Is styrofoam a good insulator?

Styrofoam is made mostly of air, which has excellent insulating properties. This allows styrofoam to trap warm air and prevent heat loss, making it a good insulator. read more

Styrofoam is a poor conductor, and the air pockets trapped inside the material keep heat energy from leaving. This is why Styrofoam products are popular for holding hot things like cups of coffee. The material does not conduct the heat from the beverage through to the hand in the same way that a metal or glass cup might. read more

Styrofoam is exceptionally lightweight, an excellent shock absorber and an effective insulator, making it one of the most common plastics used in the manufacture of packing and insulating materials. Styrofoam is also thermoplastic, meaning it changes from a liquid to a solid at a certain temperature. read more

Styrofoam is a good insulator because the plastic foam contains billions of trapped gas bubbles. Gases hinder heat conduction because their molecules are very far apart making it difficult for other molecules to collide with them. read more