
doi: 10.1121/1.4800955
Through this research, highly porous open cell foams were fabricated with Polylactide (PLA) and Polyethylene glycol (PEG) using compression molding combined with particulate leaching technique. Salt and water soluble polymer were used as the particulates. The pore size of the foam structure is controlled by the particulates size and higher interconnectivity is achieved by the co-continuous blending morphology of PLA matrix with water-soluble PEG. As a result of employing water soluble polymer into PLA foams, a bimodal cell structure was fabricated. Both PLA and PEG are fully bio-based polymers derived from renewable resources. Therefore, the resulting acoustic foams are benign and environmentally friendly. As a result of the secondary porous structure formed into cell walls by the water soluble polymer, the overall absorption of fabricated PLA foams was increased to above 90% while the average absorption of the foams remained unchanged. Fabricated foams were characterized for cellular, acoustic and mechanical properties. Open porosities as high as 88% was achieved through this study. Johnson-Champoux-Allard model was used to investigate the effect of bimodal structure on acoustic properties of PLA open cell foams. Foams fabricated through this study have the potential to replace the petrochemical based foams currently used in acoustic applications.
| selected citations These citations are derived from selected sources. This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 1 | |
| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Average | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Average | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Average |
