Cellular plastic

Description

Polymers containing uniformly dispersed air pockets. All cellular, or foamed, plastics are lightweight and buoyant. Additionally they may be soft and spongy (foam rubber, polyethylene, etc.) or rigid and strong (polystyrene, epoxy, Steam, air or an inert gas is mechanically added or chemically produced in the plastic resins during manufacture to form a cured open cellular structure. Closed-cell foams have individual non-connected bubbles while open-cell foams have an interconnected tunnels formed when the incorporated gas or steam escapes during cure. Foamed plastics are made from most types of polymers (rubber, polyethylene, polystyrene, epoxy, polyurethane, vinyl resins, silicone resins, etc.)

Synonyms and Related Terms

plstico celular (Esp.); plastique cellulaire (Fr.); plstico celular (Port.); foamed plastic