XPS 400 CO2
Grade · default condition
EN 13164 XPS400
CO2 = cO2 / HFO-blown, plain skin
Default modern XPS 400 board: CO2 or HFO blowing agent, extrusion skin retained, for load-bearing insulation under slabs and inverted roofs.
Values for the CO2 condition
Other XPS 400 grades and fills
XPS 400 is listed in 4 conditions; see the grade overview at XPS 400.
Compare all 4 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CO2DefaultThis page CO2 / HFO-blown, plain skin | Default modern XPS 400 board: CO2 or HFO blowing agent, extrusion skin retained, for load-bearing insulation under slabs and inverted roofs. | 0.4 | 0.6 | 2.5 | — |
HFC-blown | Choose only where legacy stock or non-EU markets allow HFC blowing agents and the lowest lambda per thickness is required. | 0.4 | 0.6 | 2.5 | — |
B1 flame-retardant grade | Chinese-market FR board required for building envelope use; polymeric brominated FR replaces HBCD. | 0.4 | 0.55 | 2.2 | — |
Higher-load neighbour grade XPS 500 | Select instead of XPS 400 for heavy-traffic decks, rail/road frost layers and high-rise foundations needing ≥500 kPa. | 0.52 | 0.7 | 2.3 | — |
What is XPS 400 CO2?
XPS 400 CO2 is XPS 400 in the CO2 grade — default modern XPS 400 board: CO2 or HFO blowing agent, extrusion skin retained, for load-bearing insulation under slabs and inverted roofs. XPS 400 CO2 has a yield strength of 0.4 MPa (0.058 ksi) and a tensile strength of 0.6 MPa (0.087 ksi) — weaker than 96% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 2.5% and the elastic modulus is 0.02 GPa (0.0026 Msi). XPS 400 CO2 has a density of 0.04 g/cm³ (0.0016 lb/in³), lighter than 90% 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 (0.0016 lb/in³), better than 90% of polymer grades
Limitations
- Low strength — 0.4 MPa (0.058 ksi), worse than 96% 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 ductility — 2.5%, worse than 89% of polymer grades
- Limited formability — 10/100, worse than 87% of polymer grades
XPS 400 CO2 properties
Typical room-temperature values for XPS 400 CO2; 19 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are XPS 400 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among polymer grades.
Physical4
XPS 400 CO2 has a density of 0.04 g/cm³ (0.0016 lb/in³), lighter than 90% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 100°C (212 °F).
Mechanical11
XPS 400 CO2 has a yield strength of 0.4 MPa (0.058 ksi) and a tensile strength of 0.6 MPa (0.087 ksi) — weaker than 96% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 2.5% and the elastic modulus is 0.02 GPa (0.0026 Msi).
Thermal9
XPS 400 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).
Electrical4
XPS 400 CO2 has an electrical resistivity of 1×10¹³ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is very good (70/100), worse than 78% of polymer grades. UV resistance is poor.
Sustainability3
Producing a kilogram of XPS 400 CO2 takes about 100 MJ of energy and emits 8 kg of CO₂ — less than 61% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 10%.
Manufacturability4
XPS 400 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 400 CO2
Is XPS 400 easy to machine?
Cut with hot wire, sharp knife, fine-tooth saw or CNC router at high feed; avoid solvent-based marker/adhesive contact and collect static-prone dust.
Can XPS 400 be welded?
Not weldable in the structural sense; panels are joined with mechanical fasteners, XPS-compatible foam adhesives or hot-melt/heat plate tack for CNC blanks.
Can XPS 400 be formed, bent or molded?
Produced only by continuous extrusion of the PS/blowing-agent melt through a slot die into a calibrated board; site shaping is subtractive, thermoforming is not practical.
What surface finishes work on XPS 400?
Overlay with cement board, screed, cementitious render on planed/grooved faces, or geotextile/membrane; must be shielded from UV, solvents and hot bitumen.
XPS 400 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 cell gas, decreases with age | 1 – 5 | 2.5 |
| flame retardant (polymeric brominated Porequired for Euroclass E / GB 8624 B1 | 0.5 – 2.5 | 1.2 |
| nucleating agent (talc)cell-size control | 0.1 – 1 | 0.4 |
| pigment / colorantbrand colour (blue/green/pink) | 0 – 0.5 | 0.1 |
| polystyrene (GPPS resin, incl. recycled matrix polymer | ≥ 93 (balance) | — |
XPS 400 CO2 — frequently asked
What is XPS 400 CO2 used for?
XPS 400 CO2 is typically used for parking deck and podium insulation, foundation and perimeter insulation, under-slab insulation for loaded floors, inverted roof insulation under paving or ballast, cold store and freezer floor insulation and frost protection layers under pavements. In short: 400 kPa traffic-load XPS; denser than XPS 300; HD500 option for heavy loads.
What is the yield strength of XPS 400 CO2?
XPS 400 CO2 has a typical yield strength of 0.4 MPa (0.058 ksi) and a tensile strength of 0.6 MPa (0.087 ksi) — weaker than 96% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 4 listed tempers.
Is XPS 400 CO2 easy to machine?
Yes — machinability is rated excellent (92/100, better than 99% of polymer grades). Cut with hot wire, sharp knife, fine-tooth saw or CNC router at high feed; avoid solvent-based marker/adhesive contact and collect static-prone dust.
Can XPS 400 CO2 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (15/100). Not weldable in the structural sense; panels are joined with mechanical fasteners, XPS-compatible foam adhesives or hot-melt/heat plate tack for CNC blanks.
What surface finishes work on XPS 400 CO2?
Overlay with cement board, screed, cementitious render on planed/grooved faces, or geotextile/membrane; must be shielded from UV, solvents and hot bitumen.
Can XPS 400 CO2 be formed, bent or molded?
Produced only by continuous extrusion of the PS/blowing-agent melt through a slot die into a calibrated board; site shaping is subtractive, thermoforming is not practical.
What is the maximum service temperature of XPS 400 CO2?
XPS 400 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 400 CO2 and XPS 400 HD500?
CO2 is the default condition — default modern XPS 400 board: CO2 or HFO blowing agent, extrusion skin retained, for load-bearing insulation under slabs and inverted roofs. HD500: select instead of XPS 400 for heavy-traffic decks, rail/road frost layers and high-rise foundations needing ≥500 kPa. Yield strength is 0.4 MPa in CO2 versus 0.52 MPa in HD500.
Sources
- EN 13164 — Thermal insulation products for buildings: factory-made extruded polystyrene foam (XPS) specification — CEN (2020)
- EN 826 / EN 1607 / EN 12089 / EN 12090 — compression, tensile, bending and shear test methods for insulation products — CEN (2013)
- EN ISO 10456 — Building materials: tabulated design thermal values — CEN/ISO (2007)
- XPS high-load board datasheets (Owens Corning FOAMULAR, Ursa XPS, Jackon Jackodur, Soprema/Austrotherm) — manufacturers (2024)
- Polystyrene foam property data and cellular-polymer mechanics — ASM/Hanser polymer literature (2015)
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.