The main reasons for the ubiquity of sheet material are the ease of processing and the convenience of manufacturing a wide range of products from it, as well as an impressive list of useful technical features that it possesses.

Properties of polystyrene sheet

Sheet polystyrene has the following technical advantages over other construction materials of natural and artificial origin:

Thermoplasticity, which makes it possible to vacuum form products for various purposes;

Dielectric quality;

Resistance to moisture, low hygroscopicity;

Admissibility of contact with most chemically active substances (including alkalis and acids); convenience of mechanical processing;

Strength, elasticity, abrasion resistance;

Ecological and biological safety;

The ability to produce Polystyrene cut sheetsof various degrees of transparency and color shade.

Among the disadvantages of polystyrene, a high degree of flammability can be noted. To improve the fire-fighting properties of the material, fire retardant agents are added to its composition during manufacture. A certain rise in the cost of the technological process of production makes it possible to obtain a material suitable for use in the construction industry that fully meets the requirements of fire safety.

Varieties and labeling

Depending on the production method and the availability of certain technical features, polystyrene is of the following types:

General purpose polystyrene sheet (international classification GPPS designation);

Polystyrene meeting medium impact resistance requirements (marked as VIPS);

Polystyrene with improved impact resistance (denoted by HIPS); expanded polystyrene sheet (EPS, EPS);

Sheet extruded polystyrene (designation XPS, EPS);

In accordance with the domestic nomenclature, the material is marked: PSM (made by mass polymerization), PSE (produced by the emulsion method), PSS (suspension), UP (shockproof). In addition to the letter designation, the marking contains numbers that clarify some of the properties of the material.

Material handling methods

The technical features of polystyrene sheets provide ample opportunities for its mechanical and thermal processing. Both the standard material and its impact resistant variety can be easily cut, drilled, glued and molded. Drilling of polystyrene is carried out with a drill equipped with a drill for plastic sheet. To prevent deformation of polystyrene sheets of small thickness, when drilling, wooden blocks are placed under them.

To form sheet polystyrene, a vacuum method is used, or air injection under pressure. For this, the material is heated to a temperature of 160 to 200 degrees, after which, under the action of vacuum or excess pressure, it is shaped into a matrix.

The most widespread is general-purpose polystyrene and its shock-resistant modification. The increased strength characteristics and resistance to mechanical shock effects of the material are due to the addition of a rubber mass to its composition. The color scheme of the material can also be any. Dyes are added to the composition of polystyrene during its production, or the color can be separated into a separate technological process with the coating on the surface of the finished sheet.

About the Company: Foam Technologies are one of Australia’s leading polystyrene suppliers, servicing the building and construction sector.