Happy 50th Birthday, Bubble Wrap!

[M.D. Holloway]

Happy 50th Birthday, Bubble Wrap!
Posted January 25, 2010 10:57 AM by Sharkles CR4 Daily Digest globalspec.com

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:

'Pop' icon Bubble Wrap celebrates 50th birthday - Yahoo! News

Bubble Wrap - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Frequently Asked Questions - Sealed Air

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[cgarr]

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http://www.virtual-bubblewrap.com/pop