Polystyrene foam is actually type of plastic produced from styrene. This is a lightweight, moisture-resistant material with exceptional insulation attributes. Since it is composed of more than 90 % air, this foam is also remarkably buoyant. It really is this characteristic that prompted the U. H. Coast Guard and the U. S. Navy blue to use polystyrene foam to make life rafts as well as preservers since World War II. Consumers are quite acquainted with this material too, although it is commonly wrongly diagnosed for something else entirely.
Styrofoam™ may be the trademarked name for extruded polystyrene foam, a device of the Dow Chemical Company that has been within production for more than 50 years. Nearly those who have purchased coffee “to go” has heard the textbox being referred to as a Styrofoam™ cup. Still this material has never been used to make throw away coffee cups. For that matter, it’s never already been used to make portable picnic coolers either, another misunderstanding. These products are actually made from expanded polystyrene froth (EPS) in the form of beads, typically referred to as packaging “peanuts. ”
Unlike throw away cups and picnic coolers, which are notably white within color, products made from polystyrene foam are typically glowing blue. It is used to make insulation wrap for home homes, commercial buildings, and plumbing systems. Additionally it is used in road construction as an insulation coating under pavement to deter the formation of cracks and road imperfections that occur from seasonal freezing and thawing of the ground beneath.
Polystyrene foam is also converted to materials used in craft projects. Actually florists are familiar with the distinctive crackling audio made when cutting Styrofoam™ or inserting floral stems in it. It is also used to fashion architectural versions and as backing for framed photographs and prints. Whilst other forms of polystyrene foam are blue in colour, the foam made for craft purposes is either eco-friendly or white.
In terms of environmental effect and hazards to human health, polystyrene foam manufacturing is considered by the U. S. Epa as the fifth major producer of hazardous waste materials. Aside from posing an occupational health risk because of exposure to styrene during processing, there are issues over polystyrene foam production contributing to poor quality of air. This is due to hydrocarbons escaping during production and reacting with nitrogen oxides in the air, that forms a pollutant referred to as tropospheric ozone.
In addition , numerous recycling companies will not accept products made from polystyrene froth left on the curb, presumably because the market with regard to reclaiming this material is limited. For these along with other reasons, polystyrene foam is banned in some areas, such as Portland, Oregon, and Orange Region in California.




