Reflective Polymeric Article and Manufacture
A method of making a reflective polymer article comprising: (a) contacting a polymer material with a foaming agent; (b) foaming in the material under conditions sufficient to form reflective polymer article having gas cells and polymer gas interfaces between the cells; wherein the reflective polymer article has a metallic or reflective property.
1 . A method of making a reflective polymer article comprising:
a. contacting a polymer material, wherein the polymer material is oriented in at least one direction, with a foaming agent; and
b. foaming the material under conditions sufficient to form a reflective polymer article having gas cells and polymer gas interfaces between the cells;
wherein the reflective polymer article has a metallic or reflective property.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the foaming comprises applying a force to create a plurality of gas cells with a platelet structure having a planar interface.
3 . The article of claim 1 , wherein the article comprises one or more thermoplastic polymer, amorphous polymer, thermoset polymer, or semi-crystalline polymer.
4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the polymer comprises thermoplastic polymer of a polyetherimide or polycarbonate.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the article is sheet or film.
6 . (canceled)
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the foaming agent is chemical or physical blowing agents.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the foaming agent is solid, liquid, gaseous, or supercritical material.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the foaming agent is selected from the group consisting of carbon dioxide, air, nitrogen, argon, gaseous hydrocarbons, and combinations thereof.
10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the foaming agent is solid, liquid, gaseous, or supercritical carbon dioxide.
11 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising quenching the article.
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the method is a continuous process.
13 . (canceled)
14 . An article made by the method comprising:
a. contacting a polymer material, wherein the polymer material is oriented in at least one direction, with a foaming agent;
b. foaming the material under conditions sufficient to form a reflective polymer article having gas cells and polymer gas interfaces between the cells;
wherein the reflective polymer article has a metallic or reflective property.
15 . An article comprising:
a reflective polymer material having gas cells and polymer gas interfaces between the cells causing the material to reflect the electromagnetic spectrum so as to have a metallic or reflective appearance;
wherein the reflective polymer reflects at least 70 percent of light at a wavelength in the ultraviolet range; and/or
wherein the article reflects at least 70 percent of light at a wavelength within the visible and infrared range.
16 . The article of claim 15 , wherein the material has a plurality of gas cells with a platelet structure having a planar interface.
17 . The article of claim 14 , which reflects a significant amount of a range of the electromagnetic spectrum.
18 - 19 . (canceled)
20 . The article of claim 15 , wherein the reflective polymer reflects at least 60 percent of the electromagnetic spectrum.
21 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising stretching the polymer material prior to contacting the polymer material with the foaming agent.
22 . An article comprising: a reflective polymer material having gas cells and polymer gas interfaces between the cells causing the material to reflect the electromagnetic spectrum so as to have a metallic appearance.