Optimized Eco-Friendly Foam Materials: A Study on the Effects of Sodium Alginate, Cellulose, and Activated Carbon

Creative Commons License

Ergün M. E., Kurt R., Can A., Özlüsoylu İ., Ersoy Kalyoncu E.

POLYMERS, cilt.16, sa.17, ss.2511-2529, 2024 (SCI-Expanded)

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 16 Sayı: 17
  • Basım Tarihi: 2024
  • Doi Numarası: 10.3390/polym16172511
  • Dergi Adı: POLYMERS
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, Aerospace Database, Chemical Abstracts Core, Communication Abstracts, Compendex, Food Science & Technology Abstracts, INSPEC, Metadex, Directory of Open Access Journals, Civil Engineering Abstracts
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.2511-2529
  • Karadeniz Teknik Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

This study focuses on optimizing the physical and mechanical properties of foam materials produced with the addition of sodium alginate as the matrix, and cellulose and activated carbon as fillers. Foam materials, valued for their lightweight and insulation properties, are typically produced from synthetic polymers that pose environmental risks. To mitigate these concerns, this study investigates the potential of natural, biodegradable polymers. Various foam formulations were tested to evaluate their density, compression modulus, and thermal conductivity. The results indicated that an increase in activated carbon content enhanced thermal stability, as indicated by higher Ti% and Tmax% values. Additionally, a higher concentration of sodium alginate and activated carbon resulted in higher foam density and compressive modulus, while cellulose exhibited a more intricate role in the material’s behavior. In the optimal formula, where the sum of the component percentages totals 7.6%, the percentages (e.g., 0.5% sodium alginate, 5% cellulose, and 2.1% activated carbon) are calculated based on the weight/volume (w/v) ratio of each component in the water used to prepare the foam mixture. These results indicate that natural and biodegradable polymers can be used to develop high-performance, eco-friendly foam materials.