Technological expanded polystyrene, which is a modern material with a number of useful properties, has rightfully earned the title of a unique insulation. It is widely used in the manufacture of plumbing, in the field of construction, during road works and in many areas. This material has been known for over 60 years. It is also called extruded polystyrene.
It is a plastic with a uniform structure of small closed cells with a size of up to 0.2 mm. To obtain a sheet of this material, the feed is subjected to high pressure and temperature at which the granules are mixed with the addition of a foaming agent. They may be carbon dioxide or a mixture of light freons. After this, the raw material is squeezed out of the extruder, as a result, colored or transparent sheets are obtained, which, after drying, are ready for use.
Description
EPSP - insulation, which has high thermal insulation and strength characteristics. It has a related chemical composition with polystyrene, as these materials have one ancestor - polystyrene. However, in terms of functionality, extruded polystyrene can not be compared with conventional polystyrene, since it is ahead of its polymer counterpart. The reason here lies in the fundamental differences in production technology. Polyfoam does not pass through the extruder, and EPS does not.
The polymer through extrusion receives a different transformation vector, and hence other qualities and properties. First, the granules melt and form a uniform viscous mass. Raw materials from the solid state go into viscous flow. Further transformations go with a single liquid-phase substance, which has intermolecular bonds.
Specifications
EPSP - insulation, which has certain technical characteristics. In order to understand them, you should consider the material in more detail. The task of any insulation is the preservation of heat in the room. Since the heat transfer rate varies according to the laws of thermodynamics depending on the density of the substance, gases have a lower coefficient of thermal conductivity compared to solids.
The thermal conductivity of air is 0.026 W / m * ° C. Penoplex consists of an air mixture of 90%, in connection with this, the indicator mentioned above is equal to 0.030 W / m * ° C. The difference is minimal, this indicates excellent ability to retain heat. Expanded polystyrene can have a different density, which varies for different products in the range from 25 to 47 kg / m 3 . This indicator affects the strength, which with increasing density can be equal to the limit from 20,000 to 50,000 kg / m 2 .
EPSP - a heater that absorbs water poorly. For 28 days, the plate absorbs about 0, 4% of the liquid from its volume, after which the process stops completely. The vapor permeability of this thermal insulation is 0.0128 Mg / (m * h * Pa). Sometimes this property entails the need for an additional layer of vapor barrier during the installation of individual systems.
This type of insulation can be used in almost any climatic conditions due to the ability to undergo low and high temperatures in the range from - 50 to + 75 ˚.
EPSP - insulation, which is distinguished by flammability. Depending on what flame retardants are added to it, the combustibility class can vary from G1 to G4. On sale you can find some grades of the described material, which have a L-shaped recess along the edges. It is necessary for a tight fit of products to each other by enhancing the insulation of joints. This feature does not allow cold bridges to form between the plates.
Penoplex participated in trials that included multiple freezing and thawing. Most of the tests made it clear that the stove is able to withstand up to 80 cycles, in practice this figure corresponds to a certain number of years of operation.
If we compare the described material with its counterpart - polystyrene, then striking differences are striking. They arise as a result of the use of a unique technology in the production process of foam, which allows us to make sheets more durable and thin. In order to achieve the same effect, the foam layer must be doubled compared to the foam layer. Among other things, laying must be carried out in two rows so that cold bridges do not form in the seam area.
When comparing expanded polystyrene with other insulation materials in terms of sound permeability, we can conclude that the material loses in some respects, but in this case it has no equal in terms of ease of installation. This is because it is much easier to stack hard sheets than to work with soft rolls of mineral wool.
Technical Advice
In the process of building a sauna or bath, do not use extruded polystyrene foam for insulation. This is due to the fact that its characteristics do not allow placing the material in conditions where the room temperature is above + 75 . However, extruded polystyrene foam can be used in almost all areas of the construction industry. Moreover, the region where the object is located does not matter.
This insulation works well on a small balcony or loggia of the apartment, as well as in the walls of a huge shopping complex. In this regard, the use of extruded polystyrene foam is justified.
Major manufacturers
In Russia, many companies are engaged in the production of the described thermal insulation. Among others, the most popular should be highlighted:
- Penoplex.
- Ttehnonikol.
- Ursa.
Their production capacities are 1850 1300 and 160 thousand cubic meters. Among other firms should be highlighted:
- Dow Chemical.
- Teplex.
- Timlex.
- Penostex.
Price and some characteristics of TechnoNIKOL expanded polystyrene
EPSP Technonikol is offered for sale in several forms, each of which has its own purpose. Among others, it is worth highlighting the "Swedish plate", which comes in the following sizes: 100 * 580 * 2360 mm. The density of the material is 30 kg / cm 3 . It belongs to the G4 class of flammability. The thermal conductivity is 0.028 W / (m * K). For one package you will pay 3050 rubles.
This material is specialized and designed for the installation of shallow slab foundations. Thermal insulation has high compressive strength and increased plate length. Thermal conductivity is reduced, which leads to the high popularity of the material. In the production of EPSN Technonikol, nanosized carbon particles are used. This reduces thermal conductivity and increases strength. The material gains a silver tint in the process and has high energy efficiency characteristics.
Among the main advantages of using a foundation using extruded polystyrene foam should be highlighted:
- reduction of construction time;
- savings on heating;
- high-quality solution for protecting structures from destruction;
- creating a finished floor.
XPS CARBON ECO Specifications and Cost
Extruded XPS polystyrene foam has the following dimensions: 100 * 580 * 1180mm. Thermal conductivity is equal to λ25. For packaging you will pay 1430 rubles. The material is used in low-rise and cottage construction with the device for thermal insulation of the foundation, floor, blind area, facade, basement and roof. Thermal insulation is indispensable when warming houses with a flat roof. This EPPS, the price of which is affordable, is an ideal solution for warming a cottage from the foundation to the roof. Thermal insulation does not absorb moisture, does not shrink and does not swell.
Among the additional advantages, biological resistance and geometric stability should be highlighted. EPCS from Technonikol is energy efficient and environmentally friendly. It is durable and has minimal water absorption.
Styrofoam Extruded Styrofoam Features
This material is offered in several varieties, each of which is used for different purposes. For example, grade 250-A is designed for three-layer walls and insulation of pitched roofs. 300-A can be used for inverse and traditional flat roofs. The extruded XPS expanded polystyrene from this manufacturer with the 500-A marking is used for operating roofs, insulation of refrigerated warehouses and heavily loaded floors. It is possible to use material marked 350-A to isolate tracks and sports fields. The nominal density in this case is 34 kg / m 3 . Styrofoam extruded polystyrene foam is offered for sale in the 700-A variety, which is designed to isolate foundations and bases under high dynamic and static loads.
The price of Penoplex
The material has a wide purpose and is used for insulation of buildings and structures for various purposes, as well as for the thermal insulation of sloping and flat roofs, basements and foundations. The extruded Penoplex expanded polystyrene allows to accelerate and improve construction technology. It can be offered in various thicknesses from 20 to 100 mm. The price of EPSP in this case is 4900 rubles. per cubic meter.
For reference
In the production process, a flame retardant is introduced into the raw materials, which increases resistance to burning. Plates acquire all the necessary fire-technical characteristics and correspond to low-combustible and hardly combustible materials. 50 mm extruded polystyrene foam has a density of 35 kg / m 3 .