Influence of Surfactants on Supercritical CO₂ Foaming Polyurethane Materials

Abstract

Thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer (TPU) foam materials have been widely used in various fields due to their excellent characteristics such as light weight, high elasticity, and non-toxicity. Supercritical CO₂ foaming technology, as an environmentally friendly and efficient physical foaming method, has become the mainstream development direction of polyurethane foaming. However, the traditional process often has problems such as large pores and uneven distribution. Some existing studies have shown that surfactants can improve the foaming performance. This paper systematically analyzes the current development status of polyurethane foaming technology, the advantages and limitations of supercritical CO₂ foaming technology, and focuses on the research progress and results of surfactants on the pore structure of supercritical CO₂ foamed polyurethane materials. It also looks forward to the future prospects and research directions in this field. Relevant studies have shown that surfactants can significantly reduce pore diameter and increase pore density by reducing the surface tension of bubbles and the free energy of gas dispersion, providing an effective technical method for improving the performance of polyurethane foam materials. The related research provides new directions and thoughts for promoting the technological development of the industry.