What is Styrofoam and polysteryne made of

What is Styrofoam made of? One of the main raw materials used in the production of expanded polystyrene is crude oil. Once extracted, the crude oil is processed into styrene, which is then combined with pentane, a naturally occurring hydrocarbon, to create expanded polystyrene (EPS). Styrofoam is made As a result of this process, i.e. the basic raw material used in the production of polystyrene.

Using expanded polystyrene to insulate buildings significantly reduces the amount of fuel used in homes, which in turn reduces CO2 emissions into the atmosphere.

Styrofoam, also called expanded polystyrene, is a lightweight thermal insulation material that is also safe for the environment. Styrofoam consists of 98% air, the remaining 2% is a thin polystyrene casing thanks to which the air is still and closed. This is what makes polystyrene an excellent insulator.

What is Styrofoam made of and where you can use it

Styrofoam has many uses, but most often it is used in construction for insulation. Buildings insulated with expanded polystyrene have a lower demand for energy necessary for heating them in winter or cooling them in summer, which translates not only into a reduction in the financial burden of residents, but also into lower emissions of harmful substances into the atmosphere.

The production of polystyrene itself also does not require large amounts of energy and is safe for the atmosphere, as no permanent chemical compounds are used during production, only simple hydrocarbons that decompose very quickly.

All this makes polystyrene completely neutral to the environment. In addition, it is also safe for the health of people who work with this material. The neutral nature of expanded polystyrene means that it is used not only in construction and can also be used, for example, as a protective material for many different articles, such as household appliances or food.

Harmful gases and the greenhouse effect

Harmful substances that are formed during the heating of buildings are released into the atmosphere and affect the climate in the immediate vicinity and around the world. This can cause many negative events, including forest fires, extreme weather conditions and desert spreading. All these phenomena, in turn, have a negative impact on the economy, agriculture and transport.

The most harmful substance is carbon dioxide, which is mainly responsible for the so-called the greenhouse effect. One of the best ways to slow down the greenhouse effect is to reduce carbon dioxide emissions through thermal insulation, in which polystyrene plays an important role.

Advantages of polystyrene and styrofoam

In addition to having excellent thermal insulation properties, expanded polystyrene also has many other advantages that are extremely important from the investor’s point of view. This material is very light, safe for health, and at the same time durable. It can be characterized by various mechanical parameters, which are determined by compressive strength (CS), bending (BS) or tearing (TR). The higher the density of polystyrene, the better its strength parameters.

In construction, only self-extinguishing polystyrene is used, i.e. polystyrene that begins to shrink and melt under the influence of fire, and after its removal, this process is stopped. External walls which are insulated with expanded polystyrene in the ETICS system receive an important NRO classification, which means that the partition does not spread fire. Styrofoam consists of only one type of material, which is why it is ideal for recycling.

What is styrofoam made of is helping in savings on building heating

According to experts’ estimates, one liter of crude oil used in the production of expanded polystyrene saves as much as 100 liters of fuel oil. A house with thermal insulation made of polystyrene cools down much slower in winter, which allows for significant savings on heating. Thanks to this, the use of thermal insulation has a positive impact not only on the environment, but also on our home budget.

Styrofoam is perfect thermal insulator

Year after year, people appreciate the importance of well-made thermal insulation, which significantly reduces the loss of thermal energy. The use of the right type of polystyrene when insulating the building is of great importance for the final energy balance. For this reason, gray polystyrene foams, which are characterized by excellent thermal conductivity coefficients of approx. 0.031 – 0.033 W/m2, are currently very popular among contractors. Gray polystyrene not only has better thermal insulation and strength parameters than white polystyrene, but also allows you to reduce the thickness of the insulation layer by more than 30%.

The selection of the right polystyrene for thermal insulation is extremely important, because poorly selected polystyrene or mistakes made during the thermal insulation of the building can significantly reduce the energy-saving nature of the investment.

Clean air is one of the greatest goods, which is often proved by the inhabitants of various cities in Poland, where significant exceedances of air pollution standards are often observed. In order to enjoy clean air as often as possible, you should do everything to significantly relieve the natural environment and reduce the emission of harmful substances into the atmosphere.

One of the activities that can lead to this is effective thermal insulation. It allows not only to reduce carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere, but also reduces the amount of energy consumed, which in turn translates into lower financial burdens. Probably no other plastic has such a positive impact on the natural environment as polystyrene.