XPS FOAM BOARD MACHINE

11 Aug.,2025

 

XPS FOAM BOARD MACHINE

Extruded polystyrene foam board is abbreviated as extruded board, also known as XPS board.

Extruded polystyrene foam board is a material that is continuously extruded and foamed by a special process. The hard film on the surface is even and flat, and the inside is completely closed-cell foamed. It has a honeycomb structure and has high compression resistance, light weight and resistance. Grinding, no water absorption, no degradation and other characteristics. Compared with EPS polystyrene foam plastic board, XPS board has greater advantages in strength, thermal insulation, and resistance to water vapor permeability. Even if immersed in water, XPS board can still maintain good thermal insulation performance and compressive strength, especially suitable for thermal insulation of buildings.

The main performance of XPS board:

1. Thermal insulation: thermal conductivity ≤0.028w/m·k (Watt/m·Kelvin), far lower than that of other thermal insulation materials, with high thermal resistance and low linear expansion rate, it is generally used in roof insulation Heating system, cold storage and internal and external walls.

2. Water absorption: As a kind of thermal insulation material, the water absorption rate is an extremely important technical indicator. If the water absorption rate is too high, the heat insulation performance will be deteriorated. The closed-cell structure of XPS board can effectively prevent the penetration of water molecules. Even if it is mechanically damaged during construction, XPS board can still maintain a low water absorption rate.

3. Thermal insulation: Low thermal conductivity is a necessary condition for all thermal insulation materials. XPS board uses polystyrene (PS) as the raw material, and the latter itself is an excellent thermal insulation material, plus this kind of board is produced by extrusion The tight closed-cell honeycomb condenser can effectively prevent heat conduction.

4. Compressive resistance: XPS board is a light-weight high-strength board, and its compressive strength can reach more than 350 kPa when the density does not exceed 40 kg/m3.

5. Environmental protection: The chemical performance of XPS board is stable, it does not volatile harmful substances, and it will not decompose or mildew. XPS board uses environmentally friendly raw materials in the production process, will not emit harmful gases, and the generated solid waste can also be recycled.

XPS board is widely used in the thermal insulation of walls, flat concrete roofs and steel structure roofs, as well as moisture-proof thermal insulation in low-temperature storage floors, parking platforms, airport runways, highways and other fields.

The lowest possible thermal conductivity is the goal of all thermal insulation materials. The thermal conductivity of XPS board is much lower than that of EPS board, foamed polyurethane, thermal insulation mortar, perlite and other thermal insulation materials. The polystyrene molecular structure itself does not absorb water, and its closed-cell structure with tight connection and seamless gaps between walls, so the water absorption rate of XPS board (≤1%) is much smaller than that of other rigid thermal insulation boards . General thermal insulation materials are easy to aging after several years of use, and the thermal insulation performance declines, while XPS boards have excellent anti-corrosion performance and anti-aging performance, and the effective service life can reach 30 to 40 years. In addition, the honeycomb structure of XPS board makes it have extremely high strength. Unlike polyurethane foam and phenolic foam, it is not easy to be brittle, so it is not easy to break, and it is easy to transport and install.

You will get efficient and thoughtful service from wuxing.

Equipment introduction

XPS extruded polystyrene foamed sheet production line uses polystyrene and foaming agent as raw materials, a kind of thermal insulation board extruded at high temperature. At present, the industry mainly uses HCFC as the foaming agent. Chlorohydrogen blowing agents have a greater potential for destroying the ozone layer, and the use of CFCs has been gradually restricted in accordance with the Montreal Treaty.

Based on market conditions, our company introduces excellent technology, tailors the development and development of CO2 extruded board equipment for customers. CO2 completely replaces HCFC foaming agent, and truly realizes the fluorine-free foaming process, creating a precedent for CO2 foaming. . According to the various needs of customers, multiple blowing agents can also be shared, one machine is multi-purpose, the whole process is automatically controlled by the central computer, and the production process is intelligent.



Equipment composition

1. Multi-component mixing system

Fully automatic computer controls the ratio of various raw materials, adopts the accurate measurement method of weightlessness, and strictly mixes the raw materials according to the settings. In order to produce high-end quality products, the feeding system uses vacuum feeding to ensure the stable delivery of raw materials.

2. Extrusion system

The CO2 XPS extrusion system uses a parallel twin-screw extruder with a screw building block structure and is used in combination according to the processing technology of the material. Specially designed connection method, the transmission device enhances the strength of the threaded element and the mandrel, and achieves uniform dispersion of materials and good mixing.

3. Cooling and constant temperature system

The precise proportional control cooling system is equipped with a high-power chiller to ensure a good cooling effect and meet the stringent requirements of the cooling system in the production process.

4. Supercritical CO2 blowing agent injection system

The supercritical CO2 foaming agent injection system is a utility model patented product developed by our company. It adopts a fully imported flow control system to accurately control the instantaneous volume flow and mass flow of the foaming fluid. A closed-loop control program is designed to maintain the stability of the mass flow. . The unique three-stage pressurized injection system maintains a stable CO2 liquid state, ensures the formation of a homogeneous system, and uses an automatic flow feedback control system to maintain the stability of the blowing agent flow.

5. Extrusion die, sizing system

According to the rheological characteristics of PS physical foaming material at low temperature and high viscosity, the extrusion die adopts T-shaped large manifold, long fan-shaped regional head to build pressure extrusion, oil temperature control of the circulation system, and PID intelligent temperature control module to form a closed-loop control system , Can accurately control the mold temperature within the process requirements. The bidirectional electric adjustable device of the molding system, proportional control of low resistance system materials, double-sided shaping.

6. Fixed length cutting and conveying system

Online post-processing system, after cooling and forming products, automatic fixed-length cutting, trimming, vertical and horizontal edge forming, automatic stacking, multi-point monitoring, automatic alarm, automatic packaging system.

XPS CO2 foam board performance

◆ Flat and even surface, completely closed-cell internal honeycomb structure

◆ Thermal insulation, thermal insulation (thermal conductivity 10℃: ≤0.028w/Mk), excellent sound insulation and moisture resistance

◆ High pressure resistance (pressure: ≥250kpa), light weight (density up to: 28kg/M3)

◆ Non-absorbent (absorbent: ≤ 1.0%), non-breathable, wear-resistant and non-degradable

Advantages & Disadvantages of Polystyrene Foam Insulation Board

Polystyrene foam insulation boards, including Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) and Extruded Polystyrene (XPS), are widely used in the UK construction industry due to their excellent thermal insulation properties and cost-effectiveness. However, their environmental impact has become a growing concern, prompting initiatives to enhance recycling efforts. Companies like GREENMAX are at the forefront, offering advanced recycling solutions to address these challenges.

Understanding Polystyrene Foam Insulation Boards

Types of Polystyrene Insulation

Expanded Polystyrene (EPS): Lightweight and cost-effective, EPS offers R-values between 3.6 and 4.2 per inch. It's commonly used in packaging and insulation applications.

Extruded Polystyrene (XPS): Denser and more moisture-resistant than EPS, XPS provides an R-value of about 5 per inch, making it suitable for below-grade applications like foundation walls and slabs.

Working with Home Polystyrene Foam Insulation Board

Polystyrene Foam Insulation Board typically come in 4x8-foot sheets. Smaller sizes are also available. They’re much lighter and easier to work with than plywood sheets. Install them using panel adhesive or screws.

For new construction, use rigid boards to insulate slabs and the outside of foundation walls. For a basement remodeling project, consider insulating basement walls with foam board. Use a premade kit for this type of project. Attach the tongue-and-groove insulation boards to the concrete wall with adhesive. Follow with a 2x4 frame wall and insulate it with batt insulation. Keep in mind that any interior rigid insulating panel must be covered by a barrier. A common choice is drywall.

Insulated foam sheets are also used as an insulated sheathing underlayment for exterior siding. The panels provide a continuous energy-efficient surface. This eliminates thermal bridging, which is the energy lost through wall studs. The studs conduct more heat than the insulation between them.

Because of its resistance to moisture, polystyrene foam board insulation is a great choice whenever and wherever there is a chance it could get wet, such as an exterior foundation, inside a basement against the foundation, and on the outside of a house beneath a house wrap. The following are the pros and cons you should know when choosing the EPS insulation board.

Advantages of Polystyrene foam insulation board

1. Light. In Europe, people only use the EPS board with a density of 15kg/m3;

2. Low thermal conductivity. Because of the air-filled hole group structure, the spread of air and the heat conduction coefficient can be prevented under 0.039;

3. Good anti-impact ability. 98% of foam insulation board space is filled with air, then it has sufficient capacity to buffer the impact of the outside world by changing the shape;

4. Low water absorption. Studies have shown that humidity will affect the thermal and mechanical properties, and the low water absorption of EPS insulation board helps to maintain excellent properties;

5. Recyclable. Polystyrene foam insulation board has the highest recycling degree among the plastics;

6. Freon is not used in the production process;

7. EPS insulation board has the lowest energy consumption of the entire plastic life cycle.

Contact us to discuss your requirements of xps foam board machine. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.

Disadvantages of polystyrene foam insulation board

1. EPS insulation board needs to be hung, and the construction is complicated and the cycle is long;

2. Flammable & toxic. Ordinary polystyrene foam insulation board is easy to burn, accompanied by toxic fumes;

3. Poor material strength. Polystyrene foam insulation board is prone to cracking and shedding.

4. Limited strength and load-bearing capacity.

5. Unstable quality. The EPS insulation board needs to be placed in the factory for a period of time before it can be used. If it is not processed thoroughly, the quality will not be guaranteed, resulting in foam shrinkage and cracking.

The State of Polystyrene Recycling in the UK

Despite its recyclability, polystyrene recycling in the UK faces several challenges:

Collection Difficulties: Due to its lightweight and bulky nature, collecting and transporting polystyrene waste is inefficient without proper equipment.

Contamination: Polystyrene used in construction often contains adhesives or other materials that complicate recycling.

Limited Facilities: There are few facilities in the UK equipped to process polystyrene waste, leading to low recycling rates.

However, initiatives are underway to improve the situation. For instance, the University of Oxford has launched a trial recycling scheme for EPS waste, aiming to convert it into building insulation materials.

GREENMAX: Leading the Way in Polystyrene Recycling

GREENMAX, a brand of INTCO Recycling, offers specialized equipment designed to tackle the challenges of polystyrene recycling:

GREENMAX Recycling Machines

APOLO Series Cold Compactors: These machines compress EPS and XPS waste into dense blocks, reducing volume by up to 50:1, facilitating easier storage and transportation.

MARS Series Hot Melters: By applying heat, these machines melt polystyrene waste into ingots, achieving a volume reduction ratio of up to 90:1, suitable for further processing.

Foam Pelletizers: These systems convert compacted foam into pellets, which can be used to manufacture new products, promoting a circular economy.

By integrating GREENMAX recycling machines, businesses can effectively manage polystyrene waste, reduce environmental impact, and contribute to sustainable practices.

Benefits of Implementing GREENMAX Solutions

Environmental Impact: By reducing polystyrene waste volume and facilitating its transformation into new products, GREENMAX machines help divert waste from landfills.

Economic Advantages: Businesses can lower waste management costs and generate revenue by selling recycled polystyrene pellets to manufacturers.

Regulatory Compliance: Utilizing GREENMAX machines enables companies to align with the UK's environmental regulations and sustainability goals.

Conclusion

Polystyrene foam insulation boards offer significant benefits in construction, but their environmental impact cannot be overlooked. Implementing recycling solutions like those provided by GREENMAX is essential for sustainable building practices.

For more information on polystyrene recycling solutions and to request a quote, please contact GREENMAX.

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