Foamed polystyrene appeared in the middle of the twentieth century. It is made from polystyrene granules obtained in the process of oil refining. Therefore, polystyrene has an organic base. The most amazing thing is that this substance is even found in foods such as cheese, strawberries, cinnamon, wine and some others. Polystyrene is recognized as non-toxic and neutral to living organisms. This means that this substance is not able to harm people and can be used in various fields of human activity.
Foamed polystyrene is obtained by foaming and sintering
polystyrene granules. The granules are pumped with pentane (this is a condensate of natural gas) with simultaneous heating with steam. As a result of this, the pellet grows almost 50 times, turning into a ball filled with air. This ball is very elastic and stable, and the reverse process, that is, "blowing", does not occur. Thus obtained granules of expanded polystyrene are sintered using steam. It turns out a homogeneous material. The foaming and sintering processes take place simultaneously.
Unfortunately, in Russia polystyrene production is carried out using outdated technology. It is called the "suspension polymerization method of styrene in the presence of a steam generator." Whereas the world industry uses the method of continuous polymerization in bulk. This method allows to obtain high quality material with lower costs.
Foamed polystyrene is almost 100% air. It does not contain any additional chemicals. This material is very durable, it does not collapse under the influence of the environment. Therefore, it is actively used in construction. Since polystyrene has good thermal conductivity, it practically does not allow moisture to pass through, and is not harmful to human health and the environment.
In construction, expanded polystyrene is used as a heater. For example, a polystyrene plate with a thickness of 12 centimeters replaces a wall made of wood with a thickness of 45 centimeters or of a brick 2 meters thick!
The technology of wall insulation with polystyrene plates is very simple. They are glued to the surface with special glue. For strength, the joints between the plates are reinforced with dowels with a wide plastic cap. A mesh is glued onto the insulation, preventing the appearance of cracks and deformations. The construction is covered again with glue solution. This is followed by finishing with decorative plaster or other materials.
It is very easy to buy expanded polystyrene. It can be chosen at any hardware store. It is cheaper than other
insulation materials. When buying, you need to decide which polystyrene is needed. It is of two types - for wall insulation and floor insulation. The first is not as dense as the second. Polystyrene also varies in sheet thickness - from 20 mm to 120 mm. The choice depends on the proposed work. Usually, 50 mm thick polystyrene is sufficient for wall insulation in our climate with standard
wall thickness. If the structure is with thin walls, then polystyrene should be thicker. The same rule applies to choosing an option for floor insulation.