Polyether Foam Research Articles

Invention of Device for Measuring Cardiac Compression Rates and the Depth for the Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation Manikin

Manikins that simulate cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) are used to teach personnel how to execute it. Modern cardiac resuscitation manikins are still low-fidelity designs in terms of anatomy and physiology. Designing a manikin with a cardiac and respiratory system, as well as integrated flow sensors to track cardiac output and air displacement in response to cardiopulmonary resuscitation, was the main goal of this research. A polyoxy-methylene rib cage joined to a vertebral column from an anatomical female model was used to create this manikin in line with anatomical proportions. The respiratory system was made up of a polyvinyl chloride bronchus, a latex trachea, and silicon-coated memory foam that mimicked lungs. The pulmonary and aortic arteries were represented by two sets of latex tubing, while the ventricles and aggregated abdominal volumes were represented by latex balloons, respectively. These components made up the cardiovascular system. These balloons were inserted into polyether foam and filled with blood from a life/form simulation. Flow sensors were installed in the respiratory and cardiovascular systems to collect data in reaction to chest compressions. On this manikin, three non-medical individuals applied chest compressions that produced data proportional to force-displacement while the flow sensors supplied feedback. The force-displacement experiments performed on this manikin demonstrate an advantageous nonlinear behavior that mimics the chest compressions used during cardiopulmonary resuscitation in humans. A considerable amount of information on the internal effects of cardiopulmonary resuscitation is also provided by the flow sensors. To sum up, scientifically developed and anatomically accurate designs of cardiopulmonary resuscitation manikins that incorporate flow sensors can enhance physiological fidelity and offer helpful feedback data.

Impact of Mixed Fillers on the Physico-mechanical Properties of Flexible Polyether Foam

The effect of proportional blend of periwinkle and African star apple seed shell as bio-fillers in flexible polyether foam was studied. Flexible polyether foam samples incorporated with these bio-fillers at varying percentages; 10% (S1), 20% (S2), 30% (S3), 40% (S4) and 50% (S5) were produced respectively, while 0% (S0) which had no filler was used as control during the experiment. The mechanical properties of the produced foam samples were determined via density, compression set, indentation hardness, tensile strength and elongation at break tests. The cream time, rise time and height of the foam as parameters for characterising the produced foam samples were determined too. Flammability test was also carried out.The microstructure of the foam samples was analysed as well by using the scanning electron microscope. The results of the experiment showed that the density of the foam samples progressively increased from 19.20 (S0) – 26.45 (S5) as the quantity of the filler increased. The indentation hardness result also showed an increase on addition of the filler. The foam’s loading ability also increased on incorporation of the filler but S3 showed remarkable recovery after compression. The tensile strength and elongation at break of the foam decreased on addition of the filler. The morphological analysis ascertained the effect of the progressive introduction of the filler on the surface morphology of the foam. The flammability of the foam was found to decrease as the filler load increased. Since these fillers are of organic origin, readily available, cheap and eco-friendly, they provide a means of making biodegradable foam, and reducing the flammability of foam. Thus, reducing environmental pollution whilst enhancing the mechanical property of foam.

Investigation of the Mechanical Properties of Flexible Polyether Foam Filled with Eggshell and Groundnut Husk Powder

The study investigated the effect of eggshell and groundnut husk as fillers on flexible polyether foam. The fillers with the mesh sizes of 50µm respectively were mixed in the ratio of 50-50. Varying percentages of the mixed fillers ranging from 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% and 50% were incorporated into the polyether recipes in the appropriate foam formulations and foam samples were produced. The unfilled foam (0%filler) served as the standard control sample. The physico-mechanical test carried out on the foam showed increase in the properties such as density, compression set test, indentation hardness test, tensile strength test and decrease for elongation at break test as compared to the unfilled foam. The scanning electron microscopy result showed the cell sizes became smaller and concentrated with an irregular shape as the filler load increased, thereby making it denser and thicker. Eggshell and groundnut husk can be used in the production of flexible polyether foam since they are organic materials. They can enhance the mechanical properties and biodegradability of polyurethane product. The use of fillers in polymer composite will help in sanitizing the environment by reducing landfills and producing eco-friendly waste and also it influences cost positively.

An innovative design for cardiopulmonary resuscitation manikins based on a human-like thorax and embedded flow sensors.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation manikins are used for training personnel in performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation. State-of-the-art cardiopulmonary resuscitation manikins are still anatomically and physiologically low-fidelity designs. The aim of this research was to design a manikin that offers high anatomical and physiological fidelity and has a cardiac and respiratory system along with integrated flow sensors to monitor cardiac output and air displacement in response to cardiopulmonary resuscitation. This manikin was designed in accordance with anatomical dimensions using a polyoxymethylene rib cage connected to a vertebral column from an anatomical female model. The respiratory system was composed of silicon-coated memory foam mimicking lungs, a polyvinylchloride bronchus and a latex trachea. The cardiovascular system was composed of two sets of latex tubing representing the pulmonary and aortic arteries which were connected to latex balloons mimicking the ventricles and lumped abdominal volumes, respectively. These balloons were filled with Life/form simulation blood and placed inside polyether foam. The respiratory and cardiovascular systems were equipped with flow sensors to gather data in response to chest compressions. Three non-medical professionals performed chest compressions on this manikin yielding data corresponding to force–displacement while the flow sensors provided feedback. The force–displacement tests on this manikin show a desirable nonlinear behaviour mimicking chest compressions during cardiopulmonary resuscitation in humans. In addition, the flow sensors provide valuable data on the internal effects of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. In conclusion, scientifically designed and anatomically high-fidelity designs of cardiopulmonary resuscitation manikins that embed flow sensors can improve physiological fidelity and provide useful feedback data.

Effects of Coconut Husk and Corn Cob as Fillers in Flexible Polyurethane Foam

The effects of local materials as fillers incorporated into the flexible polyether foam recipes were investigated. The fillers; coconut husk and corn cob of mesh sizes of 150 µm respectively were mixed in the ratio of 50:50. Varying percentages of the mixed fillers, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 25% were mixed with polyether foam recipes in the appropriate formulations and physico-mechanical tests were carried out on the samples. Density and compression set showed an increasing trend with increase in the filler. Elongation at break and tensile strength showed a decrease in the value as the filler load was increasing. Hardness showed a slight random variation in the value as the filler load increased. Thermal conductivity also showed a decrease in its value as the filler load increased that means it can serve as a fire retardant. All these properties were compared to a controlled sample (sample without filler). These fillers can be used in the production of polyurethane foams since they are organic materials, thus they can enhance the biodegradability of polyurethane products and be use also as flame retardants.

Decolorization of Reactive Orange 16 in Rotating Drum Biological Contactor

A laboratory scale Rotating Drum Biological Contactor (RDBC; drum length×diameter: 255×130mm) filled by randomly arranged particulate carriers with mycelium of the white rot fungus Irpex lacteus was tested for Reactive Orange 16 (RO16) decolorization. Five mycelium carriers were pre-screened for fungus immobilization and the dye degradation in static cultures. The best mycelium growth was observed with the straw, wooden shavings and polyether foam cylinders. Considerable dye adsorption (up to 30%) was observed with natural carriers; very low adsorption was observed with carrier particles made of plastics. Natural mycelium carriers with attached I. lacteus yielded the highest RO16 decolorization efficiency (50–90%). The straw, wooden shavings and polyether foam particles were tested in the RDBC in batch dye degradation experiments and the straw was also tested in continuous experiments. The straw yielded the fastest and stable dye decolorization in the subsequent batches. With the straw, wooden shavings and polyether foam particles RO16 decolorization higher than 90% was achieved within 48h in batch experiments and better than 80% decolorization was attained at liquid mean residence time of 33.3h in continuous experiments. Dye degradation rate of 3.5–4.0gm−3h−1 was achieved in the batch RDBC and the rate of 1.1–1.5gm−3h−1 in the continuously operated reactor.

Momentive launches flame lamination additive for polyether foams

US-based advanced materials firm Momentive Performance Materials Inc (MPM) has introduced Niax flame lamination additive, FLE-500. According to the company, the new product can help manufacturers meet strict fogging and emissions specifications for flame and heat lamination of polyether foams by improving the total emission levels of finished foam goods. The additive was launched at UTECH Asia in Shanghai, China, in September.

Mechanical Properties of Automotive Instrument Panels with Semi-Rigid Foam

Semi-rigid polyurethane foam to soften the instrument panel has a lightweight, impact and energy absorption performance, while improving the texture of the surface of the instrument panel. This article was prepared by one-step car instrument panel with semi-rigid polyurethane foam, through the design of the four factors and three levels orthogonal test program, using Fourier infrared spectroscopy to characterize its structure, measuring its apparent density and hardness properties of transformation, the combination of research influence of the proportion of polyether foam system.

Hydrodynamics of a Laboratory Scale Rotating Biological Contactor and Its Application for Decolorization of Textile Dyes by White Rot Fungus Irpex Lacteus

Textile industries produce huge amounts of colored wastewaters contaminated with various textile dyes. These waters represent serious environmental problem as common wastewater treatment procedures are not efficient to degrade the dyes. Therefore, new ways of textile wastewater treatment are looked for in order to tackle this environmental problem. An application of the white rot fungus Irpex lacteus, that is known to degrade many recalcitrant pollutants, seems to be one of possible options for the waste water decolorization. A laboratory scale Rotating Biological Contactor was constructed to perform the decolorization tests. The reactor vas equipped with 12 flat circular discs (o = 0.13 m, ?? = 0.01 m) mounted on a common shaft. The discs were made of the Filtren TM30 reticulated polyether foam. Volume of the liquid in the reactor was 1.5 dm3. Residence time distributions of the liquid phase in the reactor were measured to obtain hydrodynamic characteristics. The measurements were carried out at various liquid volumetric flow rates and at different rotational speeds of the discs uncovered with the biomass. The measured data were used to determine the liquid mean residence time and parameters of the gamma distribution model and of the model of the stirred tanks in series with the back-flow. The residence time distributions were also measured after 36 days of the reactor operation, i.e., with the discs covered with the Irpex lacteus mycelium biofilm. The flow behavior of the reactor without the fungus was close to the ideally stirred reactor behavior. The presence of the biomass in the reactor brought about deviations from the ideal mixing. Continuous decolorization experiments with the textile dye Remazol Brilliant Blue R and with a sample of an industrial textile waste water were performed. In the course of the experiments, activities of the enzymes involved in the dye decolorization, i.e., laccase, manganese-dependent peroxidase and lignin peroxidase were determined in the outlet stream of the reactor. The inlet and outlet concentrations of glucose were also measured. The results of the decolorization experiments will be presented and mutually compared and effects of hydrodynamic parameters on decolorization will be discussed.

Comparative Effects of the Fire Behaviours of Potassium Aluminium Sulphate and Potassium Sesquicarbonate on Flexible Polyether Foam

The effects of potassium aluminium sulphate (K2SO4·Al2SO4)3·24H2O) and potassium sesquicarbonate (K2CO3·2KHCO3·3/2 H2O) as flame retardants on fire properties of flexible polyether foam was studied. Potassium sesquicarbonate performed better at increasing the ignition time and the amount of char formed and both factors improved with flame retardant concentration. However, the afterglow time, flame duration, burn length and flame propagation rate decreased with increase in concentration. The flame propagation rates of foam samples with alum were higher than the corresponding rates with potassium sesquicarbonate. This could be attributed to the nature of their decomposition products at pyrolysing/flaming temperature. Thermogravimetric analyses showed that the flame retardants delayed the onset of degradation. The delay effect was higher with potassium sesquicarbonate (akanwu) than with potassium aluminium sulphate (alum). Again, the delay effect was affected by the flame retardant concentration.

Elimination of carbamazepine in a non-sterile fungal bioreactor

A properly configured bioreactor is in need to transfer the fungal biodegradation of recalcitrant pollutants into real applications. In this study, a novel plate bioreactor was designed to eliminate carbamazepine (CBZ), a widely concerned pharmaceutical, with the white rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium grown on polyether foam under non-sterile conditions. The bioreactor was operated in both sequence batch and continuous modes. It was found that the sufficient supply with nutrients is crucial for an effective elimination of CBZ. Given the conditions, a high elimination of CBZ (60–80%) was achieved. The effective elimination was stable in a continuous operation for a long term (around 100days). The high elimination of CBZ could also be achieved under real conditions with the effluent from a municipal wastewater treatment plant.

Comparative Analysis of Flame Characteristics of Castor Oil and Some Other Inorganic Flame Retardants Used in Polyurethane Foam Systems

The flame characteristics of castor oil based foam and that of polyether foam impregnated with inorganic flame retardants (FR) were investigated. The polyether foams were impregnated with measured concentration of Antimony trioxide and Sodium bromide, Ammonium dihydrogen orthophosphate, Diammonium hydrogen orthophosphate, and Castor oil containing zero flame retardant. Incorporating these flame retardants into polyurethane formulations gave variable flame characteristics such as ignition time, flame propagation rate, after glow, char rate, add-on and glow time. These properties were measured as a function of concentration and type of flame retardant incorporated into the formulation. Result showed that ignition time and Add-On showed significant increase in this sequence- Castor oil>Ammonium dihydrogen orthophosphate> Diammonium hydrogen orthophosphate>Antimony trioxide/Sodium bromide, at all the different concentrations, while flame-propagation rate and After-glow decreased in the same sequence for all the FR used at different concentrations. However the %Char increased in a reverse order – Diammonium hydrogen orthophosphate>Ammonium dihydrogen orthophosphate>Antimony trioxide/Sodium bromide>Castor oil. These results show that castor oil is an effective flame retardant compared to the inorganic flame-retardants.

Development of the Thermal Decomposition Mechanism of Polyether Polyurethane Foam Using Both Condensed and Gas-Phase Release Data

The thermal decomposition mechanism of solids is a main input data of codes in fire research. In this research, the evolution of thermal properties versus temperature is used together with the measurement of gas effluents to understand the decomposition of polyether polyurethane foam (PPUF). A wide characterization of the virgin fuel and the intermediary species that enter into the thermal process showed that a 5-step reaction mechanism is sufficient to describe the decomposition of the foam. The mechanism found is supposed chemically correct by the coupling study of the gaseous emissions. The kinetic constants of each of the 5 reactions are determined with the genetic algorithm method. The mechanism is used in a mathematical model in order to predict the mass loss rate at 4 heating rates and 2 atmospheres observed in thermogravimetric analysis. A good fitting between the experiments and the calculation results was found.

Lonsdaleite Model of Open-Cell Elastic Foams: Theory and Calibration

We formulate a unit-cell model of open-cell elastic foams. In this model, a foam consists of four-bar tetrahedra arranged in the hexagonal diamond structure known as Lonsdaleite. The parameters of the model are the Young’s modulus of the bars and a few geometric parameters, the values of which may be roughly estimated for any given foam. We use the model to simulate a set of experiments in which elastic polyether polyurethane foams in a broad range of densities were tested under five loading conditions, namely tension along the rise direction; compression along the rise direction; compression along a transverse direction; simple shear combined with compression along the rise direction; and hydrostatic pressure combined with compression along the rise direction. With a suitable choice of values of the parameters of the model, the stress–stretch curves that we compute using the model compare favorably with the stress–stretch curves that were measured in the experiments. In some of the experiments a stress plateau in the stress–stretch curve was accompanied by heterogeneous stretch fields, even though the attendant stress fields were homogeneous. For these experiments we show that the model can be used to predict the occurrence of a second-order phase transition, so that the plateau stress can be interpreted as a Maxwell stress and the attendant heterogeneous stretch fields as two-phase fields, consistent with the experimental evidence. In other experiments the stress–stretch curve evinced a sudden and pronounced loss of stiffness, but no genuine stress plateau, and the attendant stretch fields remained homogeneous. For these experiments we show that the model can be used to predict the occurrence of a bifurcation of equilibrium in which the stress keeps rising as the deformation continues to increase in the post-buckling stage, so that the stretch fields remain homogeneous throughout, consistent with the experimental evidence. In general, to appraise the goodness of our model we put emphasis on the relation between the stress–stretch curve measured in an experiment and the nature of the attendant stretch fields. We submit that this emphasis should remain a guiding methodological trait in the appraisal of constitutive models of open-cell elastic foams.

Study of Rhodamine B Retention by Polyurethane Foam from Aqueous Medium in Presence of Sodium Dodecylsulfate

This work reports a study about the adsorption of Rhodamine B (RB) by unloaded polyether type polyurethane foam (PUF) in a medium containing sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS). The adsorption process was based on the formation of an ionic-pair between RB and SDS, which presented high affinity by PUF. Adsorption was characterized in relation to equilibrium, kinetic, and thermodynamic aspects and the results obtained showed that the ratio between the SDS and RB concentrations played an important role on the adsorption efficiency. A maximum adsorption capacity of 6.85 × 10−6 mol RB g−1 was observed at established experimental conditions. The adsorption process was spontaneous (negative ΔG) and presented an endothermic characteristic (positive ΔH). Also, its rate was regulated by an intraparticle diffusion process. Sequential extraction experiments were carried out by changing PUF plugs in 30 and 60 min time intervals, resulting in removal rates higher than 95%.

Attached biomass growth and substrate utilization rate in a moving bed biofilm reactor

A moving bed bioreactor containing cubes of polyether foam immersed in a synthetic wastewater (an aqueous mixture of meat extract, yeast extract, dextrose, meat peptone, ammonium chloride, potassium chloride, sodium chloride, sodium bicarbonate, potassium mono-hydrogen-phosphate and magnesium sulphate) was used to evaluate bacterial growth and biomass yield parameters based on Monod's equation. The wastewater was supplied in the bottom of the equipment flowing ascending in parallel with a diffused air current that provided the mixing of the reactor content. Suspended and attached biomass concentration was measured through gravimetric methods. Good agreement was found between experimental kinetic parameters values and those obtained by other researchers. The only significant difference was the high global biomass content about 2 times the values obtained in conventional processes, providing high performance with volumetric loading rates up to 5.5 kg COD/m³/d.

Elastic behavior of flexible polyether(urethane–urea) foam materials

Polyether(urethane–urea) foams (PEUU) with varying urea contents and different polyether segments (PPO and PPO- co-PEO (93/7 w/w)) were compacted to transparent solid plaques via compression molding. The thermal, mechanical and elastic properties of the compacted PEUU materials were studied. With increasing urea content, the shear modulus was increased, while the glass transition temperature ( T g) remained low and unaffected. The T g's of PEEU's with PPO segments were, however, lower than with PPO- co-PEO segments, indicating more mixing of urea segments with PPO- co-PEO. The flow temperatures of both PEUU's were high (∼300 °C) for all compositions. The compression sets, tensile sets and hysteresis energy of the PEUU's were low and increased with urea content. The use of PPO- co-PEO segments resulted in PEEU's with higher compression sets and tensile sets and also more hysteresis. The recovery of the PEUU's showed two relaxation regimes: a fast (elastic) recovery and a slower (viscoelastic) recovery. The recovery of these PEUU's is almost complete giving time.

A New Test to Evaluate the Fire Performance of Residential Sprinklers

Fire tests were conducted using the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) UL 1626 Fire Test for residential sprinklers. The results indicated that sprinkler performance in UL 1626 could not be reproduced due to differences in material flammability properties. This conclusion was reached in a cooperative effort with UL. Factory Mutual Research's Approval fire test that had been redesigned based on UL 1626 was thus subject to the same variability. A new fire test was developed using fuel with controlled material flammability parameters based upon the use of the ASTM E2058 Fire Propagation Apparatus. The new fuel package consists of a wood crib (one half the height of the one which was used in UL 1626) supported over a pan with heptane, two polyether foam cushions (about 60% greater in density than the foam previously used in UL 1626) measuring 34 in by 30 in by 3 in (864 mm by 762 mm by 76 mm) and \( \frac{1}{4}\) in (6 mm) Douglas Fir plywood paneling. The new fire test was shown in a series of sprinklered fire tests to provide a reproducible challenge to residential sprinklers comparable to that observed in the Factory Mutual Research and the Los Angeles Residential Test Programs.

TEACHING NOTES

The text of the article is available in the PDF.

Retention of carbaryl by polyether type polyurethane foam: a critical study

This paper reports the retention of carbaryl by polyether type polyurethane foam in a dynamic mode. Several parameters that can influence the extraction of carbaryl from water samples were investigated such as concentration of carbaryl, mass of sorbent in the column, sample pH, saline concentration, solvent washing and sample flow rate. Results show that it is possible to achieve quantitative extractions when the sample flow rate is maintained up to 2.4 mL min−1, a mass of foam of 300 mg and a sample volume of 30 mL in 0.5 NaCl are employed. They also indicate that there is an ether-like solvent extraction mechanism controlling the sorption of the substance by the foam. Some recovery tests were performed in spiked water samples and recoveries between 93 and 102% were obtained.