Expanded polystyrene appeared in the middle of the twentieth century. It is produced from polystyrene granules obtained in the process of oil refining. Therefore, polystyrene has an organic basis. The most amazing thing is that this substance is found even in foods such as cheese, strawberries, cinnamon, wine and some others. Polystyrene is recognized as non-toxic and neutral to living organisms. This means that this substance is not capable of harming people and can be used in various areas of human activity.
Expanded polystyrene is obtained by foaming and sintering polystyrene granules. The granules are pumped with pentane (this is natural gas condensate) with simultaneous heating with steam. As a result, the granule increases by almost 50 times, turning into a ball filled with air. This ball is very elastic and stable, and the reverse process, that is, "deflation", does not occur. The expanded polystyrene beads thus obtained are sintered with steam. It turns out a homogeneous material. The foaming and sintering processes take place simultaneously.
Unfortunately, production in Russiapolystyrene occurs using outdated technology. It is called "the method of suspension polymerization of styrene in the presence of a vaporizer". While the world industry uses the method of continuous polymerization in mass. This method allows you to get high quality material at a lower cost.
Expanded polystyrene is almost 100% air. It does not contain any additional chemicals. This material is very durable, it does not collapse under the influence of the environment. Therefore, it is actively used in construction. Since polystyrene has good thermal conductivity, it practically does not allow moisture to pass through, it is not hazardous to human he alth and the environment.
In construction, expanded polystyrene is used as a heater. For example, a 12 cm thick polystyrene board replaces a 45 cm thick wood wall or a 2 meter thick brick wall!
The technology of wall insulation with polystyrene boards is very simple. They are glued to the surface with special glue. For strength, the joints between the plates are reinforced with dowels with a wide plastic cap. A mesh is glued onto the insulation to prevent cracks and deformations. The design is covered again with a solution of glue. This is followed by finishing with decorative plaster or other materials.
Buying expanded polystyrene is very easy. You can pick it up at any hardware store. It is cheaper than other insulating materials. When buying, you need to decide which onepolystyrene is required. It is of two types - for wall insulation and floor insulation. The first is not as dense as the second. Polystyrene also differs in sheet thickness - from 20 mm to 120 mm. The choice depends on the intended work. Usually, for wall insulation in our climate, with a standard wall thickness, polystyrene 50 mm thick is sufficient. If the building has thin walls, then the polystyrene should be thicker. The same rule applies to choosing an option for floor insulation.
