What enables ice chests/styrofoam ice boxes to insulate heat??

Question

for sci project work

Answer 1

Microscopic air pockets trapped within the Styrofoam must all exist isolated form each other. Because energy must jump between these pocket to escape,  the speed that energy flows out of the system is reduced and the loss of heat is slowed.

Answer 2

Heat transfer takes place by three ways.. Conduction, convection and radiation..

As already explained the tiny air trapped will make the heat transfer difficult.

Answer 3

Ice chests/styrofoam ice boxes contain very fine or microscopic pores as already said by "ThatGuy" in which air gets trapped. And air is a bad conductor of heat and cold as well. Thus it prevents the heat outside the container from getting conducted into it and insulates heat.