XPS foam board and other insulation products appear more and more frequently in our daily life, with the use of extruded polystyrene more and more. Like EPS foam, XPS foam waste is bulky, lightweight, resistant to deterioration, chemically stable, and resistant to microbial decomposition. These characteristics tell us that laissez-faire is not feasible, and good foam recycling is the right choice.
Why should we recycle foam waste?
Due to its high thermal insulation efficiency, XPS is commonly used as a building and architectural and building insulation board. Not only does it save resources, but it also helps keep it cool. However, all kinds of insulation board waste make the environment pressure not small. They are not disposable, in fact, they will become commodities again when they are recycled in the right way.
What are the recycling technologies of waste polystyrene?
- Catalytic cracking
Any type of catalytic cracking of waste polystyrene returns a styrene-based mixture. Styrene is the major part of the crushing gas. After cooling, air conditioning, energy recovery and corrective decomposition, certified styrene monomer and by-products are recovered at a price of 70-85%.
2. Recycling for the production of adhesives and coatings
XPS/EPS is mainly composed of polystyrene and is also used as a specific substrate for waterproofing and shielding coverings. On the contrary, the coating with PS as the substrate has poor adhesion besides good film-forming property, so PS as a film-forming product of any coating should be reformed.
3. Reuse to produce PS regenerated particle
One of the most important waste uses in the XPS manufacturing process must continue to be the manufacture of PS recycled scrap and, in some cases, XPS sheets. At present, this is also the most commonly used recycling technology.
Benefits of Recycling XPS and EPS Waste
The huge reduction in polystyrene waste is one of the important benefits of recycling, which is easy to transport and shop. Recycling is most likely to help reduce landfill pollution and pose a serious threat to both the environment and animal survival.At the same time, recycling reduces the need for entirely new products, thereby reducing energy and worker expenses
In addition to effectively managing polystyrene waste, recycling EPS and XPS waste is the most effective way for services to reduce their carbon footprint. At present, the main recycling service is to minimize the waste of foam by the foam compactor, press it into granules, and then process it into finished products for sale, so that waste materials that once cost money to dispose of can become profitable products.
