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Expanded Polystyrene is a closed cell, thermoplastic, lightweight rigid foam plastic. It has low thermal conductivity, high compressive strength and excellent shock absorption properties which make it very good material for many applications. Additionally, it is reusable, clean and odorless and does not emit chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). the inert structure of EPS will not break down in landfills and therefore will not contaminate earth or water. It's a good alternative to paper and wood products, preserving forests and trees.
The raw material for producing EPS is a resin in the form of small beads. The beads are impregnated with a small percentage of the naturally ocurring gas, Pentane. Through heating and the rapid release of the gas, the bead is expanded to almost 50 times its original size. Following expansion, the beads are aged for, 12 to 48 hours, which allows the internal vaccum in the beads to refill with air.
The loose expanded beads are formed into a solid block mass using a vacuum-assisted block mold. Steam is used to create heat and pressure which forces the beads to fuse together into a solid structure. Once the blocks are formed, the material is heat cured to make sure that it's dimensionally stable and completely dry.
To cut the Expanded Polystyrene blocks to the desired dimensions, thermal hot wire cutting tools are used. This process makes it possible to achieve a smooth surface while maintaining strict dimensional tolerances. There are many applications for EPS,and OPCO can produce it in virtually any size and shape the customer may require. |
