Today marks the 50th birthday of Bubble Wrap, the
truest "pop icon." The now-famous material was envisioned by inventors Marc
Chavannes and Al Fielding of Sealed Air Corporation (US) in the late 1950s.
Originally, Bubble Wrap was to be used as textured wallpaper;
however, this idea remained grounded until Fielding had an idea while flying.
Company lore says that during his flight, Fielding noticed how the clouds
seemed to cushion the decent of the plane. Today, Bubble Wrap is commonly used
to provide cushioning for a wide range of fragile goods.
How It's Made
Although some people believe that air is injected into each
bubble individually, that's not the case. After starting out as a bead of
polyethylene resin, beads are extruded until the resin melts into a liquid and
is then squeezed into two stacked sheets of clear film. One layer is wrapped
around a drum with holes punched into it; suction is applied to draw a web of
film into the holes to form the bubbles. The second film is then laminated over
the first, so that the air is trapped in the bubbles.
With Bubble Wrap, bubbles can range in size from as small as
¼ inch (6 millimeters) in diameter, up to an inch (26 millimeters) or more.
Generally, larger bubbles increase shock absorption during transit.
Uses
Bubble Wrap never made it as textured wallpaper, but it does
have a wide range of uses, The invention of the transistor, and later the
personal computer and accompanying accessories, were really what caused Bubble
Wrap to grow in popularity.
The "pop"-ular material also has many uses besides
packaging. A quick search on the Web will show that Bubble Wrap has been used
to make wedding dresses, hats, wigs, etc. Many people also enjoy popping the
bubbles to hear their distinctive sound and enjoy a stress-relieving
satisfaction.
The material is so well-known and appreciated that the last
Monday in January, which also happens to be today, marks "Bubble Wrap
Appreciation Day."
Want to appreciate Bubble Wrap, but don't have any on hand?
Try the virtual
Bubble Wrap – Happy popping!
Resources:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100125/ap_on_bi_ge/us_bubble_wrap_turns50
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bubble_Wrap
http://www.sealedair.com/corp/faq.html#bubble
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