Particle stabilized high or medium dispersed phase emulsion used for producing polymeric foam comprises a dispersed phase, continuous phase and hydrophobized organic particles

NOVELTY - A particle stabilized high or medium dispersed phase emulsion comprises a dispersed phase which constitutes greater than or equal to 30% of the total volume of the emulsion, continuous phase and hydrophobized organic particles. USE - For producing polymeric foam. ADVANTAGE - The cellulose derived from bacteria has high mechanical properties, with stiffness exceeding those of glass fibers and aramid fibers. The cellulose particles possess many hydroxyl groups for facile functionalization (hydrophobization), such that the wettability or 3-phase contact angle between the particles and the continuous and disperse phases can be tuned; thus enables cellulose to act as a Pickering emulsion stabilizer. DETAILED DESCRIPTION - INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are included for the following: (1) a porous polymer foam produced by polymerization of the continuous phase of a stabilized medium or high dispersed phase emulsion comprising a dispersed phase, a continuous phase comprising at least one type of polymerizable monomer and hydrophobized organic particles; (2) a porous, polymer foam comprising bi-modal pores produced by the polymerization of the continuous phase of a stabilized medium or high dispersed phase emulsion comprising an dispersed phase, a continuous phase containing at least one type of polymerizable monomer and hydrophobized organic particles of at least two differing sizes; (3) producing a stabilized medium or high dispersed phase emulsion involving suspending hydrophobized particles within the dispersed phase, within the continuous phase or within both the dispersed phase and the continuous phase and combining the dispersed phase with the continuous phase to form a stabilized emulsion; (4) producing a porous polymer foam involving providing a medium dispersed phase emulsion or continuous phase comprises a polymerizable monomer, where the continuous phase and/or the dispersed phase comprises an initiator, and initiating polymerization of the continuous phase; (5) method for the hydrophobisation of a particle involving grafting of poly ( alpha -hydroxyester) to the surface of the particle; and (6) use of hydrophobized organic particles to stabilize an emulsion, which is subsequently destroyed and then reformed by modification of the dispersed phase volume, particle concentration and/or pH.