Application of the Properties of Nano-Silica Gel Coatings: Modification of the Styrofoam Cup

The temperatures of standard glassware and ceramics are nearly impossible to tell just by sight. Therefore, burns from touching heated surfaces are common in the laboratory and in the kitchen. The sol-gel process is a safe method to create foam under ambient conditions. Adding different chemical compounds causes the foam to have varying physical and chemical characteristics. This project focuses on studying the properties of catalyzed nanosilica foams and the application of these foams to kitchenware. A Styrofoam cup was coated with insulating foam consisting of colloidal silica solution, nitric acid, titanium dioxide, and polyethylene glycol. To make the cup heat-indicative, leuco dyes were placed under the coating. Finally, the rim of the cup was coated with an absorbent mixture of colloidal silica solution, titanium dioxide, and polyethylene glycol. The rim of the cup was able to absorb dyed liquids, and the foam coat on the cup functioned as an insulator. Although the foam coatings did not stay intact, the two coatings have properties that make them viable materials outside of kitchenware in the areas of nanofiltration and structural design.