Expanded polystyrene loose-fill packaging material

Other styrenic polymer foams were developed in the mid-1950s through the early 1960s. Examples are molded expanded polystyrene foam (MEPS), extruded polystyrene foam sheet, and expanded polystyrene loose-fill packaging material. 

Polystyrene loose-fill packaging material used in US Federal Government applications must meet US Government Specification PPP-C-1683 (12/5/ 1988), Cushioning Material, Expanded Polystyrene Loose-Fill Bulk (for Packaging Application) . Compliance with eight properties is the basis for this... 

The Dow Chemical Company first entered the loose-fill packaging market in 1962 with a material that resembled spaghetti strands. Eventually the shape evolved to the S shape that characterized the product from the early 1970s to the present. Other competitors in the polystyrene foam loose-fill market include Flo-Pak, manufactured by Free-Flow Packaging, Inter-Pac, manufactured by Inter-Pac, WingPac and C-Pac, manufactured by Rapac, and Alta-Pak, manufactured by Storopack. In 1993, Dow sold the trademark rights to the S shape and Pelaspan-Pac to Storopack. The information about foamed polystyrene loose-fill that follows is an overview specific to materials that are formed in hard resin strands, cut to length, boxed and shipped to and later expanded for customer use at a convertor (expander) location. 

In addition to the ability to dispose of the used material by dissolving it, an interesting advantage of starch-based loose fill cushioning materials is they do not tend to build up electrostatic charges, so they do not cling the way packaging peanuts made of expanded polystyrene tend to do. 

Polylactide has high potential in agricultural applications such as mulch films either in pure form or blended with other polymers such as thermoplastic starch. In addition, polylactide is used in compostable yard bags and dog poop bags. Lactic acid based hot-melt adhesives have also been developed (90). Foamed PLA could be used as structural protective foams, loose-fill packaging and insulation material as an alternative for expanded polystyrene (EPS). While packaging is currently the high volume application... 

Nearly all the expanded polystyrene that is not used for thermal insulation is used for packaging. Uses range from individually designed box interiors for packing delicate equipment such as cameras and electronic equipment, thermoformed egg-boxes to individual beads (which may be up to 5 cm long and about 1 cm in diameter) for use as a loose fill material. There is also some use of thin-wall containers for short-term packaging and conveying of hot food from... 

Polystyrene, expandable filling material, loose protective packaging Polystyrene, expandable filling, dental impression compounds Gutta percha filling, electronic tubes Argon... 

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