Choosing the right kind of polystyrene is essential for users who wish to consider numerous economical, performance and environmental factors. With polystyrene being such a widely used material, it is important to decide which kind would suit your needs best.
Do you want a type of polystyrene which possesses high-quality insulation capabilities, or one which is better for the environment?
Expanded and extruded polystyrene are both thermoplastic foam products, but formed in different ways. Expanded polystyrene is manufactured using tiny interconnected beads, with pentane gas blown over the foam during the process, while the extruded foam begins with solid polystyrene crystals which are fed into an extruder with special additives and a blowing agent, melted under high temperature and pressure and processed through a die.
It is due to these alterations during the manufacturing process that provide different advantages to using these two kinds of polystyrene.
One of the main concerns for those using the polystyrene concern its impact on the environment. Whilst its robust and resistant nature is ideal for its use, it also means it cannot be broken down easily once discarded and can cause environmental problems. Expanded polystyrene is better for users who are more environmentally-conscious, as it can be recycled in many ways, including recycling directly into new building products and incineration. It is also cheaper to buy, and so is more economical for its consumers, and is ideal for soundproofing.
Extruded polystyrene on the other hand does not absorb as much moisture and is more dense, with higher compression strength. It has a reputation for long-term reliability and increased resistance to the elements. Perhaps more importantly however, it has a higher initial thermal insulating value, meaning that it is a better insulator, one of the core uses for polystyrene.
Do you want a type of polystyrene which possesses high-quality insulation capabilities, or one which is better for the environment?
Expanded and extruded polystyrene are both thermoplastic foam products, but formed in different ways. Expanded polystyrene is manufactured using tiny interconnected beads, with pentane gas blown over the foam during the process, while the extruded foam begins with solid polystyrene crystals which are fed into an extruder with special additives and a blowing agent, melted under high temperature and pressure and processed through a die.
It is due to these alterations during the manufacturing process that provide different advantages to using these two kinds of polystyrene.
One of the main concerns for those using the polystyrene concern its impact on the environment. Whilst its robust and resistant nature is ideal for its use, it also means it cannot be broken down easily once discarded and can cause environmental problems. Expanded polystyrene is better for users who are more environmentally-conscious, as it can be recycled in many ways, including recycling directly into new building products and incineration. It is also cheaper to buy, and so is more economical for its consumers, and is ideal for soundproofing.
Extruded polystyrene on the other hand does not absorb as much moisture and is more dense, with higher compression strength. It has a reputation for long-term reliability and increased resistance to the elements. Perhaps more importantly however, it has a higher initial thermal insulating value, meaning that it is a better insulator, one of the core uses for polystyrene.
