SPEAKER/S: CRISTINA SAIZ-ARROYO
DESCRIPTION: One of the main applications of low-density polymeric foams is thermal insulation. The inclusion of a gaseous phase is accompanied by a strong reduction of thermal conductivity that makes these materials ideal candidates to be employed as thermal insulating materials in many different applications. Several facts are boosting the development of thermal insulating materials with lower thermal conductivities and consequently, with improved insulating efficiencies. Thus, it is becoming more and more important reaching quantifiable reductions in the thermal conductivity values to obtain insulating materials with advanced characteristics. 

SPEAKER/S: MIGUEL ANGEL RODRIGUEZ-PEREZ
DESCRIPTION: In this second part of the webinar, different approximations are considered to evaluate and understand how the changes in the formulation affects the reaction kinetics and foaming mechanisms (nucleation, coalescence, coarsening and drainage) of PU foams. It is also explained how the information obtained from this detailed analysis of the reaction kinetics can be used to develop foams with improved properties. 

SPEAKER/S: ESTER LAGUNA-GUTIERREZ
DESCRIPTION: This webinar is focused on analyzing how the cellular structure and properties of PU foams are affected by changing the formulation using different approaches: incorporation of micro and nanoparticles, incorporation of liquid additives, changes in the type of blowing agent, etc.

SPEAKER/S: ESTER LAGUNA-GUTIERREZ
DESCRIPTION: In this second part of the webinar, we focus on explaining how we predict the foamability of thermoplastic polymers by using rheological techniques and by characterizing the intrinsic thermal properties of the polymer matrices.

SPEAKER/S: MIGUEL ANGEL RODRIGUEZ-PEREZ
DESCRIPTION: In this webinar, we first explain the key foaming mechanisms that need to be considered to understand a foaming process. Then, we focus on the experimental approaches we have developed in the last ten years to analyze these foaming mechanisms.

SPEAKER/S: CRISTINA SAIZ-ARROYO
DESCRIPTION: In this second part of the webinar, we focus on explaining our approaches to use scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray tomography to characterize in detail the cellular structure of foams.

SPEAKER/S: ALBERTO LOPEZ-GIL
DESCRIPTION: In this webinar, we first explain the key parameters that need to be measured to quantify the cellular structure of foams and the main techniques that can be used. Then, we focus on optical microscopy.