ORONO, Maine, July 28 -- University of Maine issued the following news release:
For beverage coolers to keep drinks cold on a hot summer day, manufacturers rely on polyurethane foam, which is made from raw chemicals that are hazardous to handle before processing. To reduce health and environmental risks associated with this material, a University of Maine graduate student is designing an insulation component for coolers from an unexpected material: wood.
Quazeem Tiamiyu's wood fiber foam insulation serves as a bio-based alternative to replace polyurethane foam in conventional beverage coolers.
Polyurethane is a petroleum-based material that is nonrenewable, slow to degrade and can pollute landfills and waterways while posing health risks...