Styrofoam and Temperature

Packing peanuts are often made from Styrofoam.

Styrofoam is a brand of extruded polystyrene foam manufactured by the Dow Chemical company. Although most Styrofoam is used in home insulation, other uses include packing peanuts and coolers.

Cold

Expanded Styrofoam used in coolers provides some insulation, but not the best insulation. Also, when expanded Styrofoam is exposed to moisture it retains much of it. In a cooler when ice or other moisture might occur, this makes expanded Styrofoam a poor choice of an insulator.

Heat

Styrofoam sheets made from polystyrene make effective insulators as they handle heat well. The polystyrene material provides a good, heat-resistant source of home insulation. Styrofoam sheets also do not absorb moisture from the air at high temperatures, allowing the insulation to last longer and retain its structural integrity.

Properties

The physical properties of Styrofoam used as home insulation make it resistant to temperature changes, making it an effective solution for maintaining a steady temperature. Even at very high temperatures Styrofoam works well -- for this reason it can even serve as an insulator for pipes.

References

• Glacier Bay
• I Love India: The Advantages Of Using Styrofoam Insulation