EPS 60 GREY-GEPS
Additive grade
EN 13163 EPS60
Pick when the same 60 kPa strength is needed but wall build-up must be ~20% thinner; grey boards need shading during installation.
Values for the GREY-GEPS condition
Other EPS 60 grades and fills
EPS 60 is listed in 3 conditions; see the grade overview at EPS 60.
Compare all 3 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
WHITE-FRDefault White flame-retarded EPS 60 board (standard) | Default construction grade: white FR-modified EPS 60 for cavity walls, roofs and render carrier boards. | — | 0.13 | 2 | — |
GREY-GEPSThis page Graphite-enhanced grey EPS 60 (λ ≈ 0.031 W/m·K) | Pick when the same 60 kPa strength is needed but wall build-up must be ~20% thinner; grey boards need shading during installation. | — | 0.13 | 2 | — |
Non-flame-retarded EPS 60 | Cheaper unmodified grade for packaging, moulds and non-building void fill where no reaction-to-fire class is required. | — | 0.13 | 2 | — |
What is EPS 60 GREY-GEPS?
EPS 60 GREY-GEPS is EPS 60 in the GREY-GEPS grade — pick when the same 60 kPa strength is needed but wall build-up must be ~20% thinner; grey boards need shading during installation. EPS 60 GREY-GEPS has a tensile strength of 0.13 MPa (0.0189 ksi), weaker than 98% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 2% and the elastic modulus is 0 GPa (3.63×10⁻⁴ Msi). EPS 60 GREY-GEPS has a density of 0.02 g/cm³ (5.42×10⁻⁴ lb/in³), lighter than 100% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 100°C (212 °F). WHITE-FR is the default condition FabDigit quotes; GREY-GEPS is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Lightweight — 0.02 g/cm³ (5.42×10⁻⁴ lb/in³), better than 100% of polymer grades
- Easy to machine — 90/100, better than 95% of polymer grades
- Low embodied carbon — 3.3 kg CO₂/kg, better than 78% of polymer grades
Limitations
- Poor heat conductor — 0.03 W/m·K (0.0179 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 96% of polymer grades
- Limited ductility — 2%, worse than 95% of polymer grades
- Low stiffness — 0 GPa (3.63×10⁻⁴ Msi), worse than 93% of polymer grades
- Degrades in UV without stabilisers — 20/100, worse than 88% of polymer grades
- Absorbs moisture — dry before molding — 0.8%, worse than 80% of polymer grades
EPS 60 GREY-GEPS properties
Typical room-temperature values for EPS 60 GREY-GEPS; 18 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are EPS 60 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among polymer grades.
Physical4
EPS 60 GREY-GEPS has a density of 0.02 g/cm³ (5.42×10⁻⁴ lb/in³), lighter than 100% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 100°C (212 °F).
Mechanical9
EPS 60 GREY-GEPS has a tensile strength of 0.13 MPa (0.0189 ksi), weaker than 98% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 2% and the elastic modulus is 0 GPa (3.63×10⁻⁴ Msi).
Thermal8
EPS 60 GREY-GEPS is rated for continuous service to 75°C (167 °F). It conducts heat at 0.03 W/m·K (0.0179 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 96% of polymer grades. Thermal expansion is 65 µm/m·K (36.1 µin/in·°F).
Electrical4
EPS 60 GREY-GEPS has an electrical resistivity of 1×10¹² Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is excellent (88/100), better than 74% of polymer grades. UV resistance is poor.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of EPS 60 GREY-GEPS takes about 105 MJ of energy and emits 3.3 kg of CO₂ — more than 54% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 5%.
Manufacturability5
EPS 60 GREY-GEPS's machinability is excellent (90/100, better than 95% of polymer grades); weldability poor (20/100); formability good (55/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with EPS 60 GREY-GEPS
Is EPS 60 easy to machine?
Cut with hot wire, band knife or CNC hot-wire router; avoid high-speed routers that melt and smear the beads, and vacuum the dust.
Can EPS 60 be welded?
Not weldable in the usual sense — pieces are joined by steam fusion in the mould, hot-air/hot-plate tacking, or solvent-free water-based and PU adhesives (solvent adhesives dissolve it).
Can EPS 60 be formed, bent or molded?
Made by steam pre-expansion of pentane-loaded beads, ageing in silos, then block moulding or shape moulding at ~110 °C steam; boards are hot-wire cut from aged blocks, and edge profiles (tongue-and-groove, rebate) are routed.
What surface finishes work on EPS 60?
Faced or coated rather than polished: cement/polymer render on fibreglass mesh, foil or paper facers, or mechanically fixed boards; keep away from bitumen/solvent primers and UV exposure before covering.
EPS 60 chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| pentane (blowing agent, residual)most pentane leaves during ageing/expansion | 0.1 – 1.5 | 0.5 |
| polymeric brominated flame retardantPolyFR, replaced HBCD; absent in non-FR packaging grade | 0.5 – 1.5 | 0.8 |
| graphitegrey/graphite-enhanced variant only | 1 – 4 | 2.5 |
| polystyreneexpandable polystyrene bead polymer | ≥ 92 (balance) | — |
EPS 60 GREY-GEPS — frequently asked
What is EPS 60 GREY-GEPS used for?
EPS 60 GREY-GEPS is typically used for cavity wall insulation, roof insulation and packaging. In short: cheapest EPS load class; 60 kPa entry grade; hot-wire cuttable board.
What is the tensile strength of EPS 60 GREY-GEPS?
EPS 60 GREY-GEPS has a typical tensile strength of 0.13 MPa (0.0189 ksi) — weaker than 98% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 3 listed tempers.
Is EPS 60 GREY-GEPS easy to machine?
Yes — machinability is rated excellent (90/100, better than 95% of polymer grades). Cut with hot wire, band knife or CNC hot-wire router; avoid high-speed routers that melt and smear the beads, and vacuum the dust.
Can EPS 60 GREY-GEPS be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (20/100). Not weldable in the usual sense — pieces are joined by steam fusion in the mould, hot-air/hot-plate tacking, or solvent-free water-based and PU adhesives (solvent adhesives dissolve it).
What surface finishes work on EPS 60 GREY-GEPS?
Faced or coated rather than polished: cement/polymer render on fibreglass mesh, foil or paper facers, or mechanically fixed boards; keep away from bitumen/solvent primers and UV exposure before covering.
Can EPS 60 GREY-GEPS be formed, bent or molded?
Made by steam pre-expansion of pentane-loaded beads, ageing in silos, then block moulding or shape moulding at ~110 °C steam; boards are hot-wire cut from aged blocks, and edge profiles (tongue-and-groove, rebate) are routed.
What is the maximum service temperature of EPS 60 GREY-GEPS?
EPS 60 GREY-GEPS is rated for continuous use to about 75°C (167 °F), and briefly to 95°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Sources
- EN 13163 — Thermal insulation products for buildings: factory made expanded polystyrene (EPS) — CEN (2016)
- EN 13501-1 — Fire classification of construction products (Euroclass) — CEN (2018)
- Styropor / Neopor technical information (EPS grades, thermal and mechanical data) — BASF (2022)
- EUMEPS technical data and EPS product declarations — EUMEPS (2021)
- Inventory of Carbon & Energy (ICE) v3 — insulation materials — Circular Ecology (2019)
- Materials and the Environment / CES material property data (polymer foams) — Ashby / Granta (2013)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.