Department of Energy Argonne National Laboratory Office of Science NEWTON's Homepage NEWTON's Homepage
NEWTON, Ask A Scientist!
NEWTON Home Page NEWTON Teachers Visit Our Archives Ask A Question How To Ask A Question Question of the Week Our Expert Scientists Volunteer at NEWTON! Frequently Asked Questions Referencing NEWTON About NEWTON About Ask A Scientist Education At Argonne Blowing Polystyrene 
Name: Susan R.
Status: Educator
Age: 40s
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: October 2002
Question:
I want to use old Polystyrene foam in molds for art pieces. I understand from your archives how Polystyrene foam is melted down. How is polystyrene blown?


Replies:
Historically, chloro-fluoro hydrocarbons were used to make styrene foams. These were being phased out in the 1980's and 1990's and pretty much banned by the EPA circa. 1996. Some dry but informative details you can find on the

website http://www.epa.gov/ozone/snap/foams/qa.html

When it was clear that CFC's were going to be phased out, (and become much more expensive), the Polystyrene foam industry put on their thinking caps and now there are a number of processes using steam, carbon dioxide, and no doubt other technologies. For the most part the transition has been transparent to consumers. Search www.google.com for "blowing polystyrene" and you can find dozens of "hits" that describe various processes in detail.

Vince Calder


Click here to return to the Engineering Archives

NEWTON is an electronic community for Science, Math, and Computer Science K-12 Educators, sponsored and operated by Argonne National Laboratory's Educational Programs, Andrew Skipor, Ph.D., Head of Educational Programs.

For assistance with NEWTON contact a System Operator (help@newton.dep.anl.gov), or at Argonne's Educational Programs

NEWTON AND ASK A SCIENTIST
Educational Programs
Building 360
9700 S. Cass Ave.
Argonne, Illinois
60439-4845, USA
Update: June 2012
Weclome To Newton

Argonne National Laboratory