Foaming of Polycaprolactone and Its Impregnation with Quercetin Using Supercritical CO₂

Abstract

Foamed polycaprolactone impregnated with quercetin was carried out with a batch foaming technique using supercritical CO2. The experimental design was developed to study the influence of pressure (15−30 MPa), temperature (308−333 K), and depressurization rate (0.1−20) on the foam structure, melting temperature, and release tests of composites. The characterization of the experiments was carried out using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffractometer, and differential scanning calorimetry techniques. It was observed that the porosity created in the polymer had a heterogeneous structure, as well as the impregnation of the quercetin during the process. On the other hand, controlled release tests showed a significant delay in the release of quercetin compared to commercial quercetin.

Keywords

• supercritical CO₂
• polycaprolactone
• quercetin
• foaming
• impregnation
• release profile