ROOF SEALANT MADE OUT OF GASOLINE AND STYROFOAM

A Science Investigatory Proposal

Submitted to the faculty of
Senior High School Department
Saint Augustine School
Mendez, Cavite

In Partial Fulfillment of the

Requirements for the strand
Science Technology
Engineering and Mathematics
Science Investigatory Project
Culminating Activity

Ma. Sheryl V. Esconde

Marc Joseph Penalba
Cristelle Elaine D. Rocillo
Raphael Godwin O. Roderos
Lloyd Matthew B. Tolentino

March 2018
 CHAPTER 1

THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

This chapter includes the background of the study, conceptual framework,

statement of the problem, significance of the study and scope and limitations.

Background of the Study

Sealant is a substance used to block the passage of fluids through the

surface or joints or openings in materials, a type of mechanical seal. In building

construction sealant is sometimes synonymous with caulking and also serve

the purposes of blocking dust, sound and heat transmission. Sealants may be

weak or strong, flexible or rigid, permanent or temporary. Sealants are not

adhesives but some have adhesive qualities and are called adhesive sealants

or structural sealants.

Statement of the Problem

This study aims to produce an alternative sealant made out of styrofoam

and gasoline, and to compare its effectiveness to the commerical one in terms

of; 1. How long is the time for the sealant to dry and 2. What will be the effect of

water to its adhesiveness.

Significance of the Study

The success of this study will be of great help and contribution to the

school and to the environment. People who are experiencing financial

problems can benefit from this study because the sealant produced will be less

expensive than the commerical sealant since the materials used in this

alternative sealant are only recycled.

Scope and Limitations of the Study

The study is only limited to the use of styrofoam since it can be melted by

gasoline; not all plastic materials can melt in gasoline. Special XCS was the

gasoline used. No material were bought in the market since the study aims to

use recyclable materials. An amount of Php 50. 00 was used for gasoline.

Time and Place of the Study

The study was conducted in Saint Augustine School-Mendez, Cavite

from January 2018 to March 2018.

Definition of Terms

The following terms were defined based on how they were used in the

study.

Styrofoam (polystyrene) is the brand name for a type of polystyrene

invented by Dow Building Solutions in the mid-20th century.

Sealant is a viscous material that changes state to become solid, once

applied to used to prevent the penetration of air, gas, dust, fire, smoke or liquid

from one location through a barrier into another known to be a viscous material

which turns to solid after application.

Gasoline (octane) a fuel derived from petroleum crude oil used for

engines. An organic substance a volatile substance and is stable if stored

properly flow rate and viscosity.

 CHAPTER 2

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES

This chapter discusses the different literature and studies which are from

books, websites, and other sources in relation to the roof sealant made out of

gasoline and Styrofoam.

According to Unica Abacdo philippines is a tropical country. Rusting on

roofs causing easy breakage. A more economical way of making a roof sealant

by recycling used stryrofoam and Gasoline. An urge to know if this alternative

sealant can be effective on roofs. Styrofoam is a trademarked brand of

closed-cell extruded polystyrene foam currently made for thermal insulation

and craft applications.

According to Ray McIntire and Carl Georg Munters styrofoam is a

trademark name for polystyrene thermal insulation material, manufactured by

Dow Chemical Company.

According to Styrofoam which is usually capitalized, because it's a proprietary

name is a type of lightweight, durable foam. If you've ever gotten a package full
of little packing peanuts, they were probably made of Styrofoam. Styrofoam is
controversial, so a lot of places stopped using it. Since it doesn't biodegrade,
Styrofoam products are considered harmful to the environment.

According to The Dow Chemical Company (1995) more common name

given to polystyrene is Styrofoam, which in truth is actually a brand name.

Because of its inherent lightweight characteristic, Styrofoam has found many

household and industrial applications. Companies produce Styrofoam building

materials, including insulated sheathing and pipe insulation. Styrofoam

insulation has been used in many notable buildings and facilities in North

America. They also produce Styrofoam as a structural material for use by

florists and in craft products. Dow insulation Styrofoam has a distinctive blue

color; Styrofoam for craft applications is available in white and green.

Styrofoam can be used under roads and other structures to prevent soil

disturbances due to freezing and thawing.

According to Debalstein (2007) gasoline is a lethal, radiant,

petroleum-derived liquid that is primarily used as a fuel in internal combustion

engines. It consists mostly of organic compounds obtained by the fractional

distillation of petroleum, enhanced with a variety of additives. Some gasolines

also contain ethanol as an substitute fuel. Under normal ambient conditions its

material state is liquid, unlike liquefied petroleum gas or "natural gas”.

Gasoline has been used as solvent since any groups attached to the carbon

backbone will help dissolve polystyrene. Hydroxyl groups are too polar, so

glycerin and alcohols don't do it. Gasoline attacks styrene foam because it has

modest percentages of benzene, toluene, and xylene. Other possible solvents

are also available. Paint-store denatured alcohol has 10% acetone in it as

the denaturant, so it will attack Styrofoam a little. All cousins of acetone will

attack polystyrene. Paraffin wax, drug-store mineral oil, and candle oil won't

quite dissolve Styrofoam except when heated (NEWTON AND ASK A

SCIENTIST, 2007).

According to Unica Acabedo Gasoline is a transparent, petroleum-derived

liquid that is used primarily as a fuel in internal combustion engines.

 According to Unica Acebedo Sealants are typically lower strength, yet

flexible, bonding agents used between substrates of differing physical

properties to form a seal between the materials.

According to an English Dictionary sealant is a substance such

as paint or polish that is painted onto a surface to protect it from

other liquid going into it, or is put in the space between two materials for the

same reason.

CHAPTER 3

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

This chapter deals with the research procedure to be used in this study. These

are presented in the following sections: Research design, Respondents of the

study, Research locale, Instrumentation, Procedure and Statistical Treatment

of data.

Materials and Equipment

500 ml of a gasoline 2 clean container

Styrofoam Stirring Rod

Commerical Sealant

Method

Research Design
 This study used experimental design. This study determined the

effectiveness of roof sealant made out of gasoline and styrofoam as an

alternative sealant.

Procedure:

The first thing we need to do is to prepare and gather all the materials that we

need. After we gather all the materials that we need we will now start to cut the

Styrofoam into pieces and put it on a clean container. The next thing we will do

is to pour the 500 ml of gasoline into the container with small pieces of

Styrofoam. After we poured the gasoline inside the contaiener we will now start

to mix it up until the substance turns viscous.