Foam Stability. A Fundamental Investigation of the Factors Controlling the Stability of Foams

Abstract

Although the production of foam rubber on an industrial scale has been for a considerable time a rather well-controlled process, all factors involved are still insufficiently known. The most critical phase of the manufacturing process is undoubtedly the gelation of the foam produced. This consists of a clotting of the dispersed rubber particles while a simultaneous destabilisation of the dispersed gas bubbles has, however, to be prevented. In order to gain a better insight into the present and similar processes, a fundamental knowledge of foams in general and of their stability conditions in particular is indispensable. The author studied the technology of foam rubber manufacture in the laboratories of the Rubber-Stichting at Delft and carried out the research described in this review in order to get at the “fundamentals”. Since he comes from the University of Utrecht, the school of thought inherent to the laboratories of physical chemistry there has been the basis of his reasoning. He is indebted to Professor J. Th. G. Overbeek for many helpful suggestions.