Mitchell Fourman
Stony Brook , NY
Age 17
Supercritical Carbon Dioxide (SC CO2) is a notably strong solvent due to the high temperature and pressure nature of the supercritical range. Use of the SC CO2 is also environmentally friendly, thus providing a low pollution alternative for many industrial practices. SC CO2 is curently used for such diverse processes as coffee decaffeination, extraction of cocoa butter, and dry cleaning. In this research, SC CO2 was exposed to incompatible PMMA-EVA polymer blends in order to improve their mechanical properties without altering the materials' chemical nature. Results showed an exponential increase in the tensile strength and ductility of the exposed materials, mainly due to the increase in compatibility associated with supercritical exposure. Applications of these materials can be found in nearly all commercial facets that require a material that is durable, efficient, and cost effective.