Expanded Polystyrene Products - The Closest Thing to 100% Natural

Expanded polystyrene products are made of raw materials that are entirely recyclable as well as biodegradable. EPS is what we generally refer to as foam. Foam means to expand. Expanded polystyrene is basically 98% air and the remaining is polystyrene plastic which is a hydrocarbon. There are several forms of foams that enlarge to more than 50% of its original size when reacted with a blowing agent (usually a gas such as pentane or butane). Depending on the base plastic and the blowing agent, foams are classified into different categories and EPS or expanded polystyrene products are one of them.

How Expanded Polystyrene is Created?

Polystyrene begins its journey rather humbly. Styrene is a liquid, which is immiscible with water. Water and styrene are mixed in a 2:1 ratio and agitated severely to produce very small and lightweight beads. These beads are produced in large mega gallon reactors. The beads are then transferred to foam producing factories where they undergo the process of being transformed from tiny beads to large expanded polystyrene blocks which can be cut into pieces or thin sheets according to needs.

Polystyrene beads are reacted with the blowing agent in machine called the pre-expander, in the case of EPS; the blowing agent is pentane which seeps into the beads and make them huge. Once the beads are blown big, the mixture is set to rest in large silos where the pentane gas inside beads settle and become ready to be molded in a solid form. Solid blocks of the plastic are then fed into shaping machines.

This is the initial form of all expanded polystyrene products. After the beads have been expanded, fused with gas and subjected to steam and heat, they take on a solid form that is ready to be applied in the construction industry, land filling, packaging and construction work. Expanded polystyrene products are very lightweight, but incredibly durable and tough, making it a perfect ingredient for building reinforced concrete structures or to increase the thermal insulation of buildings by mixing crushed polystyrene with cement.

Expanded Polystyrene Products Are Nature Friendly

Once expanded polystyrene products have reached the end of their life cycle, these can be easily discarded or recycled without risking the environment. Applying the process of agglomeration, used EPS can be molded back into expanded polystyrene products or old waste and byproducts can be put back into industrial use in one form or another.

By using EPS products, not only do you commit to keeping the environment safe, you also reduce your own expenses. Expanded polystyrene products are extremely lightweight and do not cost a lot to transport. EPS products when protected from the vagaries of nature will last longer than most packaging materials used for insulation.