Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference:	GR/N14286/01
Title:	MICROWAVE TECHNIQUES FOR THE PREPARATION OF POLYMER FOAMS
Principal Investigator:	Day, Professor RJ
Other Investigators:	Wu, Professor Z Sims, Dr G Simms, Dr G
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:	British Vita
Department:	Materials
Organisation:	University of Manchester, The
Scheme:	Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts:	01 September 2000	Ends:	31 May 2004	Value (£):	224,061
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:	Materials Processing
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:	Manufacturing
Related Grants:
Panel History:
Summary on Grant Application Form
The present application seeks to extend the knowledge and understanding gained on microwave processing of composites into a new area which is the preparation of crosslinked foams using microwave heating for crosslinking and expansion. The new process would confer a number of advantages in production particularly far greater control of the foaming process compared with conventional process in which, due to inefficient convection and conduction, the surface foams first and thus insulates the body of the material. This reduces output and quality. Greater control of temperature profile through the thickness during processing would, therefore, give improved output rate, quality and allow the opportunity for novel adjustments in the crosslinking and expansion balance to alter the cell structure. Additionally, it would be possible to produce foams with properties more similar to some conventional flexible polyurethane foams. The latter produce significant environmental problems during raw material manufacture, foam production, use and disposal. Legislation is expected to become more stringent placing greater restrictions on polyurethane foam manufacture although there is no suitable substitute at present. The foams produced through the proposed programme of work would be more environmentally acceptable and provide at least partial replacement for polyurethane foams in specific applications.EngProg\
Key Findings
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Organisation Website:	http://www.man.ac.uk