Foaming Technology

Polymer foaming is an intriguing procedure that includes altering the pressure, temperature, and volume of a polymeric substance to fabricate novel porous polymeric systems. Because of the breakthrough in the creation of low-density foamed components with intricate geometrical structures, polymer foaming technology has increased the market for plastic materials by extending the range of applications for them. This chapter aims to present readers with up-to-date information on polymeric material foaming technologies. There have been many different procedures for processing foam(s), and each one has unique features, benefits, and drawbacks. Extrusion foaming, batch foaming, thermoset reactive foaming, compression foaming, rotational foammolding, injection foammolding, film foaming, bead foaming, and so forth—all of which are some of the wellestablished polymer foam production techniques—are key features that are discussed in this chapter. The ultimate shape and the anticipated quality (or, in some instances, quantity) of articles are used to help choose the best approach. Understanding these methods is essential for choosing the process that will best meet product criteria and for optimizing process variables to make products of an acceptable quality. A summary of diverse foam fabrication technologies is also presented in this chapter.