When it comes to static electricity, you probably think of wool, that annoying guy named Steve, and rubbing a balloon. But what about Styrofoam? Does that insulate or conduct electricity? In this post, we’ll answer these questions and more about this well-known material. And the answer is…it depends. That’s right: it depends on the type of Styrofoam you’re talking about. The generic word “Styrofoam” covers a lot of different materials. Depending on which type you’re referring to, it can be either a good insulator or a bad conductor of electricity. Read on for details about three different types of Styrofoam and their properties as an insulator or conductor of electricity.
Is Styrofoam A Conductor Or Insulator?
The term ‘conductor’ is used to describe materials that will carry electricity. In the case of Styrofoam, it is treated as a conductor, because the material conducts electricity when a voltage is applied to it. Styrofoam can be electrically charged and it will conduct electricity in the same way as a metal conductor would do.
What Is Styrofoam?
Styrofoam is a type of plastic that is used to make lots of different products. These include cups, plates, packing peanuts, insulated building materials, and more. It is also often called expanded polystyrene (EPS). When you heat Styrofoam, it expands, and it can be molded into various shapes and sizes. The chemicals used to make Styrofoam are what give it different properties. This includes different levels of static electricity resistance, tensile strength, and thermal properties. Styrofoam is made from a combination of chemicals, including hydrocarbon gases and chlorinated hydrocarbons. There are different types of Styrofoam, depending on how it’s made. These include foamed polystyrene, solid polystyrene, and aerated polystyrene. Each type has different properties. All three types of Styrofoam have some ability to conduct electricity, but a specific type may be better at it.
Foamed Polystyrene
- foamed polystyrene is a lightweight material that is produced from polystyrene, a plastic that has been expanded in a gas. This type of Styrofoam is used to make foam cups, plates, and other food packaging.
- Foamed polystyrene has low resistance to electricity, and it can be used to insulate electrical equipment in the same way as rubber insulation does. Foamed polystyrene can also be used for other purposes, such as insulating pipes or parts of buildings.
- Foamed polystyrene can be used to pack electrical equipment to keep it insulated and cool. This is because the material can conduct electricity.
- Foamed polystyrene can be used to make insulation blocks. These are made from a foam material that can be stacked on top of one another to create a block of insulation.
- Foamed polystyrene can be used to make a variety of other products, including insulation for buildings and for electrical equipment.
Solid Polystyrene
- Solid polystyrene is the most common type of Styrofoam. It is made from a mixture of two types of hydrocarbon gases. The two gases are propane and butane, which are both gases that are used to make a number of other products as well.
- When you heat solid polystyrene, it expands and becomes softer, so it can be molded into different shapes and sizes. This allows for different products to be made from it.
- Solid polystyrene is nonconductive when it is at room temperature (25°C), but when the temperature increases above this level, it will become a conductor (a material that will carry electricity).
- When you put solid polystyrene in water, there is an increase in conductivity that takes place between the water and the material itself. The conductivity increases because the molecules in the water stick to each other more easily than they do to other materials in water, such as air.
- Solid polystyrene is also a good insulator. It can be used to insulate electrical wires and cables, as well as to insulate things such as pipes and even buildings.
Why Is Styrofoam A Conductor Or Insulator?
Stiffer Polystyrene is a Conductor
Styrofoam is made from polystyrene, and it is stiffer than the average plastic. Stiffer polystyrene is more likely to conduct electricity because it can be stretched even further than normal polystyrene. This means that it can conduct electricity when voltage is applied to it. If you were to make Styrofoam out of normal polystyrene, you would have to stretch the material more than you would need to do in order for it to be a conductor.
Static Electricity Resistance
Styrofoam has higher resistance against static electricity than normal plastic does. This means that it has a lower resistance against electricity that moves through a material when there isn’t an electric current running through it (like when Styrofoam isn’t being stretched).
Tensile Strength
The tensile strength of Styrofoam is also high compared with normal polystyrene. This means that it can stretch a lot before breaking.
Thermal Properties
Styrofoam is more heat resistant than normal polystyrene, which means that it will not melt when exposed to high temperatures.
Low Conductivity
Styrofoam has a low conductivity compared with normal plastic. Styrofoam does have a low conductivity, but it is much lower than the conductivity of normal polystyrene. This means that it is less likely to conduct electricity than polystyrene.
High Resistance to Ozone
Styrofoam has a high resistance to ozone compared with normal plastic, which means that it can be used in places where ozone can be found, like in air conditioning units and in refrigerators.
Styrofoam is Generally More Durable Than Plastic
Styrofoam can withstand more physical stress than normal plastic can when it’s being used for different products and services. This includes being used as packing materials for products and services such as shipping boxes, shipping pallets, crates, and more; insulation for buildings; and as building materials such as insulation for walls or ceilings in buildings or as panels for roofs.
Styrofoam is Not a Good Conductor of Electricity
Styrofoam does not conduct electricity, as well as normal polystyrene, does. This means that it cannot conduct electricity when voltage is applied to it.
Final Words
If you’re designing an electrical circuit, you have to make sure all parts of the circuit are connected properly. This includes ensuring that all components are insulated properly to avoid an electrical short circuit. A common example of a static electricity problem is a circuit that shorts out due to a buildup of static electricity on a person’s body. This can happen when a person wearing a synthetic material, such as nylon, walks near a circuit board. The static buildup discharges and interferes with electron flow in the board. If you’re working with electronic circuits, you should consider what type of materials you’re using.
