PolyHIPE, a polymerized high internal phase emulsion, is considered a promising platform for producing porous polymers. In particular, photopolymerized HIPE has recently been utilized in the 3D printing of porous...
The use of a surfactant derived from the degradation of natural rubber gloves via cross-metathesis with methyl acrylate and subsequent saponification of the ester group for the stabilization of water in dicyclopentadiene high internal phase emulsions is described. The versatility of the resulting high internal phase emulsion was demonstrated by polymerizing the continuous dicyclopentadiene phase via Ring-opening Metathesis Polymerization yielding macroporous poly(dicyclopentadiene) foams with a porosity of 82 %. The use of the ionic surfactant allows for the preparation of foams, which are resistant to absorb water. This property was hitherto not accessible with protocols involving the use of non-ionic surfactants commonly employed in emulsion templating of polymers.<br>
High internal phase emulsion templating as a route to well-defined porous polymers