Omar Khalid
Styrofoam is a trademarked term for extruded polystyrene (XPS) foam, an innovative, sustainable building product used for insulation. It has a unique closed-cell structure and rigid foam board technology that meets core thermal, moisture, air, and vapour performance requirements. Styrofoam is often used in construction for wall, floor, and roof insulation systems. The term Styrofoam is also generically used to describe expanded polystyrene foam products, such as disposable coffee cups and packaging materials, which are not actually Styrofoam but rather EPS (expanded polystyrene). These EPS products are recyclable and made from polystyrene, a plastic often used for clear products like food packaging. Foam boards, which can be made from polystyrene or other plastics, are commonly used for mounting prints and pictures, and as a backing for picture framing.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Description | Extruded Polystyrene (XPS) is a type of foam board with a plastic film coating. |
| Uses | Insulation for buildings, especially in roofing, cavity walls, foundations, and floor slabs. Also used for mounting prints and pictures, as a picture frame backing, and in painting. |
| Properties | Lightweight, strong, rigid, moisture-resistant, recyclable, and easy to cut and install. |
| Brands | Styrofoam™ by DuPont™, Cavitymate™ Ultra, Scoreboard, Roofmate™ |
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What You'll Learn
Styrofoam™ Brand XPS Insulation
Styrofoam is a trademarked form of expanded polystyrene foam (EPS) that has been used as a building insulation material since 1941. It is a lightweight, rigid, closed-cell foam board with excellent thermal, moisture, air, and vapour performance characteristics.
The Styrofoam Brand XPS Insulation product line offers a range of extruded polystyrene (XPS) foam insulation boards designed for various applications. These boards are lightweight, easy to install, and provide proven thermal and moisture performance. They are also durable and offer long-term R-value stability.
One of the products in this line is the Styrofoam Brand Scoreboard Extruded Polystyrene (XPS) Insulation, which is a grey, extruded polystyrene foam insulation board. It is scored longitudinally on 16" and 24" centres, making it easy to size, cut, and install. This product has excellent insulating characteristics, high resistance to water and water vapour, exceptional compressive strength, and long-term durability. It is designed for use in exterior cavity wall and foundation applications.
Another product in the Styrofoam Brand XPS Insulation line is the Cavitymate Ultra Extruded Polystyrene Insulation, which is an XPS foam insulation board with an R-value of 5.6 per inch. It has square edges on all four sides, making it easy to fit between brick ties in cavity wall applications. This product is part of the DuPont Ultra Wall System, developed in response to feedback from architects and masons who needed a consolidated system for cavity walls.
In 2019, DuPont began reformulating Styrofoam Brand XPS Insulation to offer a low global warming potential (GWP) version. This transition was completed by the end of 2023, and all North American manufacturing sites now produce the low-GWP formulation, which is grey in colour. The low-GWP Styrofoam Brand XPS Insulation delivers a 94% reduction in embodied carbon, meeting all HFC regulations and building codes.
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Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) foam
Styrofoam is a trademarked form of expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam. EPS is a lightweight, closed-cell foam that is used for a wide range of applications, including crafts, insulation, construction, and packaging. It is made from polystyrene, a plastic often used to make clear products like food packaging or lab equipment.
EPS is manufactured from Expandable Polystyrene, a raw material that looks like salt and contains Pentane, a blowing agent. The raw material is heated using steam, causing the beads to soften and expand into non-connected voids. These beads are then stored in huge hoppers for 24-72 hours. After this, steam is circulated through the beads, expanding them further by 10%-40%.
The final density of an EPS block is controlled by the extent that the polystyrene beads are allowed to expand before being moulded to shape. Higher densities have better heat resistance, lower permeability, and can withstand greater forces before deforming or breaking. EPS is made up of mostly air — around 95%-98% — making it one of the lightest packaging materials available.
EPS is commonly used as a packaging material, residential insulation, and marine flotation material. It is also used in construction projects, such as insulating buildings, and is often used in shipping to cushion products. EPS can be moulded in a range of densities and has excellent impact resistance, long-term stable thermal conductivity, and is non-toxic and chemically inert. Fungi and bacteria cannot grow on EPS.
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Foamcore uses
Foamcore, also known as foam board or paper-faced foam board, is a lightweight, low-cost, and easily cut material with a variety of applications. It is commonly used for mounting photographic prints, picture framing, scale modelling, and painting.
In photography, Foamcore is used as a reflector to bounce light, and in the design industry, it is used for mounting presentations of new products. In picture framing, Foamcore is used as a backing material, with archival picture framing methods utilising acid-free versions of the material to prevent acid from leaching into artworks. Foamcore is also used in aero-modelling for building radio-controlled aircraft, and in engineering for producing architectural models, prototyping small objects, and creating patterns for casting.
Foamcore is available in thicknesses ranging from 3mm to 10mm, with a 20mm version for large displays and art mounting applications. It is important to note that Foamcore does not accept certain types of paint and glue, as the solvents in some paints and glues can dissolve the foam core, affecting the structural integrity of the board. Water-based glues, for example, can cause warping of the outer layers. Instead, spray adhesives or pre-coated self-adhesive foamboards are recommended for adhering prints and photographs.
Overall, Foamcore is a versatile material that is widely used in various industries, including photography, design, framing, aero-modelling, and engineering, due to its lightweight, low-cost, and easily cut properties.
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Styrofoam™ Brand Scoreboard Extruded Polystyrene (XPS) Insulation
Styrofoam is a trademarked form of expanded polystyrene, also known as EPS. It was invented in 1941 and has since become an innovative and sustainable building product, creating an entire insulation material category.
DuPont™ Styrofoam™ Brand Scoreboard Extruded Polystyrene (XPS) Insulation is a grey, extruded polystyrene foam insulation board. It is scored longitudinally on 16” and 24” centres, making it easy to size to commonly used widths, cut, and install. Styrofoam™ Brand Scoreboard XPS Insulation is designed for use in exterior cavity wall and foundation applications.
The product has excellent insulating characteristics, high resistance to water and water vapour, exceptional compressive strength, and long-term durability. Like all Styrofoam™ Brand Extruded Polystyrene products, Styrofoam™ Brand Scoreboard resists moisture to deliver a stable R-value over the long term.
Styrofoam™ Brand SM XPS Extruded Polystyrene Insulation is a foam insulation board that meets the needs of the commercial foundation and building floor slab market. It can also be used for attics, foundations/slabs, and crawl spaces in residential applications. The product’s closed-cell structure resists water pickup, enabling it to retain a high R-value over time – a necessary property in wet, below-grade commercial foundation applications.
In 2019, DuPont began reformulating Styrofoam™ Brand XPS Insulation to offer a low global warming potential (GWP) version. This transition was completed at the end of 2023, with all North American manufacturing sites now producing a low-GWP formulation signified by a new grey colour. The new formulation delivers a 94% reduction in embodied carbon, meeting all HFC regulations and building codes.
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Recyclability
Styrofoam is a brand name for a specific variation of expanded polystyrene (EPS) packaging, which is a form of plastic. EPS is made from petroleum, like most plastics, and is recyclable. However, the process of recycling EPS is complex and often inefficient due to its lightweight and bulky nature, with special equipment and locations required.
EPS packaging can be recycled by grinding it into solid polystyrene pellets, but this process is not commonly available at local recycling centres. To recycle EPS, it usually needs to be taken to a special location where it can be densified. The recycling process also faces challenges due to EPS's tendency to break easily and stick to other materials, causing contamination.
The Dow Chemical Company, the original creator of Styrofoam, intended it for use in building insulation. However, the EPS foam commonly associated with the term "Styrofoam" is used in various consumer products, such as egg cartons, takeout containers, beverage containers, and packaging materials.
The recyclability of EPS products depends on their condition and the availability of specialised recycling facilities. Consumers can play a role in improving the recyclability of EPS by reusing packaging materials and seeking alternatives to reduce their reliance on single-use items.
While recycling EPS is challenging, it is important to prevent polystyrene from being burned, as it can produce toxic chemicals. Reprocessing polystyrene into other products is another option to extend the life of the material. However, the production of new polystyrene is often cheaper than recycling, presenting economic hurdles to increasing EPS recyclability.
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Frequently asked questions
Styrofoam board plastic backing is used for mounting prints, pictures, and other presentation materials. It is also used as a picture frame backing.
Styrofoam is made from polystyrene, a plastic often used to make clear products like food packaging or lab equipment.
Styrofoam is a trademarked name for extruded polystyrene (XPS) products, which are used primarily in construction for insulation. Expanded polystyrene foam (EPS) is the generic industry name for the white rigid material made by expanding polystyrene beads to form blocks or shapes.
Yes, Styrofoam is recyclable. It can be extruded back into solid polystyrene pellets.
Styrofoam board plastic backing is lightweight and strong, making it ideal for mounting prints and pictures. It is also easy to cut and provides thermal resistance.
