Plastic can be made into foam. Foam is made by blowing bubbles of gas into melted plastic. Some foams have very tiny bubbles inside and others have bubbles that are big enough to see. Plastic foams are used in many different ways.
Plastic foam helps to keep things warm.
Plastic foam is a good heat insulator. This means it does not let heat pass through it. We use plastic to insulate our homes and stop heat being lost through the walls and roof. Buildings can be insulated by putting sheets of foam behind walls, floors or ceilings. We also use plastic foam to keep food and drinks warm.
Foam plastic is used to make furniture.
The soft furniture that we use in our homes is filled with spongy plastic foam. The air bubbles in the foam make it soft to sit on. Some foam gives off dangerous fumes if it catches fire. New furniture is made with foam that doesn’t easily burn.
Plastic foam helps to keep things safe from knocks.
Polystyrene plastic is used to package fragile objects that may easily get broken. The small pieces of polystyrene fit around an object and protect it against knocks. Polystyrene is strong but lightweight. It is used to make cycle helmets to protect our heads.