Soy-Based Polyurethane (Bio-based Spray Foam Insulation)
 
 

Shown above is the structure of common Polyurethane.

The spray foam insulation typically used to insulate houses is loaded with catalysts and surfactants. The flexibility of the polyurethane product depends on the type of isocyanates, polyols and additives used.  These  products can be flexible, rigid, semi-rigid, hard, soft, elastic, and so on.  The use would determine the flexibility needed.  The spray foam will start out as a liquid and dry to a semi-rigid complex.  The soy based insulation is installed using a gun (pictured above) just like ordinary spray foam insulation, and it will grow 100X its original size.
 
 

 The newest trend in spray foam insulation is the Bio Based 501 insulation.  It uses soy oil in place of the dangerous additives that were once used in typical polyurethane spray insulation.  There are many advantages to the use of this product:

What do soybeans look like??----------> 
 
 

Who would have thought these little beans would have become so industrial?

Henry Ford was most remembered or his Model-T and the five dollar day that double his employees salaries.  However, something you might not know about Henry Ford is that he did extensive research into plastics based on soy bean experimentation.  This was one of his last achievements, and it was the work that delighted him most of all.

In early 1928 Ford became interested in a new agricultural concept called farm chemurgy.  Chemurgy put chemistry and allied sciences to work for agriculture.  Ford was interested in finding new uses for farm crops (such as soybeans). In 1929, Ford built a lab and began experiments to find out which plants had the most industrial potential.  After a lot of research, in 1931 he decided to focus his efforts and attention on the soybean.In 1932 and 1933 Henry Ford planted more than three hundred varieties of soybeans on his own farmland.  By 1933 he had spent $1.2 million on soybean experimentation, and was blessed with the discovery of several uses for soybean oil in automobile production.

Henry Ford was highly regarded for his accomplishment of manufacturing a "plastic car" from soybeans and other crops. The Detroit Legal Courier stated "When history is written and the achievements of Henry Ford are chronicled, the Soy Bean victory will stand out as his foremost contribution to mankind." 

Soybean farmers and consumers alike have benefited from Henry Ford's innovative thinking.  If soybean enthusiasts ever give a medal to the "champion of the soybean", Henry Ford would be candidate number one.  Since the 1930's there has been much more research done on the power of the soybean, but we can all thank Mr. Ford for giving us the first glimpse into the magic of the soybean.