In the current environment, clean energy and efficient energy use have become the focus of attention on a global scale. Microwave technology, as a potential alternative energy source, can not only reduce the energy consumption required to prepare polymer foams, but also reduce the dependence on traditional fossil fuels, thereby reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainable development. Therefore, through in-depth research on the application of microwave technology in the preparation of polymer foams, it is expected to promote the development of clean energy technology and contribute to the sustainable development of the field of polymer materials.
Over the past two decades, the application of microwave technology in the field of physical foaming of polymers has undergone tremendous advancements. Traditional polymer foam preparation processes often rely on heat transfer heating, which not only leads to temperature gradients, but also consumes a lot of time and energy. However, microwave-assisted physical foaming technology has attracted widespread attention due to its unique advantages of simplicity, speed and cost-effectiveness. This simple and efficient method not only provides a new way for the preparation of polymer foams, but also introduces microwave energy as an alternative clean energy to the field of polymer materials.
In view of this, Professor Zhao Ling's team from East China University of Science and Technology recently published a review article entitled "Microwave-assisted Physical Foaming of Polymers: A Review" in Polymer Reviews, a top journal in the field of polymers. This paper describes the microwave heating mechanism in detail and provides an in-depth theoretical basis for the interaction between microwaves and materials. At the same time, the microwave-assisted physical foaming processes such as batch foaming, foaming and sintering integration, steam foaming, salt leaching foaming and 3D printing were reviewed and briefly compared (Fig. 1), and the traditional foaming technology was compared in depth to evaluate the innovative advantages of microwave-assisted foaming technology. Finally, the existing shortcomings of microwave-assisted foaming technology are analyzed in depth, and a unique and forward-looking view is put forward.
Fig.1 Microwave-assisted polymer physical foaming schemesAdvanced field strengthening technologies are driving advances in the modern chemical industry, and more and more material preparation processes are now incorporating these technologies. Among them, microwave field-enhanced polymer foaming has become a promising research direction due to its superior heating efficiency and uniform temperature distribution. This technology provides new solutions and research avenues to solve the challenges of high pollution, high energy consumption and low production value in the chemical industry, thus injecting new impetus into the pursuit of sustainable polymer processes.
Fig.2. Microwave-assisted intermittent foaming
Fig.3. Integration of microwave-assisted foaming and sintering
Fig.4. Microwave-assisted steam foaming
Fig.5. Microwave-assisted salt soaking
Fig.6 Microwave-assisted 3D printing foamingTaking into account the requirements of green chemistry, microwave radiation is regarded as the preferred energy source compared to traditional heating. The use of physical technology to prepare polymer foams can not only significantly reduce the adverse effects of chemical blowing agents on the environment, but also improve the preparation efficiency and structural stability of foams with microwave assistance. Over the past two decades, microwave field-assisted physical foaming technology has made significant progress in the production of diverse foam materials. Modern microwave heating equipment is able to fine-tune the temperature and power, making it easy to control the foaming process. The innovation of microwave technology in the field of foam preparation has opened up a more "magical" path for the physical foaming of polymers, however, it is undeniable that the application of microwave technology to the physical foaming of polymers is still a challenging field. Nevertheless, the potential for further development in this area remains enormous, providing abundant opportunities for future breakthrough discoveries. In the field of microwave-assisted polymer physical foaming, the team has done extensive exploration in the early stage, and the relevant results have been published in Chem. Eng. J., 2024, 481, 148402; Compos. Commun., 2024, 48, 101925; Chem. Eng. Sci., 2023, 281, 119110。 The first author of this paper is Zhong Wenyu, a 2021 doctoral student in the School of Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, and the corresponding authors are Professor Zhao Ling and Chen Yichong, postdoctoral fellows of the School of Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology.
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Original link:
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15583724.2024.2372492 Source: Frontiers of Polymer Science