|
- INTRODUCING EXPANDED POLYSTYRENE (EPS):
Expanded Polystyrene, or EPS for short, is a lightweight, rigid, plastic foam produced from solid polystyrene beads. Expansion is achieved by virtue of small amounts of pentane gas dissolved into the polystyrene base material during production. The gas expands under the action of heat, applied as steam, to form perfectly closed cells of EPS. These cells occupy approximately 40 times the volume of the original polystyrene bead. The EPS beads are then moulded into approximate forms suited to their application.
We are all in daily contact with EPS in its more familiar forms such as packaging for fresh food and takeaways that we buy every day and the packing material used for electronic equipment (computers, radios, TV's, etc.). There are also numerous other uses. Anyone who needs to thermally and acoustically insulated walls, roofs or floors will find EPS the ideal, cost effective and easy-to-use material in all types of buildings, from houses and offices to factories and schools. EPS is used by engineers as a lightweight fill or void-forming material. It is also used as floatation material.
In addition to many significant user benefits, EPS offers substantial environmental advantages. For today's building and construction industry, concerns are being addressed by the careful choice of building material, and in particular, the selection of insulation. A product, which can contribute towards a better environment in this field, is EPS.
USER BENEFITS:
- · Excellent Thermal Insulant - EPS is 98% air, and is therefore an excellent thermal insulant.
- · Proven Acoustic Insulant - EPS absorbs sound, both impact sound in floating floors and airborne sounds for walls.
- · Non-harmful - EPS is universally recognised as having no known affect on health as it is made from non-toxic materials, which means no dust or allergens or any other irritant.
- · Moisture Resistant - EPS resists degradation by water.
- · Lifetime Durability - EPS does not decompose. It therefore provides lifetime durability.
- · Flexible Mechanical Properties - With its flexible production process, the mechanical properties of EPS can be adjusted to suit every specified application.
- · Versatile - EPS can be manufactured in almost any shape or size and is compatible with a wide variety of materials.
- · Cost-effective - EPS offers the best price/performance ratio compared to any other insulation material.
- · Easy to transport - EPS is almost as light as air, so it saves fuel in transport.
- · Easy to install - EPS is light, practical safe and easy to handle and install.
- · Fire Retardant - In addition to standard "EPS" there is also a "self-extinguishing" version that includes a fire retardant.
ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS:
- · Extremely Safe - EPS is non-toxic and totally inert. It is also totally absent of any nutritional value, so no fungi or microorganism can grow within EPS.
- · Actively Contributes to Reduction of Polluting Gasses - The use of EPS for thermal in the construction industry means significant energy savings on heating (44%) and cooling (32%) and a drastic reduction in the emission of polluting gasses (CO2 and SO2). It therefore contributes to alleviating the greenhouse effect and acid rain. In fact, the world's international Kyoto Agreement insists on a reduction of emissions by 50% just to slow down the effects of global warming. EPS is a part of the answer to CO2 reductions.
- · No Radiation or Radioactivity - Extensive research has shown that, unlike many mineral building materials, EPS emits no radioactivity, nor does it contain radon or cause radon emission.
- · 100% Recyclable - EPS can be recycled in many ways once it comes to the end of its life. These include recycling directly into new building products and incineration to recover its inherent energy content. The choice of a recycling method is based on technical, environmental and economic considerations.
- For more technical information on EPS's behaviour in different applications please visit the web page of the Expanded Polystyrene Association of Southern Africa
www.epsasa.co.za
|
|
