Uniform Foam Research Articles

Performance investigation of a thermoelectric generator for vehicle exhaust recovery using graded pore density foam metal

Improving the efficiency of thermoelectric generators (TEGs) used to harness residual heat from automobile exhausts is crucial for their widespread adoption. To enhance fluid heat transfer, the Kelvin tetrahedron model is employed for metal foam, and a multiphysical field model of the thermoelectric generator based on metal foam is established. The effects of inserting metal foam with uniform and gradient pore densities into the heat exchanger on the performance of the TEG are investigated. Experimental verification is conducted by constructing a test bench with dimensions identical to those of the model The findings suggest that inserting foam metal significantly enhances the output performance of the TEG, resulting in increases in both output power and efficiency as pore density rises. At Ta = 573 K and ma = 30 g/s, the output power of the TEG with inserted 20 PPI foam metal is enhanced by 140.46 %, while the efficiency experiences a remarkable increase of 197.50 % compared to a smooth pipe. Compared to the performance metrics of uniform foam metal, the positive gradient foam metal exhibits a maximum power increase of 7.89 % and a maximum efficiency increase of 34.46 %, along with an average pressure drop reduction of 27.29 %.

Benefits of In Situ Foamed and Printed Porous Scaffolds in Wound Healing.

Macroporous hydrogels have shown significant promise in biomedical applications, particularly regenerative medicine, due to their enhanced nutrient and waste permeability, improved cell permissibility, and minimal immunogenicity. However, traditional methods of generating porous hydrogels require secondary post-processing steps or harmful reagents making simultaneous fabrication with bioactive factors and cells impossible. Therefore, a handheld printer is engineered for facile and continuous generation and deposition of hydrogel foams directly within the skin defect to form defect-specific macroporous scaffolds. Within the handheld system, a temperature-controlled microfluidic homogenizer is coupled with miniaturized liquid and air pumps to mix sterile air with gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) at the desired ratio. An integrated photocrosslinking unit is then utilized to crosslink the printed foam in situ to form scaffolds with controlled porosity. The system is optimized to form reliable and uniform GelMA foams. The resulting foam scaffolds demonstrate mechanical properties with excellent flexibility making them suitable for wound healing applications. The results of in vitro cell culture on the scaffolds demonstrate significantly increased cellular activity compared to the solid hydrogel. The in vivo printed foam scaffolds enhanced the rate and quality of wound healing in mice with full-thickness wound without the use of biological materials.

Numerical study on the combined application of multiple phase change materials and gradient metal foam in thermal energy storage device

Latent heat thermal energy storage (LHTES) offers significant energy-saving benefits, but its application is limited due to the low thermal conductivity of phase change material (PCM). To address this issue, this article studied the combined application of metal foam structures with different porosity gradients and multiple PCMs with different melting points through numerical simulation to accelerate the melting of PCM and enhance system efficiency. The results showed that the application of multiple PCMs improved the heat transfer performance of the system, reducing the complete melting time by 9.18% compared to using a single PCM with uniform metal foam. Based on the multi-PCM storage system with an average porosity of 0.90, this article designed metal foam structures with one-dimensional and two-dimensional porosity gradients and explored their impacts. The results indicated that in the structure with a one-dimensional porosity gradient along the heat flow direction, the positive gradient decreased thermal resistance, further reducing the complete melting time by 6.18%, while the negative gradient increased it by 19.78%. However, the temperature non-uniformity was lowest with the negative gradient and highest with the positive gradient. The optimal two-dimensional porosity gradient multi-PCM storage model not only reduced thermal resistance but also effectively solved the issue of uneven melting, reducing the complete melting time by 17.96% and increasing the energy storage efficiency by 20.16% compared to the single PCM system with uniform porosity. Furthermore, the article conducted a dimensionless analysis of the optimal structure and different gradient structures, establishing formulas for the liquid fraction concerning modified Fourier number, modified Stefan number, and modified Rayleigh number.

Photocurable Foam for Three-Dimensional-Printed Porous Structures.

In this research, a foam three-dimensional (3D) printing method using digital light processing (DLP) technology was developed to fabricate 3D-printed porous structures. To address the challenges in preparing DLP precursor foam fluid, we designed a specialized foaming device. This device enables the precursor solution to be blended with air, resulting in a stable foam precursor with an adjustable air/liquid fraction and suitable fluidity, crucially enhancing the gas-liquid contact time for the printing process. By manipulation of fluid flow rates, cycle counts, and gas/liquid ratios, one can easily prepare uniform foams with precise control over the pore size and porosity. To avoid significant volume reduction during ultraviolet (UV) curing, nanoparticle fillers were introduced into the network to prevent collapse of the foam structure. Furthermore, the inclusion of an UV absorber enhanced the quality of the printing process by addressing the limitations associated with particle scattering and reflection. The DLP process can readily fabricate intricate structures, featuring a planar resolution below 30 μm and a printing accuracy of less than 1%. Several examples were also demonstrated to highlight the advantages of this technology and its ability to directly print custom foam structures, thereby saving time and material resources.

Improvement of Latent Heat Thermal Energy Storage Rate for Domestic Solar Water Heater Systems Using Anisotropic Layers of Metal Foam

Latent Heat Transfer Thermal Energy Storage (LHTES) units are crucial in managing the variability of solar energy in solar thermal storage systems. This study explores the effectiveness of strategically placing layers of anisotropic and uniform metal foam (MF) within an LHTES to optimize the melting times of phase-change materials (PCMs) in three different setups. Using the enthalpy–porosity approach and finite element method simulations for fluid dynamics in MF, this research evaluates the impact of the metal foam’s anisotropy parameter (Kn) and orientation angle (ω) on thermal performance. The results indicate that the configuration placing the anisotropic MF layer to channel heat towards the lower right corner shortens the phase transition time by 2.72% compared to other setups. Conversely, the middle setup experiences extended melting periods, particularly when ω is at 90°—an increase in Kn from 0.1 to 0.2 cuts the melting time by 4.14%, although it remains the least efficient option. The findings highlight the critical influence of MF anisotropy and the pivotal role of ω = 45°. Angles greater than this significantly increase the liquefaction time, especially at higher Kn values, due to altered thermal conductivity directions. Furthermore, the tactical placement of the anisotropic MF layer significantly boosts thermal efficiency, as evidenced by a 13.12% reduction in the PCM liquefaction time, most notably in configurations with a lower angle orientation.

Thermomechanical Vibration Response of Solid and Foam FGM Nano Actuator/Sensor Plates

Abstract Purpose In this study, the effect of foam structure on the thermomechanical behaviour of high void ratio porous FGM piezoelectric smart nanoplates is investigated. Method The material of the smart nanoplate consists of PZT-4 on the bottom surface and BaTiO3 on the top surface and is formed by functional grading of these two materials along the thickness of the plate. Four different foam distribution models are modelled to examine the foam structure of the highly porous smart nanoplate, which has become widespread in biosensor applications. For this reason, uniform, symmetrical, top symmetrical and bottom symmetrical foam distribution models are created up to 75% void ratio. To determine the nano size, equations of motion are obtained by using nonlocal strain gradient elasticity and sinusoidal shear deformation theories together, and these equations are solved by the Navier method according to general boundary conditions. Result and Conclusions As a result of the analysis, it is observed that the applied external electric potential creates a softening effect on the plates with the piezoelectric elasticity effect and therefore reduces the thermal buckling temperatures. It is observed that the presence of the foam structure significantly improves the thermal resistance of the material and increases the buckling temperatures. It is also observed that the foam distribution model has significant effects on the thermomechanical behaviour.

Functionally graded foam materials for head impact protection

Head injuries commonly result from impact accidents, underscoring the urgent requirement for enhanced helmet protection. Functionally graded foam (FGF) materials present promising avenues for augmenting the design of impact-attenuating liners in helmets, thereby mitigating head injuries. This study aims to investigate the performance of the FGF materials in protecting against head impact and provide an effective optimization methodology to support the efficient and reliable design of the FGF materials. The foam finite element model was developed and coupled with a highly biofidelic head model to simulate the FGF-head frontal impact scenarios. A parametric study based on the coupled FGF-head model was conducted to explore the effects of the configuration parameters on the protection performance of the FGF materials. The study demonstrated that the negative-gradient FGF materials provide better head impact protection than the uniform density foam (UDF) and positive-gradient FGF materials, despite the potential disadvantage in energy absorption. A discrete optimization method based on the FGF-head model was developed and illustrated to efficiently achieve an optimized design for FGF protectability, thereby reducing the risk of head injuries. The optimized FGF design reduced the Head Injury Criterion (HIC) value by 40.4 % compared to the conventional UDF design, from 1660 to 990. Therefore, this study provides a further understanding and a new optimization insight into designing FGF materials to improve head impact protection.

Three-dimensional thermomechanical wave propagation analysis of sandwich nanoplate with graphene-reinforced foam core and magneto-electro-elastic face layers using nonlocal strain gradient elasticity theory

This article investigates the propagation of bending, longitudinal, and shear waves in a smart sandwich nanoplate with a graphene platelet (GPL)-reinforced foam core and magneto-electro-elastic (MEE) surface layers using sinusoidal higher-order shear deformation theory (SHSDT). The suggested nanoplate is comprised of a Ti–6Al–4V foam core placed between MEE surface layers. The MEE surface layers are composed of a volumetric combination of cobalt-ferrite (CoFe2O4) and barium-titanate (BaTiO3). The foam core and MEE face layers’ material characteristics are temperature dependent. In this study, three different core types are considered: metallic solid core (Type-I), GPL-reinforced solid core (Type-II) and GPL-reinforced foam core (Type-III), as well as three different foam distributions: symmetrical foam I (S-Foam I), symmetrical foam II (S-Foam II) and uniform foam (U-Foam). To derive the nanoplate's equations of motion and determine the system response, Hamilton's principle and Navier's method are employed. The effects of various parameters such as the wave number, nonlocal parameter, foam void coefficient and distribution pattern, GPL volume fraction, and thermal, electric, and magnetic charges, on the phase velocity and wave frequency are investigated via analytical calculations. The findings of the research indicate that the 3-D wave propagation characteristics of the sandwich nanoplate can be considerably modified or tuned with respect to external loads and material parameters. Thus, the proposed sandwich structure is expected to provide important contributions to radar stealth applications, protection of nanoelectromechanical devices from high frequency and temperature environments, advancement of smart nanoelectromechanical sensors characterized by lightweight and temperature sensitivity and wearable health equipment applications.

Preparation and Properties of Lightweight Geopolymer by Bio-Based Foaming Agent.

Lightweight geopolymers have the advantages of a wide source of raw materials, chemical corrosion resistance, high mechanical strength and excellent durability, and are expected to replace traditional building insulation materials. In this paper, a green bio-based foaming agent with a small 1 h settlement distance, high average foaming multiple and low bleeding ratio was obtained by a Cetyltrimethylammonium Bromide/yeast solution. When the amount of Cetyltrimethylammonium Bromide is 0.50 wt%, the foam prepared by the yeast and Cetyltrimethylammonium Bromide solution exhibits the improved 1 h settlement distance, the large average foaming multiple, the small bleeding ratio and uniform foam size. Subsequently, a lightweight geopolymer based on metakaolin and fly ash (or silica fume) was successfully prepared by the bio-based foaming agent, and the effects of different foam content on the properties of the geopolymer, such as dry density, water absorption, thermal conductivity, compressive strength and morphology, were studied. With an increase in foam content, the dry density, thermal conductivity and compressive strength of the geopolymer gradually decrease, the water absorption increases, regardless of whether silica fume or fly ash are added. Herein, it is confirmed that the foaming agent based on yeast can be effectively used to prepare lightweight geopolymers, which can provide vast opportunities to turn into candidates for novel inorganic thermal insulation materials.

Performance improvement of novel latent thermal energy storage system with two-layer metal foam porosities

A 2D numerical analysis was conducted to examine the melting performance of a shell-and-tube-type phase change material with a two-layer copper foam having higher and lower porosity levels. The design parameters for these two layers of metal foam consisted of three different volume fill ratios (VFR) (30 %/70 %, 50 %/50 %, and 70 %/30 %) and three different shapes (circular, semi-circular, and elliptical) for the lower porosity layer. The results showed that a semicircular-shaped low porosity layer with a 30 % VFR had the least melting time of 475 s. When the VFR increased to 50 %, the elliptical and circular shapes had the least melting time of 394 s. However, at a VFR of 70 %, only the elliptical shape had the least melting time of 323 s. Furthermore, the results were compared with the uniform porosity metal foam system, and deduced that the two-layer system did not always have the lower melting time compared with that of the uniform porosity system because it depended on the VFR and shape of the different porosities filled in the different layers. Additionally, for an average porosity of the metal foam, an optimal combination of two different porosities was observed for the melting performance.

Upcycling Humins via Esterification Reactions of Hydroxyl Groups: From Functional Powders to PLA Foams and Compatibilized Blends.

The valorization of humins side streams from bio-refineries holds significant economic and sustainability potential. One plausible strategy involves using them as building blocks to create new materials. However, humins pose conceptual challenges in their natural state due to their high viscosity, processing difficulties, and temperature sensitivity. This article presents a synthetic strategy for modifying humins properties to make them thermally stable and processable. Employing a sequence of esterification reactions and varying the reagent steric length, we showcase the selective transformation of humins into thermally-stable fine powders and low-viscosity liquids. We extend this approach by reacting humins with polyesters such as polylactic acids and polycaprolactone. In particular, we detail a one-pot single-step synthesis of micro-phase separated compatibilized blends of polylactic acid and humins capped with the polylactic acid arms. Processed via solution-casting, the obtained materials behave as high-strength thermoplastic elastomers having uniform foam morphologies and material characteristics superior to the pure polylactic acid. By varying the content of D-enantiomers, we demonstrate an additional possibility of manipulating the cellular structures of the foams. Finally, we provide a solution to product circularity by reporting a dissolution recycling method.

Improving phase change heat transfer in an enclosure partially filled by uniform and anisotropic metal foam layers

Anisotropic metal foams exhibit exceptional potential for improving the efficiency of latent heat thermal energy storage (LHTES) units by enhancing heat transfer and thermal energy storage rates. This study explores the largely uncharted area of thermal behavior of anisotropic metal foams in varied configurations and enclosure designs. The research focuses on an LHTES unit with a specific channel configuration, constructed using copper and containing three layers of copper metal foam, one of which is anisotropic and infused with paraffin wax. The finite element method was utilized to manage the complexities emerging from phase change, and the anisotropic angle varied from 0 to 90° in three different placements of the AMFL: top, middle, or bottom of the enclosure. The ideal design was achieved with an AMFL in the middle with a 0°angle, resulting in a 3.7 % reduction in melting time and approximately a 2.3 % reduction in solidification time. However, AMFL designs at the middle placement with a 75° anisotropic angle were less effective, hampering the melting and solidification processes, thus potentially extending charging and discharging times. The study concludes that the placement and angle of the AMFL layer are vital for the heat transfer capabilities of phase change materials. AMFL at the middle with a 0° angle optimally leverages temperature gradients, enhancing heat transfer compared to other investigated cases. An AMFL in the middle with a 0° angle exhibits approximately 7.1 % and 6.3 % improvements for melting fractions of 0.9 and 0.95, respectively, underscoring its potential for efficient thermal energy storage.

Modeling non-uniform aluminum foams as sacrificial layers for blast mitigation of protected structures — A theoretical approach

Aluminum Foams (AFs) are cellular materials that exhibit energy absorption capabilities, making them desirable to use as sacrificial protective cladding applied on structural members. Thereby, the structural resistance to blast loads is increased. During the foam compaction, inner and local buckling of the material walls occur. The described phenomenon reduces the peak overpressure of the blast load and increases its positive duration while maintaining the impulse and transmitting the plateau stress of the foam to the Protected Structure (PS). The plateau stress is commonly significantly lower than the peak overpressure of the blast load. Available analysis approaches typically neglect the coupling between AF and PS and mostly consider uniform-density foams. Moreover, the efficiency of adding AF has been commonly evaluated by comparing the structural response with and without AF. However, such a comparison may not be adequate for studying energy absorption due to the role that the added mass affects the behavior of the structural system due to inertia forces. In this study, using the shock front theory, a numerical solution to a non-uniform density foam as protective cladding is developed, considering both the foam densification and the PS response. A parametric study is performed using this approach to investigate the efficiency of non-uniform density foam compared to a uniform density foam. Calculation and discussion of the efficiency of uniform and non-uniform foams are presented using a more adequate proposed approach, mainly concluding that under loads considered to be impulsive, the non-uniform AF with certain specimens considerably reduce the Peak Displacement (PD) of the PS significantly more than uniform AF.

Numerical investigation and optimization of the melting performance of latent heat thermal energy storage unit strengthened by graded metal foam and mechanical rotation

In this paper, a combined passive graded metal foam and active mechanical rotation strategy is proposed to simultaneously solve the problem of slow melting rate and non-uniform phase change problem of the latent heat thermal energy storage (LHTES) technology. The enthalpy-porosity method and fixed grid structure are employed to numerically investigate the effects of porosity range, the number of graded layers, and the rotational angular velocity. Moreover, the response surface method (RSM) is further selected to optimize the structural parameters and obtain the function of melting performance and various factors. The result shows that there is an optimal porosity range and the total melting time decreases first and then increases with the increase of porosity range. When the porosity range is 12 % and the graded layer is three, it can shorten the melting time by 35.54 % and increase the thermal energy storage rate (TESR) by 51.57 %. In addition, the melting performance is gradually improved as the number of graded layers increases. The strengthening effect of graded metal foam with just four layers is close to that of the maximum layers considered in this paper. The trend of the influence of rotation speed on the melting performance of the LHTES unit is consistent with the porosity range, indicating the existence of the optimal rotational speed. The RSM optimization structure, with a 14.969 % porosity range, 5-layer graded number, and 2.267 rpm rotational speed, shortens the melting time by 42.42 % and increases the TESR by 62.75 % compared with the stationary case with uniform metal foam. This work verifies the effectiveness of active rotation coupling with passive graded porous structures, which could provide a new strengthening approach to enhance LHTES.

Constructing structure-gradient silicone rubber/CNTs foam with desirable resilience and strength via green supercritical CO2 foaming of non-equilibrium gas concentration profiles

In comparison to uniform foams, structure-gradient foams can offer practical solutions that optimize their resilience and strength. However, controlling the gradient structure is a challenge, especially in silicone rubber (PMVS) based foams. Herein, a facile and eco-friendly one-step supercritical CO2 (scCO2) foaming technique is presented for fabricating structure-gradient PMVS/CNTs composite foams utilizing a non-equilibrium gas concentration profile. Compared with conventional scCO2 foaming, this method features a more energy-efficient process (lower saturation temperature and time) and results in lighter foam products (density as low as 0.11 g/cm3). Moreover, the formation mechanism of gradient cellular structures in PMVS/CNTs foams and the means of adjusting the cell gradient degree are further discussed. Finally, cyclic compression results demonstrate that PMVS/CNTs foams can be optimized to achieve desirable mechanical strength and resilience by adjusting cell gradient degree.

On the efficiency of uniform aluminum foam as energy-absorbing sacrificial cladding for structural blast mitigation

Aluminum foams are porous and recyclable lightweight materials with outstanding mechanical features, such as their energy absorption capabilities, their most noteworthy property. In view of these qualities, this class of material is a great candidate to use as sacrificial layers applied on structures under threat for blast load protection. Few works studied the coupled behavior between the sacrificial layer made of aluminum foams and the protected structure while commonly neglecting the nonlinearity of the protected structure and impact events caused by the foam. Nevertheless, the efficiency of the foam as an energy absorbent was not adequately addressed in all the existing works. The model suggested in the work is formulated using the shock front theory and validated against experimental results. It is designed to address physical aspects that have remained unaddressed in previous numerical models. Moreover, the model is employed to examine the efficiency of the foam as an energy absorbent, along with a novel methodology proposed in the current work, aiming to carry out adequate testing. Finally, the proposed model is used to evaluate the foam behavior against a wide range of pressure and impulse combinations, leading to unprecedented behavior in the reduction of peak displacements and consequently damage mitigation. The finding of the current study shows a new direction in testing the efficiency of sacrificial layers as energy absorbents.

Melting performance analysis of finned metal foam thermal energy storage tube under steady rotation

The latent heat thermal energy storage (LHTES) technology based on solid-liquid phase change material (PCM) is of great significance for the efficient utilization of thermal energy. To address the issues of slow thermal response and non-uniform melting of the LHTES technology, a hybrid heat transfer enhancement method combined with finned metal foam and steady rotation is proposed in this work. An enthalpy-porosity model considering non-Darcy porous effects and mechanical rotation is established based on the local thermal equilibrium assumption and the fixed grid system. Four different structures (uniform metal foam, graded metal foam, finned metal foam with uniform porosity, and finned metal foam with graded porosity) are investigated firstly to identify the optimal structural arrangement under the same volume of PCM. Numerical results demonstrate that the LHTES units strengthened by the finned metal foam with graded porosity achieve the shortest melting time and largest thermal energy storage rate (TESR). The graded porous structure reduces thermal resistance, rotation enhances flow and heat transfer inside the container, and the fins expand the heat source area. Moreover, the effect of different fin types, graded porosities, and rotational speeds are further considered. The findings suggest that the increase of these three parameters does not correspond to better thermal performance; instead, there is an optimal value. Compared with the base case, the optimal configuration (fin length of 20 mm, fin width of 1.5 mm, porosity gradient of 2%, and rotational speed of 0.5 rpm) can shorten the melting time by 46.68%, increase the TESR and Nu by 74.06% and 69.02%, respectively. This paper validates the feasibility of the hybrid heat transfer enhancement method with finned metal foam and steady rotation, which can offer new insights into the engineering practice of the LHTES technology.

Numerical study of solidification and melting behavior of the thermal energy storage system with non-uniform metal foam and active rotation

This paper focuses on the strengthening study of the latent heat thermal energy storage (LHTES) unit and proposes a coupling strengthening method with non-uniform graded metal foam and active rotation. The non-uniform graded metal foams are employed to enhance heat conduction, and the rotation method is selected to make full use of natural convection. The solidification and melting behavior under the coupling effect of non-uniform metal foam and active rotation are numerically analyzed. The aluminum foam is partially concentrated and divided into two parts (concentrated part and diluted part) and is divided into the even-layered or uneven-layered porous structures according to the different regions area. Under the same volume of phase change material (PCM), the effects of layered forms (even-layered and uneven-layered approach), concentrated porosity, concentrated ratio, and rotational speed are performed. It can be concluded that the metal foam should concentrated near the inner tube and the uneven-layered structure can further improve the phase change heat transfer performance compared to the even-layered structure. Moreover, the thermal performance of the LHTES unit improves firstly and then decreases as the concentrated porosity, concentrated ratio, and rotational speed increase. The optimal values are obtained at 0.86 concentrated porosity, 0.3 concentrated ratio, and 0.5 rpm rotational speed. Compared with the static case with uniform metal foam, the melting time, solidification time, and total melting and solidification time can be significantly reduced by 40.30 %, 28.66 %, and 33.18 %, respectively. Similarly, the thermal energy storage rate can be correspondingly increased by 62.57 %, 40.82 %, and 54.11 %, respectively.

The effect of the viscoelastic support and GRPL-reinforced foam material on the thermomechanical vibration response of piezomagnetic sandwich nanosensor plates

This paper investigates the vibration characteristics of a sandwich nanosensor plate composed of piezoelectric materials, specifically barium and cobalt, in the upper and lower layers, and a core material consisting of either ceramic (silicon nitride) or metal (stainless steel) foams reinforced with graphene (GPRL). The study utilized the novel sinosoidal higher-order deformation theory and nonlocal strain gradient elasticity theory. The equations of motion for nanosensor sandwich graphene were derived using Hamilton's principle, considering the thermal, electroelastic, and magnetostrictive characteristics of the piezomagnetic surface plates. These equations were then solved using the Navier method. The core element of the sandwich nanosensor plate can be represented using three distinct foam variants: a uniform foam model, as well as two symmetric foam models. The investigation focused on analyzing the dimensionless fundamental natural frequencies of the sandwich nanosensor plate. This analysis considered the influence of three distinct foam types, the volumetric graphene ratio, temperature variation, nonlocal parameters, porosity ratio, electric and magnetic potential, as well as spring and shear viscoelastic support. Furthermore, an analysis was conducted on the impact of the metal and ceramic composition of the central section of the sandwich nanosensor plate on its dimensionless fundamental natural frequencies. In this context, the use of ceramic as the central material results in a mean enhancement of 33% in the fundamental natural frequencies. In contrast, the incorporation of graphene into the core material results in an average enhancement of 27%. The thermomechanical vibration behavior of the nanosensor plate reveals that the presence of graphene-supported foam and a viscoelastic support structure in the core layer leads to an increase in thermal resistance. This increase is dependent on factors such as the ratio of graphene, porosity ratio of the foam, and parameters of the viscoelastic support. Metal foam or ceramic foam has been found to enhance thermal resistance when compared to solid metal or ceramic core materials. The analysis results showed that it is important to take into account the temperature-dependent thermal properties of barium and cobalt, which are piezo-electromagnetic materials, and the core layer materials ceramics and metal, as well as the graphene used to strengthen the core. The research is anticipated to generate valuable findings regarding the advancement and utilization of nanosensors, transducers, and nano-electromechanical systems engineered for operation in high-temperature environments.

Synthesis of High-Value Bio-Based Polyamide 12,36 Microcellular Foams with Excellent Dimensional Stability and Shape Recovery Properties.

The search for alternatives to petroleum-based thermoplastic polyamide elastomers (TPAEs) has recently drawn great interest. In this study, a bio-massed TPAE, PA12,36, was synthesized using 1,12-dodecanediamine (DDA) and fatty dimer acid (FDA, PripolTM1009) precursors via catalyst and solvent-free melt polycondensation. The molecular structure and molecular weight of the PA12,36 were characterized by 1H NMR, FTIR, and GPC. PA12,36 displayed a low melting temperature of 85.8 °C, an initial degradation temperature of 425 °C, and a glass-transition temperature of 30.4 °C, whereas it sustained satisfactory tensile strength (10.0 MPa) and superior strain at break (1378%). Furthermore, PA12,36 was foamed by supercritical CO2, and the cell size, cell density, and porosity were determined. The entangled long-chained FDA component generated a physically crosslinked network, which promoted the melt viscosity of PA12,36 against elongations of foam cell growth and increased foamability significantly. As a result, uniform structured cellular foams with a cell diameter of 15-24 µm and high cell density (1011 cells/cm3-1012 cells/cm3) were successfully achieved. The foaming window was widened from 76 to 81 °C, and the expansion ratio was increased from 4.8 to 9.6. Additionally, PA12,36 foam with a physically crosslinked structure presented a better creep shape recovery percentage (92-97.9%) and sturdier dimensional stability. This bio-based PA12,36 foam is a promising candidate to replace petroleum-based thermoplastic elastomer foams for engineering applications, particularly shoe soles.