Polystyrene Insulation Thermal Properties

Expandable polystyrene either crystal polystyrene 2 or styrene copolymers soaked with a blowing agent usually pentane are used to produce various foamed products like disposable drinking cups egg cartons trays fast food containers cushioned packaging and thermal insulation for the construction market.

Polystyrene insulation thermal properties.

Achieve more than 23 better thermal insulating properties. Astm c578 standard specification for rigid cellular polystyrene thermal insulation addresses the physical properties and performance characteristics of eps foam as it relates to thermal insulation in construction applications. This article provides a table of insulation values and properties for various insulation materials useful in procedures to measure or calculate heat loss in a building defines thermal terms like btu and calorie provides measures of heat transmission in materials building insulation design data and heat loss in a building. Xps polystyrene foam is more effective due to its dense structure and excellent moisture resistance.

The new generation are grey insulating boards that thanks to the content of infrared absorbents graphite particles. Polystyrene foams are good thermal insulators and are therefore often used as building insulation materials such as in insulating concrete forms and structural insulated panel building systems. Insulation r values of various materials. Polystyrene is a great thermal insulator and can achieve excellent r value ratings at a given thickness for eps and even higher ratings for xps.

Extruded polystyrene xps is one of the most efficient thermal insulation materials which is widely used in the construction of foundations basements floors walls roofs pipelines roads and railways. Gases possess poor thermal conduction properties compared to liquids and solids and thus makes a good insulation material if they can be trapped e g. For contact thermal insulating systems we use façade polystyrenes marked by the grade f. The thermal conductivity of expanded polystyrene foam of density 20 kg m 3 is 0 035 0 037 w m k at 10 c.

Grey polystyrene foam incorporating graphite has superior insulation properties. This is quantified through the r value of the two materials or thermal resistance which is an approximate measurement of how much the material impedes the transfer of heat. In general thermal insulation is primarily based on the very low thermal conductivity of gases. The mostly used insulant in civil engineering is the white polystyrene.

Sizes and thermal properties celfort and foamular high density insulation boards are available in a variety of thicknesses. How effective is polystyrene insulation. Thermal efficiency when compared to brick veneer there s no doubt that expanded polystyrene has superior thermal properties.