Extruded polystyrene foam: specifications, thickness, price and reviews

One of the most modern thermal insulation materials is extruded polystyrene foam. Outwardly it resembles dense foam.

Scope of extruded polystyrene

This material is widely used for thermal insulation of foundations, socles of buildings and floors of the ground floor. Can be used in plaster facade and laminated masonry.

In addition to the construction of buildings extruded polystyrene, the technical characteristics of which will be discussed below, is used in the construction of various types of roads, as it hinders the freezing of the soil and, consequently, the destruction from frost heaving phenomena. Specialists in the field of agriculture include the material in the construction of greenhouses, greenhouses and vegetable stores.

The material is also used for the thermal insulation of ice arenas, sports grounds and refrigeration facilities. Special characteristics of extruded polystyrene foam, such as density and compressive strength, allow it to be included in the design of railways and runways. The materials used in these areas are subject to increased requirements for service life and reliability.

The technology of extruded polystyrene production

The raw material for the release of the material is polystyrene pellets. In the course of the automated production process, they foam under high pressure. During the mixing of the granules, various substances are added to them, for example, freons or CFC-free systems with carbon dioxide.

The resulting homogeneous mass exits through the spinneret. After cooling, extruded polystyrene foam, whose technical characteristics of water absorption at this time is almost equal to zero, is cut into equal slabs.

Technical characteristics of extruded polystyrene foam

The strength of the material is 200-700 kPa, depending on the application. The strongest slabs are used in industrial construction.

Low water absorption allows the use of extruded polystyrene foam, the thickness of which can be different, in wet places. A lot of closed cells inside the material do not allow to penetrate into the liquids. This property also prevents the plates from passing steam.

Extruded polystyrene foam is resistant to low temperatures, which makes it even more popular among Russian builders. Elasticity of plates allows long time to withstand loads and resist deformations. After the end of the exposure, the material quickly restores the original shape.

Plates are easy to install, because extruded polystyrene foam, whose technical characteristics allow it to be glued to almost any surface, can be operated up to -50 ° C.

Dimensions of extruded polystyrene

In the construction market, the material is presented in the form of slabs with dimensions of 600x1200 mm or 600x2400 mm. The thickness of the material can be from 20 to 100 mm.

Extruded polystyrene foam is sold in building stores in packages. The number of plates in each of them depends on the thickness. For example, extruded polystyrene foam 50 mm is sold in 8 pieces per pack, its analogue is 100 mm thick - 4. Different manufacturers sometimes can change the size of plates and produce them not 600 mm, but 580.

Advantages of extruded polystyrene foam

1. Absence of water absorption.

2. Low thermal conductivity. This property makes extruded polystyrene foam an excellent insulator material.

3. The plates are safe for the environment and man.

4. The material is biostable, that is, it does not undergo decomposition.

5. Low vapor permeability.

6. Preserves properties in the temperature range from -50 to +75 ° C. Products from some manufacturers can be used up to -75 ° С.

7. Not exposed to microorganisms, fungi and bacteria.

8. The material does not burn if it contains certain additives. It can also prevent the spread of flame.

9. Excellent adhesion with adjacent building materials allows extruded polystyrene foam to avoid damage and corrosion.

10. Properties of plates remain unchanged after freezing and defrosting them more than 1000 times.

11. Extruded polystyrene foam 100 mm can be used on large industrial facilities, which indicates its exceptional properties.

12. The installation process is simple: the plates are attached to the wall with special glue, corners and slats.

13. The service life of the material is more than 50 years.

Disadvantages of extruded polystyrene foam

Despite the large number of advantages, the material has some drawbacks, which can be imperceptible under certain operating conditions.

1. Low vapor permeability of the material can lead to the fact that the living room will be constantly stuffy, since the walls will not "breathe".

2. Extruded polystyrene, the price of which is higher than for other heat-insulating materials, according to some experts, has a low level of sound insulation. Most often this remark applies to plates with a thickness of 20-30 mm.

3. The material is destroyed by prolonged contact with polyvinyl chloride.

4. Plates can not be used in open areas, since resistance to ultraviolet radiation is low.

5. When installing the material for thermal insulation of roofs in baths and saunas, it is not recommended that the plate be reached with air heated above 75 ° C.

Cost of extruded polystyrene foam and storage conditions

The price of the material is affected by its thickness and the size of the plates. For example, expanded polystyrene extruded, the price of which differs by about 10%, has the marking 1200x600x20 and 1200x600x30. This suggests that the two packages differ only in thickness.

At the enterprise the plates are wrapped in polyethylene shrink film. Manufacturers recommend storing them after purchase indoors. An important condition is the absence of direct sunlight. Before the beginning of the installation of the material, it can be stored outdoors in the original packaging.

Extruded polystyrene foam: reviews and recommendations

Some builders dissuade the owners of private houses from the insulation of the walls with expanded polystyrene plates. They explain this by the poor vapor permeability of the material. They say that in such a room it will always be stuffy. But the owners of houses, insulated in this way, do not see this as a defect. They just made competent forced ventilation and they always have fresh air circulating inside them, although extruded polystyrene is outside. Reviews about it, as a heater for the floors, are different. Some owners note that the plates quickly light up and emit a lot of smoke. In the event of a fire, evacuation from such a building may be very difficult. This indicates the need for additional fire treatment.

Thus, before buying extruded polystyrene, the price for which is quite high, you need to accurately calculate its required quantity. It is also necessary to purchase all the elements for fixing the plates immediately.

Extruded polystyrene foam, the technical characteristics of which were considered in the article, is a modern high-tech material, it will be popular with builders for a long time.