ScienceAugust 15, 2026
isocyanates
eye-SOH-suh-nayts
Definition
A group of highly reactive chemical compounds used primarily in the production of polyurethane foam and various plastic materials.
Etymology
The term is derived from 'iso-' (a prefix meaning 'equal' or 'same') and 'cyanate' (a salt or ester of cyanic acid). It was coined in 19th-century chemistry to describe this specific molecular structure.
In the news
The article mentions isocyanates as hazardous raw materials involved in the manufacturing of conventional plastic cooler insulation, highlighting the safety risks associated with their production process.
A graduate student in Maine turned wood into a foam that keeps a cooler almost as cold as plastic does, and the part that still fails is not the temperature
Read the full article ↗ECOticias.com