Studio Biofoam

A bio-based rigid polyurethane (PU) foam made with castor oil. This foam is made with vegetable polyols, a methylene based resin (MDI), and water as the blowing agent. No air or water emissions are generated during production, usage or disposal. A study by NIST had assessed that the foam is carbon neutral, sequestering 2.6 pounds of CO2 for every pound of foam. The foam structure has very fine and consistent cell size offering high quality secondary processing, such as carving, sanding, and painting. The liquid mix of the polyols, additives, and the MDI is poured onto a moving belt where it reacts with the other ingredients and expands twenty times its liquid volume into a rigid foam structure. The maximum size offered is 4 ft x 8 ft x 18 in (1200 x 2400 x 450 mm). Sheets can be cut to specified thicknesses with the minimum of ¾ in (19 mm). The foam has a density of four pounds per cubic foot. The foam is offered in a standard medium green color. Board size is customizable to specification, with longer boards upon request. The physical qualities of the foam are as follows: flexural strength: 67 psi, shear modulus: 863 psi, tensile strength: 57 psi, compressive strength: 67.7. The ecological certifications include: bio-preferred by the USDA, zero emission material by Berkeley Analytics, and carbon negative by a NIST study. Applications include 3D modeling and prototyping, stage and film sets, museum exhibits, trade show displays, retail environments, signage and POP displays, composite tool and die work.