Expanded Polystyrene Insulation Properties

It is extremely lightweight but strong and durable.

Expanded polystyrene insulation properties.

The purpose of this document is to clarify the performance of expanded polystyrene foam eps when used as insulation material. The graphs below show the values achieved on these properties depending on the apparent density of expanded polystyrene materials. Expanded polystyrene or eps geofoam is a cost efficient insulation material used in the construction industry. Expanded polystyrene is widely used in building and construction as its inherent strength durability and thermal insulation properties make it an ideal choice for energy efficient buildings.

Insulation for buildings coldrooms pipes and vessels sagex has more than 50 years experience in the manufacture of eps and introduced the product into the south african market. Carl munters and john gudbrand tandberg of sweden received a us patent for polystyrene foam as an insulation product in 1935 usa patent number 2 023 204. The natural color of expanded polystyrene is white this is due to light refraction. Ps foams also exhibit good damping properties therefore it is used widely in packaging.

Expanded polystyrene eps. A versatile building material it works well for a variety of different applications such as road construction bridge abutments slope stabilization building foundations retaining walls stadium and theatre seating fill for. Generally polystyrene is a synthetic aromatic polymer made from the monomer styrene which is derived from benzene and ethylene both petroleum products polystyrene can be solid or foamed. About 98 of expanded polystyrene is air.

Astm c578 standard specification for rigid cellular polystyrene thermal insulation addresses the physical properties and performance characteristics of eps foam as it relates to thermal insulation in construction applications. The density of the material is closely related to the mechanical resistance properties. The most favourable properties of this polymer material include excellent thermal insulation damping properties and extreme lightweight. It provides an overview of the facts on fire safe constructions using eps building products.

The thermal conductivity of expanded polystyrene foam of density 20 kg m 3 is 0 035 0 037 w m k at 10 c. The expanded version of polystyrene is about forty times the volume of the original polystyrene granule. Grey polystyrene foam incorporating graphite has superior insulation properties. Foamex polystyrene building products make a major contribution to the quality.

This makes the transport costs minimum. Therefore it is one of the lightest packaging material.