Expanded Polystyrene

Expanded polystyrene (EPS) has many useful properties. It can be used as an insulator against heat and the cold. It is good at absorbing shocks and protecting delicate items æ for example your head when used as part of a cycle crash helmet.

These and other properties have led packaging technologists to specify EPS as the first choice material for packaging many products.

EPS is:

Protective
The outstanding shock absorbency and compression resistance provides excellent protection properties.

Durable
The exceptional durability of EPS makes it an effective and reliable protective packaging for a wide range of goods. There is no loss of strength in damp conditions, making EPS ideal for cool-chain products. The material is moisture resistant, so the highest hygiene requirements are met. EPS is also odourless and non-toxic.

Lightweight
EPS is made up of 98% air, making it a very lightweight material, its use for packaging does not significantly add to the weight of the total product. This in turn means that fuel consumption is improved and fuel emissions are lower than with heavier materials. The reduction in emissions means less impact on global warming.

Insulating
The thermal insulation properties of EPS help keep food fresh through the distribution chain. It is widely used to package fresh fish and for seed trays where it assists in the growth of the plants. It is also used by the pharmaceutical industry to package items that are temperature sensitive and that need to be transported around the world.

Versatile
EPS can be moulded into any shape or form to meet a product's protection and insulation needs. Small amounts of EPS can be used as corners for heavy items or a valuable product may be completed encased in EPS to provide maximum protection.

Expanded Polystyrene is a thermoplastic substance, which is in solid (glassy) state at room temperature, but flows if heated above its glass transition temperature (for molding or extrusion), and becoming solid again when cooling off. Pure solid polystyrene is a colorless, hard plastic with limited flexibility. It can be cast into molds with fine detail. Polystyrene can be transparent or can be made to take on various colors.

Solid polystyrene is used, for example, in disposable cutlery, plastic models, CD and DVD cases, and smoke detector housings. Products made from foamed polystyrene are nearly ubiquitous, for example packing materials, insulation, and foam drink cups.

Polystyrene can be recycled, and has the number "6" as its recycling symbol. Unrecycled polystyrene, which does not biodegrade, is often abundant in the outdoor environment, particularly along shores and waterways, and is a form of pollution.

Expanded polystyrene (EPS) isn't just foam insulation; it's also an innovated material that can be used in a wide variety of projects.