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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Polymer Bead Foams: A Review on Foam Preparation, Molding, and Inter-Bead Bonding Mechanism
ClearPolymer Bead Foams: A Review on Foam Preparation, Molding, and Interbead Bonding Mechanism
This paper is not directly about microplastics; it provides a comprehensive review of polymer bead foam materials — including preparation, molding techniques, and inter-bead bonding — with applications in packaging, automotive parts, and insulation.
Enhanced Interfacial Adhesion of Polystyrene Bead Foams by Microwave Sintering for Microplastics Reduction
Researchers developed a microwave sintering method to improve the bonding between polystyrene foam beads, reducing the likelihood that the foam breaks apart and releases microplastic particles. Polystyrene foam fragmentation is a significant source of persistent microplastic pollution in aquatic environments.
Expanded beads of polyethylene moldable at low steam pressure
Researchers developed an expanded polyethylene bead foam that can be molded at very low steam pressures, making it cheaper and more flexible to manufacture than conventional expanded polystyrene (Styrofoam). Unlike polystyrene, polyethylene foam is more readily recyclable and the study explicitly notes this approach avoids contributing to microplastic pollution. This represents a step toward replacing one of the most environmentally persistent foam plastics with a more manageable alternative.
Preparation and application of a polyethylene foam packaging material
This review examines the preparation, modification, and application of polyethylene foam as a packaging material, discussing its lightweight, insulating, and shock-absorbing properties alongside the environmental and recycling challenges its widespread use creates. The authors propose approaches to address sustainability concerns while maintaining the performance characteristics that make polyethylene foam central to the modern packaging industry.
Expandable polystyrene production and market survey- A review
This review examines the production processes and global market for expandable polystyrene (EPS), describing the two main manufacturing approaches — batch processing and the impregnation method — used to produce pre-expanded PS beads. The paper surveys EPS applications in packaging, construction, and insulation and presents data on worldwide polystyrene consumption and market trends.
Influence of surfactant type on the microstructure, mechanical and thermal properties of phenolic foams
This study examined how surfactant type affects the microstructure, mechanical, and thermal properties of phenolic foams, finding that nonionic Tween80 produced the lowest density foams while anionic SLS30 produced the highest density, with all surfactants creating open-cell morphology.
Performance Characterization and Evaluation of Innovative Cement Mortars and Concretes Made with Recycled EPS
Not relevant to microplastics — this study evaluates the mechanical strength and thermal insulation performance of cement mortars and concretes that incorporate recycled expanded polystyrene (EPS) beads as aggregate, focused on construction materials.
PET foaming: development of a new class of rheological additives for improved processability
This paper describes development of rheological additives to improve PET foaming for lightweight packaging, as an alternative to hard-to-recycle foamed polystyrene. Replacing polystyrene foam with more recyclable materials is important for reducing ocean microplastic pollution from packaging waste.
Properties, Applications and Recent Developments of Cellular Solid Materials: A Review
This review covered the properties, applications, and recent developments of cellular solid materials such as foams and honeycombs, examining their mechanical characteristics, manufacturing methods, and use in engineering applications.
Fabrication of porous ceramic buoys (Ⅰ): preparation of porous ceramic beads for buoy manufacturing
Researchers fabricated porous ceramic buoys using soda-lime glass waste as an eco-friendly alternative to conventional expanded polystyrene buoys, which are a major source of marine microplastics, finding that optimized foaming conditions produced lightweight beads with a bulk density of approximately 0.2 g cm-3 suitable for buoy assembly.
Iced block method: An efficient method for preparation of micro-sized expanded polystyrene foams
Researchers developed a new method for producing micro-sized expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam particles in the lab, enabling better-controlled experiments on EPS microplastic toxicity and environmental behavior. EPS foam is widely found in the environment but has been understudied compared to other microplastic types.
Effect of surfactant concentration on the synthesis of hydrogel microbeads using the emulsion polymerization process for acrylamide/acrylic acid copolymers
Researchers examined the effect of surfactant concentration on the synthesis of hydrogel microbeads as biodegradable replacements for the plastic microbeads commonly used in personal care and cosmetic products, optimising formulation parameters to produce spherical particles with properties suitable for exfoliant applications.
A Novel Equivalent Method for Computing Mechanical Properties of Random and Ordered Hyperelastic Cellular Materials
This engineering paper develops a computational method for predicting the mechanical properties of cellular foam materials using equivalent structural models. The study is focused on materials engineering and is unrelated to microplastic research.
Research Progress in the Preparation of Aluminum Foam Composite Structures
This review summarizes advances in aluminum foam composite structures, covering fabrication methods and the combination of lightweight properties with functions such as energy absorption, sound insulation, and electromagnetic shielding for structural and functional applications.
Interfacial rheology insights: particle texture and Pickering foam stability
Researchers studied the interfacial rheology of particle-laden interfaces stabilized with fumed and spherical colloidal silica particles, finding that particle texture significantly affects interfacial mechanical properties and the resulting stability of Pickering foams.
The influencing mechanisms of different characteristics of polystyrene microplastics on Saccharomyces cerevisiae : functional group, particle size and dosage
Researchers examined the effects of polystyrene microplastics on Saccharomyces cerevisiae, systematically varying functional group, particle size, and dosage to determine the mechanisms by which these physicochemical characteristics influence toxicity to this environmentally and industrially important yeast.
Effect of surfactant concentration on the synthesis of hydrogel microbeads using the emulsion polymerization process for acrylamide/acrylic acid copolymers
Researchers synthesized hydrogel microbeads from acrylamide/acrylic acid copolymers via emulsion polymerization as a potential biodegradable alternative to the microplastic microbeads commonly found in personal care products. They found that increasing surfactant concentration produced smaller, more homogeneous particles but reduced swelling capacity, characterizing the products by SEM and FTIR.
A mini-review on expanded polystyrene waste recycling and its applications
This mini-review summarizes recycling technologies and emerging applications for expanded polystyrene waste, examining mechanical, chemical, and dissolution recycling methods and their practical feasibility for diverting EPS from landfill in both developed and developing countries.
Morpho-structural and thermo-mechanical characterization of recycled polypropylene and polystyrene from mixed post-consumer plastic waste
Researchers characterized recycled polypropylene and polystyrene recovered from mixed post-consumer plastic waste, assessing their morphological, structural, and thermo-mechanical properties to evaluate suitability for reuse in manufacturing.
Polystyrene nanosized dots: structure and optical properties
Researchers dissolved commercial polystyrene (Styrofoam) in chloroform and irradiated the resulting colloid with gamma rays to produce nanoplastic dots, then characterized their structural and optical properties for use as model particles in environmental and biological studies.
Weathering effects of secondary microplastics from expanded polystyrene foam on interactions with palmitic acid monolayers
Researchers generated size-fractionated microplastics and nanoplastics from photochemically weathered expanded polystyrene foam via colloidal ball-milling and found that weathered particles caused greater disruption to palmitic acid monolayers than commercial microbeads, primarily due to their colloidal stability and negative surface charge.
Structure of soft and hard protein corona around polystyrene nanoplastics—Particle size and protein types
Researchers characterized the protein corona that forms around polystyrene nanoplastics of different sizes, finding that particle size influences which proteins bind and how tightly, with implications for nanoplastic toxicity and biological uptake.
Analisis Sifat Fisis dan Mekanik Biodegradable Foam Berbahan Dasar Selulosa Jerami Padi dan Polivinyl Alcohol
This paper is not about microplastics — it reports on the physical and mechanical properties of biodegradable foam made from rice straw cellulose and polyvinyl alcohol as a potential alternative to styrofoam, focusing on material science rather than microplastic pollution or health impacts.
Polymerization in the Borstar Polypropylene Hybrid Process: Combining Technology and Catalyst for Optimized Product Performance
This technical review describes how the Borstar polypropylene manufacturing process, combined with specific catalysts, enables production of polypropylene with tailored properties — covering a fundamental plastic production technology.