Nanofoaming behavior in chain–extended poly(lactic acid) induced by interfacial heterogeneous nucleation and insight into its foaming mechanism

Key Points

• Foaming mechanisms are linked to interfacial heterogeneous nucleation, impacting the final foam structure.
• Key insights include alterations in behavior due to distinct chain extension processes observed throughout the analysis.
• Nanofoaming was achieved through careful manipulation of poly(lactic acid) properties, enhancing foaming efficiency.
• The investigation provides foundational knowledge that may enable more efficient processing and performance in biodegradable materials.