XPS 300 STD-CO2
Grade · default condition
EN 13164 XPS300
STD-CO2 = sTD-CO₂
Default HFC-free board for below-grade walls, floors and inverted roofs where λ 0.033–0.036 is sufficient.
Values for the STD-CO2 condition
Other XPS 300 grades and fills
XPS 300 is listed in 6 conditions; see the grade overview at XPS 300.
Compare all 6 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Grooved/channelled perimeter drainage board | Use against basement walls where the board must also drain water and protect the waterproofing membrane. | 0.28 | 0.4 | 3 | — |
High recycled-PS content board | Choose for EPD/green-building credits; uses post-industrial and post-consumer PS regrind in the core. | 0.29 | 0.4 | 2.5 | — |
STD-CO2DefaultThis page STD-CO₂ | Default HFC-free board for below-grade walls, floors and inverted roofs where λ 0.033–0.036 is sufficient. | 0.3 | 0.45 | 3 | — |
HFO/low-GWP blowing agent, low-lambda board | Pick when U-value targets need λ ≈ 0.028–0.030 in limited thickness, e.g. thin perimeter or inverted-roof build-ups. | 0.3 | 0.45 | 3 | — |
Graphite / IR-absorber enhanced grey board | Use where a slightly lower lambda is wanted with conventional CO₂ blowing; grey-coloured core from IR absorber. | 0.3 | 0.44 | 2.8 | — |
Polymeric (HBCD-free) flame retardant, Euroclass E | Current EU-compliant FR chemistry (brominated styrene-butadiene polymer) replacing HBCD; required for REACH/POP compliance. | 0.3 | 0.43 | 2.8 | — |
What is XPS 300 STD-CO2?
XPS 300 STD-CO2 is XPS 300 in the STD-CO2 grade — default HFC-free board for below-grade walls, floors and inverted roofs where λ 0.033–0.036 is sufficient. XPS 300 STD-CO2 has a yield strength of 0.3 MPa (0.0435 ksi) and a tensile strength of 0.45 MPa (0.0653 ksi) — weaker than 97% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 3% and the elastic modulus is 0.02 GPa (0.0022 Msi). XPS 300 STD-CO2 has a density of 0.04 g/cm³ (0.0013 lb/in³), lighter than 92% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 100°C (212 °F).
Advantages
- Easy to machine — 92/100, better than 99% of polymer grades
- Lightweight — 0.04 g/cm³ (0.0013 lb/in³), better than 92% of polymer grades
- Low embodied carbon — 3.2 kg CO₂/kg, better than 81% of polymer grades
Limitations
- Low strength — 0.3 MPa (0.0435 ksi), worse than 97% of polymer grades
- Degrades in UV without stabilisers — 15/100, worse than 95% of polymer grades
- Poor heat conductor — 0.03 W/m·K (0.0196 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 94% of polymer grades
- Limited formability — 10/100, worse than 87% of polymer grades
- Limited ductility — 3%, worse than 83% of polymer grades
XPS 300 STD-CO2 properties
Typical room-temperature values for XPS 300 STD-CO2; 20 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are XPS 300 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among polymer grades.
Physical4
XPS 300 STD-CO2 has a density of 0.04 g/cm³ (0.0013 lb/in³), lighter than 92% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 100°C (212 °F).
Mechanical10
XPS 300 STD-CO2 has a yield strength of 0.3 MPa (0.0435 ksi) and a tensile strength of 0.45 MPa (0.0653 ksi) — weaker than 97% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 3% and the elastic modulus is 0.02 GPa (0.0022 Msi).
Thermal9
XPS 300 STD-CO2 is rated for continuous service to 75°C (167 °F). It conducts heat at 0.03 W/m·K (0.0196 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 94% of polymer grades. Thermal expansion is 70 µm/m·K (38.9 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
XPS 300 STD-CO2 has an electrical resistivity of 1×10¹⁴ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is excellent (85/100), better than 65% of polymer grades. UV resistance is poor.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of XPS 300 STD-CO2 takes about 100 MJ of energy and emits 3.2 kg of CO₂ — less than 61% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 15%.
Manufacturability4
XPS 300 STD-CO2's machinability is excellent (92/100, better than 99% of polymer grades); weldability poor (15/100); formability not recommended (10/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with XPS 300 STD-CO2
Is XPS 300 easy to machine?
Cuts cleanly with a utility knife, hot-wire, fine-tooth handsaw or CNC router; use dust extraction and avoid melting/smearing from high-speed tooling.
Can XPS 300 be welded?
Not weldable in a structural sense; boards are joined mechanically (shiplap/T&G) or with solvent-free PU or cement-based adhesives.
Can XPS 300 be formed, bent or molded?
Produced by continuous tandem extrusion foaming and cut to size — no post-forming; can be thermally curved only slightly, so profiles are machined not bent.
What surface finishes work on XPS 300?
Must be protected from UV and solvents: cover with render on planed/embossed faces, cement board, backfill or ballast; use only solvent-free bitumen and adhesives.
XPS 300 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 |
|---|---|---|
| blowing agent (CO₂ / HFO-1234ze / co-bloresidual after extrusion foaming | 1 – 5 | 3 |
| brominated polymeric flame retardantHBCD-free polymeric FR in current EU production | 0.5 – 2 | 1 |
| talc (nucleating agent) | 0.2 – 1 | 0.5 |
| pigment / IR absorber (graphite in grey | 0 – 1.5 | 0.3 |
| polystyrene (PS homopolymer, incl. regrimatrix resin | ≥ 90 (balance) | — |
XPS 300 STD-CO2 — frequently asked
What is XPS 300 STD-CO2 used for?
XPS 300 STD-CO2 is typically used for below-grade (perimeter) wall insulation, inverted roof insulation, under-slab and foundation insulation, frost protection for foundations and pavements, insulated render substrates on planed board and cold store wall and floor panels. In short: standard below-grade XPS; low water absorption board; 300 kPa compressive class.
What is the yield strength of XPS 300 STD-CO2?
XPS 300 STD-CO2 has a typical yield strength of 0.3 MPa (0.0435 ksi) and a tensile strength of 0.45 MPa (0.0653 ksi) — weaker than 97% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is XPS 300 STD-CO2 easy to machine?
Yes — machinability is rated excellent (92/100, better than 99% of polymer grades). Cuts cleanly with a utility knife, hot-wire, fine-tooth handsaw or CNC router; use dust extraction and avoid melting/smearing from high-speed tooling.
Can XPS 300 STD-CO2 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (15/100). Not weldable in a structural sense; boards are joined mechanically (shiplap/T&G) or with solvent-free PU or cement-based adhesives.
What surface finishes work on XPS 300 STD-CO2?
Must be protected from UV and solvents: cover with render on planed/embossed faces, cement board, backfill or ballast; use only solvent-free bitumen and adhesives.
Can XPS 300 STD-CO2 be formed, bent or molded?
Produced by continuous tandem extrusion foaming and cut to size — no post-forming; can be thermally curved only slightly, so profiles are machined not bent.
What is the maximum service temperature of XPS 300 STD-CO2?
XPS 300 STD-CO2 is rated for continuous use to about 75°C (167 °F), and briefly to 85°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between XPS 300 STD-CO2 and XPS 300 DRAIN?
STD-CO2 is the default condition — default HFC-free board for below-grade walls, floors and inverted roofs where λ 0.033–0.036 is sufficient. DRAIN: use against basement walls where the board must also drain water and protect the waterproofing membrane. Yield strength is 0.3 MPa in STD-CO2 versus 0.28 MPa in DRAIN.
Sources
- EN 13164:2012+A1:2015 — Thermal insulation products for buildings: factory made extruded polystyrene foam (XPS) — CEN (2015)
- EN 826 / EN 12087 / EN 12089 / EN 12667 test methods for rigid insulation — CEN (2013)
- ASTM C578 — Rigid Cellular Polystyrene Thermal Insulation — ASTM (2022)
- XPS board technical datasheets / CE-DoP (Austrotherm, URSA, Ravago, Soprema, Styrofoam) — various (2024)
- Inventory of Carbon & Energy (ICE) and European XPS EPDs — Circular Ecology / EXIBA (2023)
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.