Styrofoam
Styrofoam is a trademark of The Dow Chemical Company for closed-cell[1] polystyrene § extruded polystyrene foam currently made for thermal insulation and craft applications.[2]
In 1941, researchers in Dow's Chemical Physics Lab found a way to make foamed polystyrene. Led by Ray McIntire, they had "rediscovered" a method first discovered by Swedish inventor Carl Georg Munters.[3] Dow acquired exclusive rights to use Munter's patents and found ways to make large quantities of extruded polystyrene as a closed cell foam that resists moisture. Because of its insulating properties and buoyancy, it was adopted in 1942 by the U.S. Coast Guard for use in a six-person life raft. Styrofoam can be used for building materials, including insulated sheathing, pipe insulation and floral and craft products. Styrofoam insulation has been used in many notable buildings and facilities in North America.[4] The Dow insulation product can be identified by its distinctive blue color; Styrofoam for craft applications is available in white and green.
Styrofoam can be used under roads and other structures to prevent soil disturbances due to freezing and thawing.[5][6]
In the United States and Canada, the word styrofoam is often incorrectly used as a generic term for expanded polystyrene foam, such as disposable coffee cups, coolers or cushioning material in packaging, which are typically white and are made of expanded polystyrene beads. This is different from the extruded polystyrene used for Styrofoam insulation. The polystyrene foam used for craft applications, which can be identified by its roughness and by the fact that it "crunches" when cut,[7] is moderately soluble in many organic solvents, cyanoacrylate and the propellants and solvents of spray paint, is not specifically identified as expanded or extruded.
Dangers of styrofoam
Styrofoam is oftern used to make cups and plates. The plates can be extremely dangerous to use, because if headed in a microwave oven, peices of the plate can melt and integrate with the heated food, sauces, etc. This can lead to the accidental ingestion of large peices of styrofoam, which may or may not end up getting digested and potentially causing harm. A new movement has recently begun to boycott ,and eventually ban companies from being allowed to make plates out of toxic substances like styrofoam.
See also
- List of generic and genericized trademarks
- Polystyrene
- Structural insulated panel
- Resin identification code
- Building insulation
- National Inventors Hall of Fame
- Styrophone
References
- ^ Burns, Max (1998), The dock manual, Storey Publishing, p. 31, ISBN 9781580170987.
- ^ Dow Craft Site, "Responsible Living and STYROFOAM Brand Foam", accessed Nov. 24, 2008. http://craft.dow.com/about/environ.htm
- ^ Boundy, Ray H. (1990). A History of the Dow Chemical Physics Lab. New York: Marcel Dekker, Inc. pp. 117–128. ISBN 0-8247-8097-3.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ "Styrofoam "Walls of Fame"". Retrieved 2009-10-28.
- ^ "Geotechnical applications of Styrofoam". Dow Chemical. Retrieved 2009-10-28.
- ^ "Engineering considerations when building on permafrost". Retrieved 2007-08-30.
- ^ Dow Craft Site, "Professional Craft Designers Design Purchase Programs/FAQs," accessed Nov. 24, 2008. http://craft.dow.com/profcr/faq.htm
External links
