Macroporous polymer foams by hydrocarbon templating.

V P Shastri; I Martin; R Langer

doi:10.1073/pnas.97.5.1970

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Macroporous polymer foams by hydrocarbon templating.

V P Shastri·I Martin·R Langer

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Abstract

Porous polymeric media (polymer foams) are utilized in a wide range of applications, such as thermal and mechanical insulators, solid supports for catalysis, and medical devices. A process for the production of polymer foams has been developed. This process, which is applicable to a wide range of polymers, uses a hydrocarbon particulate phase as a template for the precipitation of the polymer phase and subsequent pore formation. The use of a hydrocarbon template allows for enhanced control over pore structure, porosity, and other structural and bulk characteristics of the polymer foam. Polymer foams with densities as low as 120 mg/cc, porosity as high as 87%, and high surface areas (20 m(2)/g) have been produced. Foams of poly(l-lactic acid), a biodegradable polymer, produced by this process have been used to engineer a variety of different structures, including tissues with complex geometries such as in the likeness of a human nose.

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Biocompatible Materials Humans Hydrocarbons Lactic Acid Molecular Structure Nose Polyesters Polyglycolic Acid Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer Polymers Polymethyl Methacrylate Journal Article Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

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V P Shastri, I Martin, R Langer. 2000-02-29. Macroporous polymer foams by hydrocarbon templating.. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.97.5.1970

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