US 11,945,930 B2
Three-dimensional solid polymeric foams and a microfluidic process to design them
Ilham Maimouni, Paris (FR); Maria Russo, Paris (FR); Janine Cossy, Paris (FR); and Patrick Tabeling, Paris (FR)
Assigned to PARIS SCIENCES ET LETTRES, Paris (FR); CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE, Paris (FR); and ECOLE SUPERIEURE DE PHYSIQUE ET DE CHIMIE INDUSTRIELLE DE LA VILLE DE PARIS, Paris (FR)
Filed by PARIS SCIENCES ET LETTRES, Paris (FR); CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE, Paris (FR); and ECOLE SUPERIEURE DE PHYSIQUE ET DE CHIMIE INDUSTRIELLE DE LA VILLE DE PARIS, Paris (FR)
Filed on Oct. 9, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/066,815.
Claims priority of application No. 19 306 334 (EP), filed on Oct. 11, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0108045 A1, Apr. 15, 2021
Int. Cl. C08J 9/35 (2006.01); C08J 3/24 (2006.01); C08J 9/00 (2006.01)
CPC C08J 9/35 (2013.01) [C08J 3/24 (2013.01); C08J 9/0061 (2013.01); C08J 2205/042 (2013.01); C08J 2205/044 (2013.01); C08J 2205/052 (2013.01); C08J 2205/06 (2013.01); C08J 2207/10 (2013.01); C08J 2305/08 (2013.01)] 9 Claims
 
1. A process of preparation of an organic solid three-dimensional polymeric foam comprising: a solid continuous phase and pores,
wherein said solid continues phase is a cross-linked organic polymer,
wherein said pores are separated by plateau borders, the meeting points of said plateau borders forming nodes,
said solid three-dimensional polymeric foam:
a pore size comprised from 50 nm to 100 μm,
a volumetric fraction of the solid continuous phase comprised from 0.1 to 60%, with respect to the total volume of the foam,
a polydispersity index comprised from 1 to 30%,
wherein said solid three-dimensional polymeric foam is ordered over a volume of at least 100 pores,
said process comprising:
a step A of microfluidic bubbling of a gas phase through a liquid phase comprising a cross-linkable organic polymer, a cross-linking agent, a solvent and optionally a stabilizing agent, to obtain an organic liquid three-dimensional polymeric foam comprising a liquid continuous phase and bubbles, and
a step B of cross-linking of said liquid three-dimensional polymeric foam comprising a liquid continuous phase and bubbles, to obtain an organic solid three-dimensional polymeric foam comprising a solid continuous phase and pores,
said solid continuous phase being derived from the liquid phase, and said pores being derived from the bubbles,
said step A of microfluidic bubbling being carried out at a temperature from 0° C. to lower than 15° C., said temperature being low enough to inhibit the cross-linking reaction,
said step B of cross-linking being carried out after the step A of microfluidic bubbling and at a temperature comprised from 30 to 100° C., said temperature being high enough to trigger the cross-linking reaction,
said step A of microfluidic bubbling and said step B of cross-linking being carried out in separate reactors, and
step A being carried out in reactor A at a temperature from 0° C. to lower than 15° C. and step B being carried out in reactor B.