EPS foam blocks are large, rectangular or square-shaped blocks made from expanded polystyrene beads, commonly used in construction, insulation, and other applications.
Bead Expansion: EPS block molding machines typically start with the process of bead expansion.
Pre-Expanding Chamber: The pre-expanded beads are transferred to a pre-expanding chamber within the machine. The steam softens the polystyrene and vaporizes the pentane gas inside the beads, creating a cellular structure within the material.
Block Molding: Once the beads have been expanded, they are transferred to the block molding section of the machine. The expanded beads are placed into a mold or tooling that defines the shape and size of the EPS foam blocks. The mold consists of multiple sections that can be opened and closed.
Closing and Pressing: When the expanded beads are in the mold, the sections of the mold are closed, and pressure is applied to compress the beads. This compression allows the beads to fuse together, forming a solid and uniform structure.
Cooling: After the pressing stage, the mold is cooled to solidify the EPS foam and shape it into a block. Cooling is typically achieved through the circulation of chilled water or other cooling methods. Proper cooling ensures that the foam retains its shape and stability.
Mold Opening and Block Ejection: Once the EPS foam block has cooled and solidified, the mold is opened, and the finished block is ejected from the machine. The mold sections may have ejector pins or other mechanisms to facilitate the removal of the molded block.
