Molded packaging and consumer products

In foamed products, the blown-cell volume displaces resin to make consumer products less costly and less wasteful when discarded. A foam s shockabsorbing, heat-insulating, and compression properties are key added benefits for certain packaging applications (see Case 13.1). 

Problem Natural wine-bottle corks have become Inaeas-Ingly expensive. 

Objective A plastic-based cork design with the unique characteristics of natural cork. 

One of the most intriguing foamed packaging applications of recent years Is the foamed PO wine cork, an alternative to more expensive natural corks. Initially thought of as a cheap artiflcial solution not befitting quality wines, plastic corks nonetheless now have widespread use, and some wine drinkers may consider their toughness to be a preferable quality over natlual corks. 

---