How to Cut Styrofoam At Home

Necessary tools and materials

Foam slabs are a thick and highly porous material, they consist of more than 95% air, and it is difficult to cut them with no habit. How to cut polystyrene depends on the type of cut, the availability of tools and the amount of cutting work.

Polyfoam ordinary. terminology and characteristics of the material

In a broad sense, foams are considered an extensive class of cellular (foamed) plastics based on polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride, urea, phenol and even formaldehyde. All these materials are united by a minimum density and internal structure in the form of often located and small gas cavities. However, in practice, one has to deal with the only kind of polystyrene foam. low-pressure polystyrene foam, abbreviated PSV.

Only it has an affordable cost, all other cellular plastics in production are much more expensive and are rarely used in the construction and repair business. The international name for low pressure polystyrene foam (PSV) is the brand name styrofoam, BASF patented by the development company back in the 50s of the XX century. The documentation for imported polystyrene often uses the abbreviation EPS. For practical purposes, it is important to know that all these terms are styrofoam, PSV and EPS – denote an ordinary and familiar from childhood foam.

The structure in the form of small gas pores and the significant dimensions of the plates determine the main operational advantages of the foam:

Video: How to Cut Styrofoam At Home

• Excellent thermal insulation on either side of the house. You can perform foam insulation indoors, you can perform this procedure outside, you can combine external and internal insulation, and the cost of such a “double” protection will still be lower than the estimate for a new-fangled roll insulator;
• Excellent acoustic protection of rooms. In fact, sound comfort is already achieved during thermal insulation work. if frost cannot penetrate the foam layer, then loud sounds are all the more beyond the power of it;
• Environmental Safety. Polyfoam is absolutely non-toxic, including on exposed scaffolds and with prolonged use. Some varieties are allowed to contact with food, which is regulated by European quality standards (!). over, the polystyrene is safe for repairs; there is not the slightest need to try the walls “pasted” on it;
• High resistance to mold, dampness, microorganisms, fungi, algae and other undesirable companions of human life. In order to enhance the durability of such consumer qualities, do-it-yourself foam cutting should be done accurately and competently;
• Easy installation due to miniature weight. This quality greatly simplifies the transportation and installation of polystyrene foam, however, when working outdoors, it is worth paying attention to possible “wind difficulties”. the polystyrene blank will easily carry away even a slight blow of the breeze.

Of course, before any use of polystyrene foam, it is necessary to take into account possible complications. Firstly, this material is destroyed by exposure to most technical fluids. from acetone and gasoline to white spirit and solvents for enamels. This destruction is intense even with the vaporous effect of industrial fluids on the foam.

Secondly, it is necessary to pay special attention to the estimated operating temperature of the surface pasted with foam. Already at 50 ˚C. 60 ˚C, some types of foam slabs begin to crumble, their inner bubbles combine into large gaps and cavities. Coloring of the surfaces warmed by polyfoam needs to be thought over in advance, otherwise the thermal comfort of the whole room will suffer from toxic nitro-paint.

To repair kitchens, saunas and facades brightly shined by the sun, foam should be used with great care. high temperatures destroy it.