Microcellular polymeric materials can be obtained by the polymerization of a high-internal-phase emulsion. These materials are good candidates as targets toward inertial confinement fusion. This application requires severe specifications, including a very low density and a small cell size. hi this study, we examined the influence of parameters such as emulsification conditions, surfactant nature, and the presence of a porogen on the obtainment of those requirements. It was possible to obtain microcellular polymeric foams with apparent densities as low as 0.0126 g/cm(3) However, it was difficult to obtain very low material density and still maintain a small average pore size. (c) 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.