This book provides comprehensive coverage of the fundamentals, applications, and recent developments in foam science and technology. It begins by outlining basic principles and foaming mechanisms, covering thermodynamics, kinetics, and the basics of blowing agents and foam formation. Foaming technologies and product applications then become the focus, with explanations of structure—property relationships, processing methods, and general types of foams. The book closes with chapters on composite and biodegradable foams that illustrate how to tailor processing to meet specific application requirements.

From the Preface: “...As we look back, it is amazing how polymeric foams have evolved from scientific concepts to lab research; then to pilot success, and finally to commercialization and a part of life in the last three quarters of a century. At present, foam researchers agree that foaming mechanisms remain somewhat mysterious, but the nucleation of spherical shape alone, a combination of science and art, is a fascinating truth...This book offers a clear guidance to link the basic science and foaming technologies...”

Target Audience: Process engineers, researchers, technologists, polymer chemists, and upper-level students concerned with polymeric foams.

Table of Contents:

Introduction to Polymeric Foams

Thermodynamics and Kinetics

Foaming Fundamentals

General Foam Processing Technologies

Relationships Between Foam Structure and Properties

General Polymeric Foams and Their Applications

Wood Composite Foams

Biodegradable Foams

References

Index