Polyurethane Foam Chemistry Demonstration Kit

The Polyurethane Foam Demonstration Kit turns a fast, visible polymerization into a classroom demonstration. Two liquid components are combined, and within moments the mixture reacts, rises, and expands to roughly thirty times the original volume of the two liquids before setting into a solid, lightweight foam. The dramatic expansion makes the underlying chemistry easy to observe and hard to forget.

The reaction is a two-part polyurethane system: when the components are mixed, they react to form a polymer while a gas is generated, and it is that gas becoming trapped in the polymerizing liquid that drives the foam upward and gives it its cellular structure. The cured foam illustrates properties characteristic of polyurethane, including low weight, nonconductivity, and resistance to abrasion, chemicals, and UV radiation, making it a useful anchor for discussion of polymers and material properties as well as reaction rates and gas production.

The kit includes 500 mL each of the two foam components, part A and part B, along with an instruction manual and safety data sheet packet covering procedure and handling. It is intended for laboratory and classroom use and is suitable for ages 13 and up with adult supervision. To run the demonstration, an instructor will also need items not included in the kit: a large disposable plastic cup, and paper towels or newspaper to protect the work surface from overflow, with food coloring an optional addition for tinting the foam. The kit is non-regulated for shipping.