6. Other products

6.1 Expandable polystyrene without dispersion of volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

To date, the main blowing agent for expanding polystyrene beads is pentane. Increasing pentane emissions are a growing concern in North America (Canada and USA) and Europe. Legislation to limit these VOC emissions is already planned in Switzerland, Austria and Sweden.

A new patented process has just been developed by TEUBERT Maschinenbau and Nova Chemicals (EUREKA project EI 23683 VOC FREE EPS). The new patented process consists in creating a molecular bond that encloses starch in a polystyrene "capsule". The starch bound by the chemical process absorbs micro-droplets of water, which form a safer, more environmentally-friendly blowing agent inside the beads.