Expanded foam, building insulation

Polystyrene. Polystyrene [9003-53-6] is a thermoplastic prepared by the polymerization of styrene, primarily the suspension or bulk processes. Polystyrene is a linear polymer that is atactic, amorphous, inert to acids and alkahes, but attacked by aromatic solvents and chlorinated hydrocarbons such as dry cleaning fluids. It is clear but yellows and crazes on outdoor exposure when attacked by uv light. It is britde and does not accept plasticizers, though mbber can be compounded with it to raise the impact strength, ie, high impact polystyrene (HIPS). Its principal use in building products is as a foamed plastic (see Eoamed plastics). The foams are used for interior trim, door and window frames, cabinetry, and, in the low density expanded form, for insulation (see Styrene plastics). 

Flame-retardant polystyrene is used primarily in expanded foam for building insulation. Rubber-modified styrenic polymers are flame retarded for use in a number of applications, such as enclosures for electronics and business equipment. By far the largest volume flame-retardant HIPS application is television enclosures (Figure 29.1) these are made primarily from flame-retardant HIPS [3]. Flame-retardant HIPS has an attractive balance of mechanical properties, processability and cost. Flame-retardant styrenic blends such as HIPS-PPO and PC-ABS also find utility in a number of electrical applications such as printers, computers and monitors. These blends have received increasing attention recently because of their ability to be flame retarded with nonhalogen flame retardants (see Section 7). 

Flame-retardant styrenic polymers find utility in applications such as building insulation (expanded polystyrene foam) and electronic enclosures (flame-retardant HIPS, ABS and styrenic blends). The most effective flame retardants are halogen-(particularly bromine)-containing compounds these flame retardants act by inhibiting the radical combustion reactions occurring in the vapor phase. Flame-retardant plastics are in a state of flux, due to influences of... 

As of now, biopolymers are very rare in the building sector, although this sector might prove promising for PLA development in the future. As shown by their use in textile applications, carpet tiles and moquettes can be made with PLA fibre and would be useful in non-perennial uses such as in salons and expositions. Expandable foams are traditionally produced from fossil-based polymers (i.e. polystyrene or polypropylene) and largely used for insulation in building. In 2010, the Dutch company Synbra in collaboration with... 

Polystyrene, as mentioned, is the most common packaging foam. Polystyrene foam is the material of choice if it can perform acceptably, since it is typically the least expensive packaging foam available. It is used extensively for containers as well as for cushioning material, in molded shapes and in extruded form. Molded shapes are commonly termed expanded polystyrene foam (EPS), while the extruded material is called simply extruded PS foam. The term styrofoam is often incorrectly used for these materials, but Styrofoam is a Dow Chemical Company trade-marked extruded polystyrene foam used primarily for building insulation and not found in packaging. 

Polystyrene is an aromatic polymer made from styrene, an aromatic monomer which is commercially manufactured from petroleum. Polystyrene is commonly injection moulded or extruded while expanded polystyrene is either extruded or moulded in a special process. Solid polystyrene is used in disposable cutlery, plastic models, CD and DVD cases, etc. Foamed polystyrene is mainly used for packing materials, insulation, foam drink cups, etc. Polystyrene foams are good thermal insulators and therefore used as building insulation materials such as in structural insulated panel building systems. They are also used for non-weight-bearing architectural structures. The information on OPF-polystyrene composites is limited. 

The insulating value and mechanical properties of rigid plastic foams have led to the development of several novel methods of building construction, including polyurethane foam panels as unit structural components [95] and expanded polystyrene as a concrete base in thin-shell construction [96]. 

PE foams (expanded PE or EPS) are used in various applications for seals and insulations (on exterior walls, interior or between the walls, in flooring and hot water pipe insulations) in building and construction. 

Styrofoam (Dow Chemical Co.) is the tradename for expanded polystyrene foam. It is made by a process similar to the one described for foamed polyethylene. The materials have a closed-cell structure with very low thermal conductivity and low moisture absorption. One of the serious limitations of polystyrene foam is its rather low maximum operating temperature of approximately SO C. It is used mainly as thermal insulation in buildings, flotation apparatus, decorations, and packaging. 

HBCDs are primarily used as additives in expandable polystyrene (EPS) and extruded polystyrene (XPS) foam used to thermally insulate buildings. HBCDs also are added to the back-coating of textiles of upholstered furniture as well as in HIPS housing of electrical and electronic equipment and appliances (Alaee et al. 2003). Although y-HBCD is predominant in the commercial HBCD formulations... 

---