Lightweight, high-strength and electrically conductive poly(butylene succinate) (PBS)/\ncarbon black (CB) nanocomposite foams with a density of 0.107â??0.344 g/cm3 were successfully\nfabricated by a solid-state supercritical CO2 (ScCO2) foaming process. The morphology, thermal\nand dynamic mechanical properties, and rheological behavior of the PBS/CB nanocomposites were\nstudied. The results indicate that the CB nanofiller was well dispersed in the PBS matrix and the\npresence of a proper CB nanofiller can accelerate the rate of crystallization, improve the thermal\nstability, enhance the stiffness, and increase the complex viscosity of PBS/CB nanocomposites. These\nimproved properties were found to play an important role in the foaming process. The results\nfrom foaming experiments showed that the PBS/CB nanocomposite foams had a much smaller cell\nsize, a higher cell density, and a more uniform cell morphology as compared to neat PBS foams.\nFurthermore, the PBS/CB nanocomposite foams also possessed low density (0.107â??0.344 g/cm3), good\nelectrical conductivity (Approximately 0.45 S/cm at 1.87 vol % CB loading), and improved compressive strength\n(108% increase), which enables them to be used as lightweight and high-strength functional materials.
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