aka...science room
cuddly toy
What bedroom would be complete without its moth eaten teddy?
But snuggly, cuddly Teddy has his sinister side.
Not only is he a breeding ground for microbes and a haven for dust mites but he could be a fire hazard too. Teddy is stuffed with polyurethane foam which is also used for pillows, cushions and sofas.
Polyurethane is a polymer made from two chemical building blocks: a diol and a diisocyanate. With the help of another molecule, DABCO, they react to form the long molecules characteristic of polymers. When water is added, the mixture releases carbon dioxide gas.
As the reaction progresses the mixture becomes more and more gloopy. Finally it becomes a solid trapping the carbon dioxide bubbles inside it. It is the bubbles that make the polymer a foam.
The catch is that polyurethane foam is incredibly flammable. If Teddy gets too near a flame, he will be up in smoke as quick as a flash – as will the rest of your bedroom.
Unfortunately, treating the foam to make it fire-retardant means using toxic chemicals which are considered to be indoor pollutants and can damage the environment. So take care next time you give Teddy a hug.
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