INTRODUCTION TO POLYMERIC FOAMS Basic Considerations on Foams, Foaming, and Foamed Polymers History of Polymeric Foams Foam Structure and Properties Blowing Agents Environmental Issues and Technical Challenges Thermoplastic and Thermoset Polymeric Foam Technology Applications and Usage THERMODYNAMICS AND KINETICS Equilibrium Super-Saturation Reactions and their Kinetics Melt/Gas Rheology Crystallization Kinetics Transport Phenomena: Diffusion and Permeation FOAMING FUNDAMENTALS Physical Blowing Agents Chemical Blowing Agents Reactive Foaming Emulsion: Chemical Solution Nucleation in Batch, Continuous, and Reaction Foaming Growth Cell Coalescence and Rupture Solidification and Curing GENERAL FOAM PROCESSING TECHNOLOGIES Foam Extrusion Thermoset Reactive Foaming Foam Injection Molding X-Linked Polyolefin Foam Molded Bead Foamed Film Areogel RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN FOAM STRUCTURE AND PROPERTIES Effects of Foam Density Open Cell Content and Its Effects Key Properties: Energy Absorption, Insulation, Sound Absorption, and Mechanical Properties Cell Size Distribution and Its Effects Dimensional Stability Residual Blowing Agent X-Linked Content GENERAL POLYMERIC FOAMS AND THEIR APPLICATIONS Flexible and Rigid Polyurethane (PU) Foams Polystyrene Foams: Sheet and Slab Polyolefin Foams: PE, PP, and Blends Other Foams WOOD COMPOSITE FOAMS Introduction Challenges to and Processing Strategies for the Development of WPC Foams WPC Foams in Batch Processing Foaming of WPCs with Chemical Blowing Agents in Extrusion Foaming of WPCs with Physical Blowing Agents (PBAs) in Extrusion WPC Foams in Injection Molding Innovative Stretching Technology and WPC Foams Effects of Nano-Clay on WPC Foams and Their Flame Retardancy Current Foaming Technology and Markets for WPC Summary BIODEGRADABLE FOAMS Introduction Definition of Biodegradability Biodegradable Polymers Advantages and Disadvantages Degradation Mechanisms Development of Biodegradable Foams Extrusion of Novel Water Soluble PVOH Foams Starch Foams Polylactic Acid (PLA) Polymer Future Work Nomenclature REFERENCES INDEX