EPS Recycling Solution

What is EPS?

Expanded polystyrene (EPS) is a rigid and tough, closed-cell foam. It is usually white and made of pre-expanded polystyrene beads. Due to its technical properties such as low weight, rigidity, and formability, EPS can be used in a wide range of different applications. Its market value is likely to rise to more than US$15 billion until 2020.
Thermal conductivity is measured according to EN 12667. Typical values range from 0.032 to 0.038 W/(m•K) depending on the density of the EPS board. The value of 0.038 W/(m•K) was obtained at 15 kg/m3 while the value of 0.032 W/(m•K) was obtained at 40 kg/m3 according to the data sheet of K-710 from StyroChem Finland. Adding fillers (graphites, aluminium, or carbons) has recently allowed the thermal conductivity of EPS to reach around 0.030–0.034 (as low as 0.029) and as such has a grey/black color which distinguishes it from standard EPS. Several EPS producers have produced a variety of these increased thermal resistance EPS usage for this product in the UK & EU.

Use of EPS

EPS is used for many applications e.g. trays, plates, bowls and fish boxes. Other uses include molded sheets for building insulation and packing material (“peanuts”) forcushioning fragile items inside boxes. Sheets are commonly packaged as rigid panels.

Recycling of EPS

Most polystyrene products are currently not recycled due to the lack of incentive to invest in the compactors and logistical systems required. Due to the low density of polystyrene foam, it is not economical to collect. However, if the waste material goes through an initial compaction process, the material changes density from typically 30 kg/m3 to 330 kg/m3 and becomes a recyclable commodity of high value for producers of recycled plastic pellets.
Qinfeng Machinery is just making the EPS compactor to solve this problemit can reduce the size of the EPS material, the compressing ratio can reach1:30-1:50.The finished products is the EPS blocks, the density can reach 350kg/ m3 .It is easy for the customer to deliver the EPS material to another recycling processing unit.

Recycled EPS is also used in many metal casting operations. Rastra is made from EPS that is combined with cement to be used as an insulating amendment in the making of concrete foundations and walls. American manufacturers have produced insulating concrete forms made with approximately 80% recycled EPS since 1993.