Prof. Dr. Axel Müller

The foaming behaviour of immiscible polymer blends based on poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether) and SAN prepared by means of a standard batch foaming technique and an advanced batch foaming technique was investigated. Carbon dioxide was employed as the blowing agent. The rheological properties of the blends under uniaxial elongational flow was also examined and the influence of a compatibiliser (polystyrene-b-polybutadiene-b-polymethyl methacrylate triblock copolymer) on the polymer foam blends studied. Foam morphology was characterised by determining density, cell size distribution, cell wall morphology and compression behaviour of the foams and significant factors determining blend foamability identified.