Show new plastic foam used in insulation material Is called lightest of solids the worlds lightest solid an am amazing plastic foam that swells up when baked like a cake to times its original volume has been developed by westinghouse scientist for use as a new insulating material the new product is expected to find its way into many uses in appliances ances used in farm homes and about the farm even lighter than some gases the tha new material weighs from 10 to 20 times less than the fluffy meringue on a well baked pie robert P F sterling 29 year old chemist and the man chiefly responsible for the new product said R 4 shown here is a refrigerator completely insulated with the new plastic foam insulation material this is the way the refrigerator looked after the insulation job was done but before door liner and other parts were put back in place it is the result of A a three year search for an effective insulating material that will fill large areas yet weigh next to nothing the foam is made by heating a molasses like synthetic resin at about degrees fahrenheit until it expands to times its original volume then solidifies thousands i of gas bubbles entrapped in the foam buoy it up and give the plastic its lightness foamed into prefabricated pre fabricated metal wall sections a two inch thick layer f weighing only pounds would be enough to insulate a complete six room house sterling said resistant to fire moisture fungus growth and insects the foam is low enough in cost to be practical for many applications and uses the scientist said not only do imprisoned air bubbles give the new plastic great lightness but they also provide it with its excellent insulating qualities so called dead air is one of the best insulators known among commonly available materials sterling said |