For several years, expanded polystyrene (EPS) has actually been made use of as a material of selection in numerous food packaging applications, cost-efficient as well as energy-efficient insulation in construction applications, etc. Yet, what is EPS? How is it produced? As well, what are its key characteristics making it suitable for these applications? Discover more about EPS plastic and discover its benefits, properties, recyclability, and so on thoroughly.

Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) Meaning

Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) is a lightweight cellular plastic product consisting of tiny hollow spherical balls. It is this closed cellular construction that provides EPS with its exceptional features.

EPS is produced in a large range of densities supplying a differing range of physical properties. These are matched to the numerous applications where the material is utilized to optimize its performance and strength.

(Source: EPS Industry Alliance)

Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) Application

Building and Construction Material

EPS is used commonly in the building and construction market. EPS is an inert material that does not rot and offers no nutritional advantages to vermin that reason does not attract parasites such as rats or termites. Its toughness, sturdiness, and also lightweight nature make it a functional as well as a prominent building material. Applications include insulated panel systems for walls, roofing, and floorings along with facades for both domestic and industrial buildings. It is also used as void-forming fill material in civil engineering projects, as a lightweight fill in the roadway and also railway construction, and also as a floatation material in the construction of pontoons and marinas.

Packaging Material

Considerable quantities of EPS are used in packaging applications. Its outstanding shock-absorbing characteristics make it perfect for the storage and also transportation of fragile and pricey items such as electronic equipment, wines, chemicals, and pharmaceutical products. The exceptional thermal insulation and also moisture immune residential properties of EPS enable the quality extension of subject to spoiling items such as produced and seafood. Moreover, its compression resistance indicates that EPS is ideal for stackable packaging items. The majority of EPS packaging manufactured in Australia is used in the transport of fruit, vegetables, and also seafood. EPS packaging is used thoroughly for both the domestic and export market.

Other Application

EPS has a positive strength to weight proportion making it an effective and also popular solution for the usage in gliders, light as well as model planes, and also surfboards.

When security is paramount, EPS comes into its own. It is used in the manufacture of children's car seats and also biking helmets, where its protective qualities such as strength and shock-absorbency are important.

EPS also has applications in gardening as seedling trays. Granulated EPS can be added as a soil conditioner to promote aeration of the soil.

Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) Recycling

EPS Insulation is composed of organic elements-- carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen-- and does not contain chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) or hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs). EPS is recyclable at many stages of its life cycle.

Expanded Polystyrene is 100% recyclable and also is marked by plastic resin identification code 6.

However, the collection of EPS can be a major challenge as the product is extremely light. PS recyclers have actually developed EPS Recycling system.

1. Compacting-- the material is passed into an EPS Compactor for Compacting.
2. Melting-- the material is fed right into the polystyrene melting device, where it is melted. The extruded product is then molded into a brand-new value-added product.

EPS Recycling benefits:

1. EPS manufacturing does not include the use of ozone-layer-depleting CFCs as well as HCFCs
2. No residual solid waste is produced during its manufacturing
3. It helps power financial savings as it is an effective  thermal insulation product that helps in reducing CO2 exhausts
4. EPS is recyclable at many stages of its life cycle
5. EPS is inert as well as non-toxic. It does not seep any substances into the groundwater

Check Out an Interesting Video on Expanded Polystyrene Recycling!