RT info:eu-repo/semantics/article T1 Production of cellular polymers without solid outer skins by gas dissolution foaming: A long-sought step towards new applications A1 Cuadra Rodríguez, Daniel A1 Barroso Solares, Suset A1 Rodríguez Pérez, Miguel Ángel A1 Pinto Sanz, Javier K1 Cellular polymers K1 Polímeros celulares AB An innovative approach to reduce and eliminate the non-foamed solid skins of the cellular polymers fabricated by gas dissolution foaming is presented in this work. The incorporation of a flexible gas diffusion barrier on the polymer surfaces during the saturation and foaming processes provided significant reduction or even hindered the appearance of the non-foamed solid skins while enabling appropriate expansions in several polymers (PMMA, PS, PC, and PCL). Besides, this approach has allowed to achieve significant expansions by foaming polymer samples with thicknesses in the order of magnitude of the non-foamed solid skins, i.e., thin films (<100 µm). This paper discusses how the gas diffusion barrier allows reducing the solid skins, the mechanisms involved in the gas diffusion process, and the possibility of interconnecting the inner cellular structure with the external medium. PB Elsevier SN 0264-1275 YR 2022 FD 2022 LK https://uvadoc.uva.es/handle/10324/52819 UL https://uvadoc.uva.es/handle/10324/52819 LA eng NO Materials & Design, 2022, vol. 217, 110648 NO Producción Científica DS UVaDOC RD 11-jul-2024