Commodity Plastics
EPS Packaging — Expanded Polystyrene for Packaging
EPS is a rigid, closed-cell, lightweight foam produced from polystyrene beads. It offers excellent shock absorption, thermal insulation, and moisture resistance, making it ideal for protective packaging of electronics, appliances, and fragile goods.
EPSStyrofoamNeopor
Manufacturers
3
Grades
3
Applications
4
Equivalents
2
Physical Properties
- Density
- 0.015-0.06 g/cm³ (foam)
- Water Absorption (24h)
- <1 %
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Shrinkage
- N/A (foam)
Mechanical Properties
- Young's Modulus
- Highly variable (foam)
- Tensile Strength
- Highly variable (foam)
- Elongation at Break
- Highly variable (foam)
- Impact Strength (Izod)
- Excellent cushioning
Thermal Properties
- Glass Transition Temperature
- 90-100 °C (solid PS)
- Melting Point
- N/A (amorphous)
- Continuous Service Temperature
- 70-80 °C
- Heat Deflection Temperature
- N/A (foam)
Electrical Properties
- Dielectric Constant
- Around 1.1 (foam)
- Volume Resistivity
- >10¹³ Ω⋅cm (foam)
- Dielectric Strength
- High (foam)
Chemical Resistance
- Acids
- Good resistance
- Bases
- Good resistance
- Solvents
- Attacked by aromatic hydrocarbons, esters, ketones
- UV Resistance
- Poor
Sustainability
- Recyclability
- Recyclable (challenging collection)
- Recycling Code
- 6 (PS)
- Carbon Footprint
- Moderate
Manufacturing compatibility
Bead moldingBlock molding
Applications
Protective packaging
Insulation
Buoyancy devices
Disposable cups
Available grades
EPS 15EPS 25EPS 30