Biofoam
US5382285A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 6, 1993 |
| Grant date | Jan 17, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 6, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC08J2389/00
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Biofoam is a rigid, opaque microcellular organic foam made from organic materials derived from natural products and biological organisms. Typical organic materials are agar, agarose, gelatin, algin, alginates, gellan gum, and microcrystalline cellulose. The organic material is dissolved in a polar solvent, typically water, and the solution can be gelled immediately. The gel is frozen and freeze-dried to form the biofoam. Alternatively, a nonpolar solvent is added to the solution and emulsified. The resulting emulsion is then gelled, frozen, and freeze-dried. A variety of crystalline, fibrous, or metallic additives may be added to produce lightweight composite materials with enhanced strength and insulating properties. The amount of dilution of the organic material in the solvent(s) determines the density of the resulting biofoams, which ranges from about 1.0 mg/cm.sup.3 to about 500 mg/cm.sup.3.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.