Microcellular Foaming of Biodegradable PLA/PPC Composite Using Supercritical CO sub(2)

Poly (lactic acid) (PLA)/poly (propylene carbonate) (PPC) composite foams were microcellular foamed with CO2 through a batch foaming process. The influences of PPC contents, foaming temperature, and saturation pressure on the cell structure and foam density were investigated. The biodegradable PLA/PPC composite foam showed a controlled structure of microcellular and nanocellular. With an increase in saturation temperature and pressure, the cell size was increasing and both the cell density and foam density were decreased simultaneously.