conservation, sound attenuation, shock absorption, light weight and material savings. Cellular materials can offer a wide range of properties. There are specially developed additives for foams such as the Arkema flame retardant specially developed for hydrocarbon and HFC foam formulations and the non-halogen flame retardant developed by Great Lakes for PU foams. Foam technology covers a range of techniques including microcellular foams in injection molding and extrusion, bead foam, and crosslinked polyolefin foam, and the design of screw, mold, die, and blowing agent injection continue to improve. As a result, uniform fine-celled polymeric foam products have been produced to meet demanding performance requirements. One example is the use of Mucell technology from Trexel and developed by Japan Steel Works (JSW) to extrude microcellular PS sheets.
Protective packaging is believed to be a big market for foams and constantly developing. Nova Chemicals Corporation has manufactured food grade microwaveable foams from styrene maleic anhydride copolymers. Huntsman has new expanded polystyrene (EPS) technology with 0.4-1.6 mm beads developed with a low rate of pentane blowing agent inclusion (3-7%). Molders expand the beads for applications ranging from packaging to roofing insulation. An 85 ton granite statue of King Ramses II was recently moved with a protective wrapping of spray on PU foam specially formulated by Dow Polyurethane Systems. The Sandia National Laboratories have been developing foams for protection from weapons, and these are being tested for other applications such as airplane wings, car bumpers and surfboards. The roof of the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans was repaired with a PU spray foam roofing system from Baysystems North America and it is being prepared to withstand further hurricanes using rigid closed-cell insulating spray foam developed with a hydrofluorocarbon blowing agent from Honeywell. Automotive is another key application area for foams.
All industries are concerned to reduce environmental impact. Efforts are being made to reduce VOC emissions in foaming. There are environmentally friendly blowing agents such as the new development by Adeka Palmarole for food packaging and many foams are now water-blown. Recycling studies are ongoing - in Japan EPS has been a focus, Ebata Corporation is working on making polymer concrete from recycled EPS and Toshiba Plant Kensetsu Co, Ltd is recovering styrene. Foams have been produced using the latest polymeric materials including nanocomposites, wood composites and biodegradable polymers such as PLA giving sustainable products.
Foam practitioners and researchers are encouraged to participate at Polymer Foams 2007, to contribute to upgrading the global foam industry. Offers of papers should be sent to Dr Sally Humphreys (sh@amiplastics.com) at AMI by 23rd March 2007.
SOURCE: AMI