What is better - polystyrene or penopolx: advice of professionals

If you are thinking about what is better - foam or foam, you need to pay attention not only to the fact that these materials have similar names, but also on production technology, as well as characteristics. Some wonder why manufacturers should "fool" people into their heads and produce almost identical materials.

Which material to choose

In order to answer these questions, it is necessary to understand the differences, and then draw conclusions. In fact, these materials are not just similar, but almost identical. The main one is the first "foam" root, which indicates the porosity of the structure. Penoplex and styrofoam are easy to lay, have a light weight, almost do not absorb moisture, do not succumb to rotting, and also easily tolerate the impact of external negative negative factors.

In addition to the pluses, it is worth highlighting also the disadvantages, which are the poor tolerability of solvents by the type of acetone. Other chemically aggressive substances should be included here. As practice shows, penokleks and polystyrene are of low strength and suggest the need for external protection. The first difference is that the foam has a white color, whereas the foam has a canary tint. However, this is not at all a complete list of differences, they will be discussed below.

Comparison of basic properties of heaters

First of all, consumers decide that it is better to keep heat - polystyrene foam or foam. This is discussed in the article, but before choosing it is important to determine what properties you need to pay attention to. At first glance, it may seem that the foam is still better, because it has more impressive indicators for the resistance class, and the working layer of the insulation in it is almost 2 times less. He 4 times less absorbs moisture, and to be more precise, it does not absorb it at all.

A great advantage is also the low flammability, especially if you compare with this parameter characteristic of foam. If you are concerned with the question of how to better insulate the balcony - foam or foam, it is important to pay attention to the density. The latter material is 2.5 times higher than that of traditional expanded polystyrene. As practice shows, it is possible to walk on a foam plastic, while it will only be partially squeezed, but penoplex is not afraid and long-term serious loads. That's why penokleks used to insulate the floor, but the foam is preferred in such works do not use.

Specialists draw the attention of consumers to the fact that in general, the parameters of a penoplex are, of course, better, but they are not much different in the main articles. Learning about this, many consumers refuse to pay more, because if you need to insulate the walls, its strength and water absorption coefficient do not play a role. This can be said about the thickness of the working layer, but the cost will influence the choice.

If you still can not decide what is better - foam polystyrene foam, the facade surface can be covered with the first option, but only if it comes to exterior decoration. This is also true for the warming of the floor in those situations where there are means and a desire to use high-quality materials. In all other cases, the traditional foam will suffice. But for finishing the facade it is better not to use it, because it will not influence the fire safety of the building in the best way.

Comparison by composition

The materials described in the article are actively used in construction, for the most part in the field of thermal insulation, with their help you can isolate and sound. They are produced using a similar technology, which involves foaming polystyrene. Polyfoam is an insulating material that has 98% air and 2% polystyrene. This affects the cheapness, because for the slab you need only 2% of raw materials. Penoplex acts as a synthetic material for thermal insulation, it is made of extruded polystyrene foam, it is created using the technology of foaming raw materials.

Comparison of thermal insulation properties

If you are thinking about the question of what is better - polystyrene foam or foam, first of all you need to pay attention to the quality of thermal conductivity. These parameters differ from the described materials. The thermal conductivity of the foam plastic varies within the range of 0.035-0.05 W / m * C, whereas in the case of a penoplex this parameter is equal to 0.028 W / m * C. This allows us to conclude that the penoplex somewhat better delays heat. If you take a plate of 25-mm foam, it will be identical in terms of heat-insulating qualities of a 20-mm slab of penopolix. The first option only slightly loses the second, and in large areas it can result in a good space saving.

Comparison of water absorption

When consumers think about what is better - polystyrene foam or foam, they pay attention to the ability to absorb water. We must admit that penoplex does not like water, but absorbs it not more than 0.4% per month. But the foam does not go far, its water absorption is 4% for 30 days. In this respect, penopolx also turned out to be slightly ahead. It is also necessary to take into account the fact that the foam foam differs in vapor permeability, which is not the case with foam plastic. At the latter, this indicator is still present.

Comparison of strength

Quite often experts ask the question about what is better - polystyrene foam or foam. Trying to decide on this, it is necessary to pay attention to strength. If the expanded polystyrene is clamped and pressurized, it becomes clear that the foam is able to undergo a pressure of 0.5 MPa, whereas for foam it is 0.2 MPa. There is a significant difference here, that's why it's better to cover the floor with the first analog, which is especially important for garages, runways and skating rinks. However, it is also necessary to take into account the density of the foam, which is lower and equal to the limit of 15 to 35 kg / m ³ , for the second material this parameter varies from 28 to 45 kg / m ³ . This indicates that the specific gravity is also smaller.

Comparison of materials by operating temperature

Quite often, in construction today, foam or foam is used. What is better, you can solve, having familiarized with the information presented in article. For example, it is necessary to take into account also the temperature at which normal operation is possible. In this regard, the difference is almost imperceptible, because both materials feel great at low temperatures, but if the thermometer does not drop below -50 ° C. After reaching this mark, the material begins to lose its properties, while the upper maximum reaches + 70 ° C, which is true for the foam, and 75 ° C for the penopolis. Do not leave these insulation materials exposed to direct sunlight. If you put a piece of polystyrene in the sun, the result will not take long.

Comparison by cost

Today penoplex or styrofoam is very accessible. Which is better, you can solve, having got acquainted with the positive and negative sides of these materials. The most painful issue for the consumer today is the cost. Surely you've never seen a material with better quality characteristics cost less compared to an analog that loses by many factors. Thanks to the fact that the penoplex breaks forward in many respects, it costs more than foam, and the price can be higher by a factor of 1.5. That's why most consumers today choose foam, which is explained by its lower cost. It must be admitted that this choice can be justified in some types of work, because the materials for thermal insulation of a number of structures will not almost differ in properties.

Choice of thermal insulation for flammability

As practice shows, both of the described materials burn well, but the foam makes it slower, because it belongs to the G3 category. If we are talking about a penoplex, then it can be classified as G4. The numbers from 1 to 4 indicate the degree of flammability - from weak to strong. However, manufacturers today are trying to solve these problems by impregnating materials with flame retardants even at the production stage. But this does not indicate that the insulation will not burn at all. It will burn, but slightly worse, while releasing toxic substances from flame retardants.

Selection of material by field of use

Quite often, modern developers are wondering what is better - foam or polystyrene for insulation. To solve this problem, it is necessary to determine which part of the building the material will be installed on. For example, for a facade it is best to prefer a foam plastic, since it is cheaper and is able to pass air. This choice will reduce the cost of vapor barrier, because the wall does not lose the ability to breathe. For internal insulation of a house, it is best not to use such materials, although they themselves are environmentally friendly, but can be impregnated with special solutions. The latter release toxic substances during operation.

If you are thinking about what is better to insulate the house - foam / foam, - then the last option is better to choose for loggias or balconies. It has a lower thermal conductivity and does not reduce the internal space so much. But in the presence of a flat roof and the need for its insulation, both options are suitable. The ceiling can also be thermally insulated with any material of your choice. However, this decision is justified, if after you do not plan to walk in the attic. Otherwise, it's best to choose a foam pen. For the insulation of the floor, both materials are suitable, but at the same time the black surface is better to perform on the lags.

Conclusion

If you also treat those consumers who have thought about the question of how to better insulate the walls, polystyrene foam / foam should be considered before going to the store. The analysis of their basic qualitative characteristics will allow us to understand which material to give preference to. For example, there are surfaces and structures that are better insulated with foam, foam or mineral wool. Everything will depend on the budget and the desired effect.