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XPS Insulation (extruded polystyrene)

Common Product
MasterFormat 07 20 00 Thermal Protection; 07 24 00 Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems

This information reflects our best understanding of product composition in 2019.

ASTM C578 defines extruded polystyrene (XPS) thermal insulation as a, "cellular plastic product manufactured in a one stage process by extrusion and expansion of the base polymer in the presence of blowing agent(s) resulting in a product...

More about XPS Insulation (extruded polystyrene)

ASTM C578 defines extruded polystyrene (XPS) thermal insulation as a, "cellular plastic product manufactured in a one stage process by extrusion and expansion of the base polymer in the presence of blowing agent(s) resulting in a product which is rigid with closed cellular structure." XPS foams fall into ASTM C578 Types IV, V, VI, VII, X, XII and XIII. Rigid XPS boards contain flame retardants, blowing agents, and additives. Some boards may have facing materials. Most products contain some sort of colorant but the specific colorant varies across products so is not included here. This CP describes unfaced, rigid XPS foam insulation boards suitable for a range of insulating applications. XPS insulation commonly contains around 20% pre-consumer recycled content.

Major XPS manufacturers indicate they have transitioned away from the use of HBCD (a persistent, bioaccumulative, toxicant) as a flame retardant, typically in favor of the flame retardant listed here, though the alternative used is not always disclosed. Products from smaller manufacturers could potentially still use HBCD. In addition, some products may contain a flame retardant promotor or synergist, which could add additional hazards. While the European trade association for XPS insulation indicates their members use halogen-free blowing agents, the US XPS industry continues to use high global warming potential HFC blowing agents.

A historical version of this CP is available here: https://www.pharosproject.net/material/show/2180362.

Name % Weight Whole Function GREENSCREEN® Sources
Polystyrene
9003-53-6
88.32% base resin
1,1,1,2-TETRAFLUOROETHANE (HFC-134A)
811-97-2
6.20% blowing agent
Methyl formate
107-31-3
2.20% blowing agent
benzene, ethenyl-, polymer with 1,3- butadiene, brominated
1195978-93-8
1.67% flame retardant
Pentane
109-66-0
0.91% blowing agent
Talc
14807-96-6
0.26% nucleating agent
Irganox 1010
6683-19-8
0.20% stabilizer
Epichlorohydrin, o-cresol, formaldehyde polymer
29690-82-2
0.13% stabilizer
Calcium stearate
1592-23-0
0.09% lubricant
Irganox 242
26741-53-7
0.02% stabilizer
Name % Weight Part % Weight Whole Function GREENSCREEN® Sources
Polystyrene
9003-53-6
88.32% 88.32% base resin
1,1,1,2-TETRAFLUOROETHANE (HFC-134A)
811-97-2
6.20% 6.20% blowing agent
Methyl formate
107-31-3
2.20% 2.20% blowing agent
benzene, ethenyl-, polymer with 1,3- butadiene, brominated
1195978-93-8
1.67% 1.67% flame retardant
Pentane
109-66-0
0.91% 0.91% blowing agent
Talc
14807-96-6
0.26% 0.26% nucleating agent
Irganox 1010
6683-19-8
0.20% 0.20% stabilizer
Epichlorohydrin, o-cresol, formaldehyde polymer
29690-82-2
0.13% 0.13% stabilizer
Calcium stearate
1592-23-0
0.09% 0.09% lubricant
Irganox 242
26741-53-7
0.02% 0.02% stabilizer

This is not necessarily representative of all possible content that may be found in this product type. Learn more

Blowing agent

Name GREENSCREEN® Sources
Common content 1,1,1,2-TETRAFLUOROETHANE (HFC-134A)
811-97-2
Common content Methyl formate
107-31-3
Common content Pentane
109-66-0
1,1-Difluoroethane
75-37-6
1,3,3,3-Tetrafluoropropene, (1E)-
29118-24-9
Carbon dioxide
124-38-9
Dimethyl ether
115-10-6
Isobutane
75-28-5
Methyl chloride
74-87-3
Water
7732-18-5

Flame retardant

Name GREENSCREEN® Sources
Common content benzene, ethenyl-, polymer with 1,3- butadiene, brominated
1195978-93-8
Hexabromocyclododecane
25637-99-4
poly-1-4-diisopropyl benzene
25822-43-9
Tetrabromobisphenol A bis(2,3-dibromopropyl ether)
21850-44-2
Triphenyl phosphate
115-86-6
Triphenylphosphine oxide
791-28-6

Pigment

Name GREENSCREEN® Sources
Proprietary Pigment

Stabilizer

Name GREENSCREEN® Sources
Common content Epichlorohydrin, o-cresol, formaldehyde polymer
29690-82-2
Common content Irganox 1010
6683-19-8
Common content Irganox 242
26741-53-7
a reaction mixture of dipentaerythritol adipic acid (tradename: PlenlizerTM ST210)
56509-15-0
Aromatic amine antioxidant
Bis(2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenyl)pentaerythritol diphosphite
80693-00-1
Brominated epoxy stabilizer

Known or Potential Residuals

Known or Potential Residuals for Chemical
CASRN NAME GREENSCREEN® TYPE FREQUENCY % Weight Chemical % Weight Product SOURCE
106-99-0 1,3-Butadiene Monomer Integral Unknown Unknown
96-76-4 2,4-Di-tert-butylphenol Pollutant/ Contaminant Frequent Unknown Unknown
17068-78-9 ANTHOPHYLLITE, NON-ASBESTIFORM Pollutant/ Contaminant Occasional/ Rare Unknown Unknown
12001-29-5 ASBESTOS, CHRYSOTILE Pollutant/ Contaminant Occasional/ Rare Unknown Unknown
12172-67-7 Actinolite Pollutant/ Contaminant Occasional/ Rare Unknown Unknown
115-77-5 Pentaerythritol Pollutant/ Contaminant Frequent Unknown Unknown
7719-12-2 Phosphorus trichloride Pollutant/ Contaminant Frequent Unknown Unknown
14808-60-7 Quartz Pollutant/ Contaminant Frequent 0.10 - 3.00% Unknown
1344-28-1 Aluminum oxide
(Nested within Quartz)
Pollutant/ Contaminant Frequent <0.80% Unknown
14464-46-1 Cristobalite
(Nested within Quartz)
Component Frequent Unknown Unknown
1310-53-8 Germanium dioxide
(Nested within Quartz)
Pollutant/ Contaminant Occasional/ Rare Unknown Unknown
1332-37-2 Iron oxide
(Nested within Quartz)
Pollutant/ Contaminant Frequent <0.10% Unknown
1305-78-8 Lime
(Nested within Quartz)
Pollutant/ Contaminant Occasional/ Rare Unknown Unknown
12057-24-8 Lithium oxide
(Nested within Quartz)
Pollutant/ Contaminant Occasional/ Rare Unknown Unknown
554-13-2 Lithium carbonate
(Nested within Lithium oxide)
Reactant Integral Unknown Unknown
1309-48-4 Magnesium oxide
(Nested within Quartz)
Pollutant/ Contaminant Occasional/ Rare Unknown Unknown
1344-28-1 Aluminum oxide
(Nested within Magnesium oxide)
Pollutant/ Contaminant Frequent Unknown Unknown
1309-37-1 Ferric oxide
(Nested within Magnesium oxide)
Pollutant/ Contaminant Frequent Unknown Unknown
1305-78-8 Lime
(Nested within Magnesium oxide)
Pollutant/ Contaminant Frequent Unknown Unknown
7631-86-9 Silicon dioxide
(Nested within Magnesium oxide)
Pollutant/ Contaminant Frequent Unknown Unknown
11129-60-5 Manganese oxide
(Nested within Quartz)
Pollutant/ Contaminant Occasional/ Rare Unknown Unknown
12136-45-7 Potassium oxide
(Nested within Quartz)
Pollutant/ Contaminant Occasional/ Rare Unknown Unknown
1313-59-3 Sodium oxide
(Nested within Quartz)
Pollutant/ Contaminant Occasional/ Rare Unknown Unknown
13463-67-7 Titanium dioxide
(Nested within Quartz)
Pollutant/ Contaminant Frequent <0.10% Unknown
124-41-4 Sodium methoxide Catalyst (homogeneous/ unstructured/ unknown) Frequent Unknown Unknown
100-42-5 Styrene Monomer Integral Unknown Unknown
100-41-4 Ethylbenzene
(Nested within Styrene)
Pollutant/ Contaminant Integral Unknown Unknown
1327-41-9 Aluminum sesquichlorohydrate
(Nested within Ethylbenzene)
Catalyst (homogeneous/ unstructured/ unknown) Frequent Unknown Unknown
100-42-5 Styrene Monomer Integral Unknown Unknown
100-41-4 Ethylbenzene
(Nested within Styrene)
Pollutant/ Contaminant Integral Unknown Unknown
1327-41-9 Aluminum sesquichlorohydrate
(Nested within Ethylbenzene)
Catalyst (homogeneous/ unstructured/ unknown) Frequent Unknown Unknown
14567-73-8 Tremolite asbestos Pollutant/ Contaminant Occasional/ Rare Unknown Unknown

Other Process Chemicals

CASRN NAME GREENSCREEN® TYPE FREQUENCY % WT CHEM % WT PRODUCT SOURCES
374-07-2 1,1,1,2-TETRAFLUORO-2,2-DICHLOROETHANE (CFC-114A) Reactant Frequent Unknown Unknown
68441-46-3 1,3-Butadiene, homopolymer, brominated Monomer Frequent Unknown Unknown
107-81-3 2-Bromopentane Reactant Occasional/ Rare Unknown Unknown
6032-29-7 2-Pentanol Reactant Frequent Unknown Unknown
584-02-1 3-PENTANOL Reactant Frequent Unknown Unknown
94-36-0 Benzoyl peroxide Initiator Frequent Unknown Unknown
630-08-0 Carbon monoxide Reactant Frequent Unknown Unknown
Charcoal Reactant Frequent Unknown Unknown
106-89-8 Epichlorohydrin Monomer Integral Unknown Unknown
50-00-0 Formaldehyde Monomer Integral Unknown Unknown
8006-61-9 GASOLINE Reactant Frequent Unknown Unknown
7647-01-0 Hydrochloric acid Reactant Frequent Unknown Unknown
7647-01-0 Hydrochloric acid
FROM Talc
Reactant Frequent Unknown Unknown
7664-39-3 Hydrofluoric acid Reactant Integral Unknown Unknown
67-56-1 Methyl alcohol Reactant Integral Unknown Unknown
6386-38-5 Methyl di-t-butyl hydroxyhydrocinnamate Reactant Frequent Unknown Unknown
115-77-5 Pentaerythritol Reactant Frequent Unknown Unknown
141-53-7 Sodium formate Reactant Frequent Unknown Unknown
57-11-4 Stearic acid Reactant Integral Unknown Unknown
79-01-6 Trichloroethylene Reactant Integral Unknown Unknown
7732-18-5 Water Reactant Frequent Unknown Unknown
95-48-7 o-Cresol Monomer Integral Unknown Unknown

HBN Resources (4)

HBN Resources for Product
TYPE TITLE
Report Full Disclosure Required: A Strategy to Prevent Asthma Through Building Product Selection
Report TSCA Workplan Chemicals Reports
Report Making Affordable Multifamily Housing More Energy Efficient: A Guide to Healthier Upgrade Materials
Tool Insulation Hazard Spectrum

Sources

Sources for Common Product Data
Source Uploaded Document Linked Document
ADK data sheet
BuildingGreen HBCD Article
Certifoam SDS
Chemical Watch article
Dow Patent
ECN 1280 CAS
Emerald 3000
EPA Blowing Agents
EPA HBCD Alternatives Assessment
Exiba EPD
Foamular Data Sheet
Foamular EPD
Foamular SDS
Gabriel Chemie Additives
GreenGuard Fact Sheet
GreenGuard SDS
GreenGuard Technical Bulletin
Innovex paper
JSP Patent
Kaneka Patent
OC Patent
Owens Corning Sustainability Report
Plenlizer ST210 CAS
Poly-1,4 CAS
Styrofoam Ingredient Reporting
Styrofoam SDS
Styrofoam TDS
Styrofoam Ultra Ingredient Reporting
UNEP report
XPSA - ASTM C578