Ask A Scientist© Chemistry Archive

name         Bonita P.
status       other
age          40s

Question -   What is polystyrene foam made from?
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Bonita,

Polystyrene foam is kind of plastic, a polymer made of (an inter-linked network
of) styrene molecules. Styrene is a compound composed of carbon and
hydrogen. When manufactured as an insulating material, the liquid form
of the polymer is "blown" into a foam by in-situ generation of a large
number of VERY tiny bubbles of gas.  The polymer and the entrapped gas
interfere with heat flow through the material. Thus, its insulating
property.

Regards,
ProfHoff
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It is polystyrene, the same stuff uased to make disposable clear plastic
cups.  The polymer consists of chains of u(CH2-CHPh)- units, where Ph = the
"phenyl" group, C6H5.

Richard E. Barrans Jr., Ph.D.
Assistant Director
PG Research Foundation, Darien, Illinois
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Polystyrene foam is the polymer (plastic) styrene that has been foamed. That is
there are a lot of small bubbles of gas surrounded by a matrix of styrene.

Vince Calder
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