The origins of pool noodles is traced back in Canada where the children there used to play with the backer rods foam which are gray in color. Seeing the market for little kids and as a water toy, it was then manufactured with bright, fancy colors. The kids in Canada were the first to try out this new product before big batches were manufactured in the US. These days, manufacturing starts in the month of November up to July in order to stock up for the coming spring. Because of its popularity and cheapness, a demand has grown and it is estimated that around 6 million are being manufactured in order to meet the demand. Aside from being a water toy, it has now presented various other possible applications.
The science behind its ability to stay afloat is all down to buoyancy principle which governs the water’s upward pressure and should be met in order for the object to float. The capability to stay afloat is not present in everything, pool noodles have this property because its weight is designed to match the amount of water being displaced. For it to submerged, it must be able to displace a greater amount of liquid. The foam material used for the production made it impossible for the noodle to submerge. Foam contains air pockets which are sealed thus making it water resistant.
The most widely used material in the making of the noodles is the closed cell polyethylene foam. It is mainly because of its versatility and its various applications. One of the benefits of kids playing with it is that the material is chemical resistant making it toxic-free and very safe for young children. It is good in water because of its lower ability to absorb water and its buoyancy. These often come in very long tubes which need to be cut into smaller length, depending on the need and the application. It can also be used in various water games and can be modeled into other designs. It may also be used as a substitute as filler when filling or sealing joints though backer rods are more effective.