The Feasibility of Melted Styrofoam and Gasoline as Roof

Sealant

A research Proposal
Presented to the Faculty of
High School Department
Western Leyte College of Ormoc City, Inc.
Ormoc City

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for the course Practical

Research I

Ma. Angelita L. Tumulak

Rodnie F. Jimenez
Ben Jhon B. Bercero
Lyster D. Sedilllo
Trexie Jil Perez
Arley B.Yango
Christine Grace C. Cubian
 CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION

Nature and Significance of the Study

Extreme typhoons, heavy rainfalls and scorching heat waves are the norm in equatorial

regions, especially the Philippines due to its geographical location beside the Pacific Ocean. It is

imperative that the people’s homes be as sturdy as possible against these harsh weather

conditions. Roof sealants provide an extra layer of protection from the elements. Sealants are

applied to roofs as it ages in order to extend its durability and prevent leaks. Here in the

Philippines most Filipinos use a commercially produced sealant known as Bostik. Commonly

used by the populace due to its effectiveness and strong endurance even through the harshest

conditions.

The precursor materials used in this study are Styrofoam and gasoline. Styrofoam is a

trademark brand of closed-cell polystyrene foam currently manufactured for thermal insulation

and water barrier. It is also the same material used in disposable beverage cups, food containers,

or a cushion in packaging fragile wares. Gasoline or petrol is a colorless yet flammable liquid

derived from petroleum. It used primarily as fuel in spark-ignited internal combustion engines

such as cars. Gasoline consist mostly of organic compounds obtained by the fractional

distillation of petroleum, enhanced with a variety of additives.

In previous studies, Styrofoam when combined with gasoline produces a semi-viscous

material that when hardens creates a water resistant insulation. The study proposed that the

gasoline-Styrofoam mix be an alternative sealants in time of need. It was also said to be efficient

for not only was it effective but also the materials needed to make it were ubiquitous.
 This study is conducted to validate the mixture of Styrofoam and gasoline as a roof

sealant. Beneficial to the general mass especially to those living in areas frequently experiencing

heavy rainfall such as the Eastern Visayas region.

Objectives of the Study:

This study aimed to:

 Determine the feasibility of Styrofoam and gasoline mixture as roof sealants.

 Determine the effectiveness.
 Compare the Styrofoam-gasoline solution to the popular commercial roof sealant.

Scope and Limitations of the Study

This study focuses on the capability of the mixture of Styrofoam and gasoline in sealing

leaks of roofs. The method of determining its efficiency was based on the time it takes to harden

and its water resistibility. The Styrofoam-gasoline sealant was compared to a popular,

commercially produced roof sealant using different ratios. The results will be observed,

discussed and drawn conclusion from. Any other topics not directly related to this study will be

neglected.

Time and Place of the Study

This study will be conducted from January to March 2019. The experiment

will be done at Brgy. Ipil Tinag-An II, Ormoc City.

Definition of Terms

Additives – a substance added to something in small quantities to improve or preserve it

Benzene – a colorless volatile liquid hydrocarbon present in coal tar and petroleum, and is used

in chemical synthesis

Bostik – a commercial brand specializing in sealants

Dissolve – to become incorporated into liquid so as to form a solution

Distillation – the action of purifying liquid by a process of heating and cooling

Durability – the ability to withstand wear, pressure or damage

Flammable – easily set on fire

Gasoline- a liquid made from petroleum and used especially as a fuel for engines

Insulation- the act of insulating something

Melting- to change or to cause to change from a solid to liquid usually because of heat

Mixture – a substance made by mixing other substances together

Octane – a colorless flammable hydrocarbon of the alkane series, obtained in petroleum refining

Petroleum – a liquid mixture of hydrocarbons that is present in certain rock strata and can be

extracted and refined to produce fuels including gasoline, kerosene, and diesel oil.

Plastic - a synthetic material made from a wide range of organic polymers.

Polymers- a substance that has molecular structure consisting chiefly or entirely of a large

number of similar units bonded together.

Polystrene – a synthetic resin which is a polymer of styrene, used chiefly as lightweight rigid

foams and films.

Resin – a sticky flammable organic substance, insoluble in water, exuded by some trees and

other plants (notably fir and pine).

Roof – the structure forming the upper covering of a building or vehicle.

Sealant- a substance that is put on a surface in order to protect it from air, water, etc.

Solution- the process by which solid, liquid or gaseous substance is homogenously mixed with a

liquid or sometimes a gas or solid.

Solvent- a liquid substance that is used to dissolve another substance.

Styrofoam- used for a type of light and usually white plastic.

Thermal insulation – is the reduction of heat between objects in thermal contact or in range of

radiative influence.

Versatile – able to adapt or be adapted to many different functions or activities.

 CHAPTER II
REVIEW OF LITERATURE

Sealant

Sealant is a substance used to block the passage of fluids through the surface or joints or

openings in materials, a type of mechanical seal. In building construction sealant is sometimes

synonymous with caulking and also serve the purposes of blocking dust, sound and heat

transmission. Sealants may be weak or strong, flexible or rigid, permanent or temporary.

Sealants are not adhesives but some have adhesive qualities and are called adhesive-sealants or

structural sealants (Oxford English Dictionary Second Edition, 2009).

The main difference between adhesives and sealants is that sealants typically have lower

strength and higher elongation than adhesives do. When sealants are used between substrates

having different thermal coefficients of expansion or differing elongation under stress, they need

to have adequate flexibility and elongation. Sealants generally contain inert filler material and

are usually formulated with an elastomer to give the required flexibility and elongation. They

usually have a paste consistency to allow filling of gaps between substrates. Low shrinkage after

application is often required. Many adhesive technologies can be formulated into sealants.

Sealants were first used in prehistory in the broadest sense as mud, grass and reeds to seal

dwellings from the weather such as the daub in wattle and daub and thatching. Natural sealants

and adhesive-sealants included plant resins such as pine pitch and birch pitch, bitumen, wax, tar,

natural gum, clay (mud) mortar, lime mortar, lead, blood and egg. In the 17th century glazing

putty was first used to seal window glass made with linseed oil and chalk, later other drying oils

were also used to make oil-based putties which were often referred to as caulks. In the 1920s

polymers such as acrylic polymers, butyl polymers and silicone polymers were first developed
and used in sealants. By the 1960s synthetic-polymer-based sealants were widely available

(Klososki et al. 2009).

Styrofoam (Expanded Polystrene)

Styrofoam is a trademarked brand of closed-cell extruded polystyrene foam (XPS),

commonly called "Blue Board" manufactured as foam continuous building insulation board used

in walls, roofs, and foundations as thermal insulation and water barrier. This material is light

blue in color and is owned and manufactured by The Dow Chemical Company

(https://web.archive.org/web/20080324134328/http://building.dow.com/styrofoam/what.htm).

The colloquial use of the word Styrofoam refers to another material that is usually white

in color and made of expanded polystyrene foam (EPS). It is often used in disposable coffee cups

and coolers, and as cushioning material in packaging. The trademarked term is used generically

although it is a different material from the extruded polystyrene used for Styrofoam insulation

(https://web.archive.org/web/20080324134328/http://building.dow.com/styrofoam/what.htm).

The Styrofoam brand polystyrene foam, which is used for craft applications, can be

identified by its roughness and the "crunch" it makes when cut. Additionally, it is moderately

soluble in many organic solvents, cyanoacrylate, and the propellants and solvents of spray paint.

Styrofoam has a variety of uses. Dow produces Styrofoam building materials, including varieties

of building insulation sheathing and pipe insulation. The claimed R-value of Styrofoam

insulation is five per inch. Styrofoam can be used under roads and other structures to prevent

soil disturbances due to freezing and thawing. It is composed of 98% air, making it lightweight

and buoyant. Dow also produces Styrofoam as structural insulated panels for use by florists and

in craft products. Dow insulation Styrofoam has a distinctive blue color; Styrofoam for craft

applications is available in white and green (Boundy et al. 1991).

 Gasoline

Gasoline, gas (American English) or petrol (British English) is a colorless petroleum-

derived flammable liquid that is used primarily as a fuel in spark-ignited internal combustion

engines. It consists mostly of organic compounds obtained by the fractional distillation of

petroleum, enhanced with a variety of additives. On average, a 42-U.S.-gallon (160-liter) barrel

of crude oil yields about 19 U.S. gallons (72 liters) of gasoline after processing in an oil refinery,

though this varies based on the crude oil assay (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gasoline).

The characteristic of a particular gasoline blend to resist igniting too early (which causes

knocking and reduces efficiency in reciprocating engines) is measured by its octane rating.

Gasoline is produced in several grades of octane rating. Tetraethyllead and other lead compounds

are no longer used in most areas to increase octane rating. Other chemicals are frequently added

to gasoline to improve chemical stability and performance characteristics, control corrosiveness

and provide fuel system cleaning. Gasoline may contain oxygen-containing chemicals such as

ethanol, MTBE or ETBE to improve combustion (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gasoline).

The most important performance characteristic of a gasoline is its octane rating, which is

a measure of how resistant the gasoline is to knocking. In fact, the octane rating is sometimes

referred to as the Anti-knock Index. The octane rating is based upon an arbitrary scale indexed

relative to a liquid mixture of iso-octane, which is 2, 2, 4-trimethylpentane, and n-heptane

(Kreith & Goswami, 2004).

Gasoline is produced in oil refineries. Roughly 19 U.S. gallons (72 L) of gasoline is

derived from a 42-U.S.-gallon (160 L) barrel of crude oil. Material separated from crude oil via

distillation, called virgin or straight-run gasoline, does not meet specifications for modern

engines (particularly the octane rating ;), but can be pooled to the gasoline blend

(https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/indexphp?page=gasoline_home).
 The bulk of a typical gasoline consists of a homogeneous mixture of small, relatively

lightweight hydrocarbons with between 4 and 12 carbon atoms per molecule (commonly referred

to as C4–C12). It is a mixture of paraffins (alkanes), olefins (alkenes) and cycloalkanes

(naphthenes). The usage of the terms paraffin and olefin in place of the standard chemical

nomenclature alkane and alkene, respectively, is particular to the oil industry (Dabelstein et al.

2007).
 CHAPTER III

MATERIALS AND METHODS

I. MATERIALS

The materials used were Styrofoam, gasoline, galvanized steel roofs, and glass container

II. METHODS

A. Preparation of Materials

The Styrofoam was simply scavenged from random homes including the

researchers’. While the gasoline was obtained from the gasoline station and the Galvanized steel

roofs are obtained from the hardware.

B. Mixing of Styrofoam and Gasoline

The Styrofoam were cleaned to remove dirt. The Styrofoam was put in the glass

container with gasoline and the Styrofoam was melt. The whole process was carried out at room

temperature.

C. Experimentation Trial

To proceed with the experiment, the amounts of mixture were assigned equally to

each trial. The amounts of mixture were measured through the use of measuring spoon, 1tbsp of

mixture were put in the galvanized steel roofs. Every spoon was labeled according to the number

of hours. Each trial differed only in the number of hours.

Amount of
 Mixture
Variables 15 g 15g 15g
Ratio of Mixture 10g : 20g 20g : 10g 20g : 20g
( Styrofoam is to
Gasoline)
Time to Harden 1 hour 2 hours 1.5 hours

D. Statistical Analysis

The data obtained from the study were expressed as mean and standard deviation (mean +

SD)