Fast Oxygen Scavenging of Macroporous Poly(Norbornadiene) Prepared by Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization

Abstract

Emulsion templated norbornadiene is cured via ring-opening metathesis polymerization yielding macroporous poly(norbornadiene) foams of 76% porosity exhibiting appealing stiffness combined with considerable ductility. The foams are readily oxidized in the presence of air at room temperature exhibiting an oxygen uptake capacity of more than 300 mg O2 g−1 foam. In closed volumes of air, a final oxygen level of a maximum of 0.0005 vol%, that is, 5 ppm(v) can be achieved after several hours at room temperature. The synergism of the porous morphology and the chemical nature of the polymer allows for the first example of an organic oxygen scavenger material with properties distinctly surpassing the state-of-the art in the field.