Styrofoam

Styrofoam is the third part of all the thermal insulation materials used in the world. It is made by the method of sintering polystyrene granules obtained by foaming low-boiling liquids in vapors from a special suspension. In this case, the foaming components are added. In Russia it is often styrofoam that is called foam plastic. But nevertheless there is a difference between the concepts of expanded polystyrene and polystyrene, their interchange is not always possible.

When asked what is expanded polystyrene, it should be noted that this is a rigid gas-filled material with a cellular structure. However, there are species that do not have gases in their composition.

Styrofoam varieties

• non-pressing expanded polystyrene( PSB, PSB-C, EPS);
• extrusion expanded polystyrene( Penoplex, Technoplex, Stirax);
• press expanded polystyrene( PS-1, PS-4, as well as imported materials);
• autoclave and autoclave-extrusion( exclusively imported materials).

Scope of application

It is the non-pressing foam polystyrene called foam plastic. The main direction of application of this material is thermal insulation, sound insulation. They are insulated with walls, floors, windows, balconies, etc. The popularity of this method of thermal insulation is economically justified. If you need to access a closed area, you can simply delete the fragment, and then re-install it to its original location. Low cost allows massively use it in other areas. Often it is used to protect from freezing sports grounds and other objects. The specific scope of application depends on the brand.

Extrusion variety is needed for thermal insulation and sound insulation of walls, facades, roofs, partitions, foundations. This species is more durable than the non-press variety. This is due to production technology. The extrusion method involves melting the original pellets and then pouring the resulting mass into a mold.

Pressed polystyrene foam is used in the manufacture of refrigerators, thermoses, bodies of vehicles. It is irreplaceable in shipbuilding. Electrical insulation properties make it in demand in the electrical industry.

Styrofoam made packaging for products( disposable dishes, containers for fruit and meat products), technical packaging. In the photo you can see an example of the many variants of such products. He became an irreplaceable material for the creation of decorative elements.

Basic properties of

Styrofoam should be taken only for equipping the middle layer of structures. It perfectly tolerates temperature jumps from -40 ° С to 80 ° С.It is not used for the warming of saunas, steam rooms, heating mains. However, the properties of the material do not limit its use as a building heat insulation material. Even with prolonged exposure to direct rays, it does not begin to melt, does not lose structure.

On the safety of the material, you should not worry. In the styrofoam composition there is styrene, a substance contained in many products. Officially confirmed its safety, styrene is recognized as non-carcinogenic, non-mutagenic, therefore it is allowed to make food packaging from this material. In containers made of expanded polystyrene, even donor organs and medications are transported. Since it does not come into contact with the interior of the house as a heater, oxidation is not possible, so styrene is not released from the heat-insulating layer.

Polystyrene granules from which this material is produced is a refined product. Therefore, it is a combustible material. He is referred to group G3( "normal").Often, special flame retardants are added to the plates, the action of which is based on a decrease in the ability to spread fire. So some modern versions of the material can burn no longer than 2 seconds.

Technical characteristics of expanded polystyrene

Among the technical characteristics of the material, its low thermal conductivity, 0.032-0.050 W / m * C, is of particular importance, these figures are significantly lower than those of brick or concrete.

The second most important characteristic is good moisture resistance. In order to absorb 3%, it takes about a day to contact water with the material. The vapor tightness is also very low - 0.06 mg / m * h * Pa. The extrusion variety is even lower - 0.013 mg /( m * h * Pa).

The advantages of expanded polystyrene include its inability to become an acceptable medium for biological media. He does not fear fungi and mold.

User reviews indicate that this material has its drawbacks. This is primarily a mechanical and chemical instability. An exit from a situation can become acquisition of plates, density of which not less than 16,2 kg / m3.

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