GREY POLYSTYRENE (GRAPHITE EPS70)

Grey polystyrene (EPS 70) belongs to white polystyrene family diversified with ennobling additives. It contains graphite which considerably increases insulation performance. The improved thermal performance of Graphite Polystyrene (0.030 W/mk) allows for a 20% reduction in thickness against standard White EPS and is also a far more cost effective alternative to PIR and Extruded XPS Rigid Insulation Boards. Thanks to the addition of graphite, it simply gains better insulating properties. Grey sheet is enhanced with integrated graphite within its bead structure. As radiant heat moves through graphite insulation, it reflects it hundreds of times, significantly slowing down the transfer of heat and making it more energy efficient. Warm air always moves towards cold air, but in Grey Polystyrene (Graphite) boards that path takes many twists and turns along the way, slowing down the heat transfer, keeping the premises warmer. This improves its thermal conductivity to 0.031 W/mK, an improvement over standard expanded polystyrene boards. Graphite polystyrene is slightly more expensive, however investors take advantage of this product to increase insulation and thus reduce energy consumption. Grey boards come in easy to fit size 1000mm x 500mm, smaller than Jablite EWI EPS 1200mm x 600mm insulation sheets. EPS70 GREY Range includes the following readily available product thicknesses: 

10mm ǀ 20mm ǀ 30mm ǀ 40mm ǀ 50mm ǀ 60mm ǀ 70mm ǀ 80mm ǀ 90mm ǀ 100mm ǀ 110mm ǀ 120mm ǀ 130mm ǀ 140mm ǀ 150mm ǀ 160mm ǀ 170mm ǀ 180mm ǀ 190mm ǀ 200mm ǀ 210mm ǀ 220mm 

GREY POLYSTYRENE PRODUCTION PROCESS

The raw material for the production of polystyrene boards is enriched with graphite or other enriching compounds - e.g. aluminum in order to increase its ability to reflect and absorb infrared radiation. This results in a much better heat conduction. As a result, you get polystyrene with a grey tint, but more importantly - also with increased thermal insulation properties. It allows the use of a thinner layer of insulation without compromising the insulation parameters of the wall. Graphite significantly improves the performance of the polystyrene so that you would only need a thickness of 50mm in Grey EPS to achieve the same performance as a 90mm block of White EPS.

GREY POLYSTYRENE INSTALLATION

Graphite façade polystyrene boards absorb more sunlight than standard (white) boards. Therefore, they should be protected against direct sunlight, both during transport and storage. Failure to secure the insulation boards may cause the so-called "Melting", causing the destruction of their structure. During construction works, the outside temperature of the air, the substrate and the built-in material must not be less than + 5 °C and not more than + 25 °C. During the works, the material must not be exposed to direct sunlight. Scaffold nets, for example, can be used as protection against the sun's rays. It is light and easy to handle. It is easily cut to size and requires no specialist trades to fit. It can be rasped to provide a flat finish across an elevation. The boards can be either adhered and mechanically fixed or applied within a TS Rail framework system fixed to the substrate. Unlike Kingspan K5 phenolic board, it can be rasped to provide a flat finish across an elevation.

APPLICATION

Grey EPS is mainly intended for investors who want to achieve the standard of an energy-saving or passive house, however it can be used with other applications such as:

• Balcony loggias 
• Sandwich walls 
• Framed wall surfaces 
• Continuous outer layers of frame walls 
• Cavity block and brick walls 
• Gaps in closed or ventilated three-layer walls

Related articles:

How to cut Styrofoam?

The benefits of installing 50mm grey polystyrene insulation

Best insulation boards

4 Alternative building insulation materials

External Wall Insulation Problems. The Ugly Truth?