Hopper: EPS beads, which are small polystyrene pellets, are loaded
into a hopper located at the top of the machine. The hopper feeds the beads into the subsequent stages of the
process.
Pre-Expanding Chamber: The EPS beads are transferred from the
hopper to the pre-expanding chamber. In this chamber, the beads are exposed to steam and heat, causing
them to expand. The steam penetrates the beads, softening the polystyrene and
vaporizing the pentane gas inside, creating a cellular structure
within the material.
Expansion Control: EPS expander machines are equipped with controls
to regulate the steam flow, temperature, and expansion time. These controls allow the operator to achieve consistent expansion
and control the density and size of the expanded beads.
Aging Silo: After pre-expansion, the expanded beads are transferred
to an aging silo or chamber. This silo allows the beads to cool and stabilize, reducing their
moisture content and ensuring uniform expansion. The aging process helps optimize the properties of the expanded
beads for further processing.
Drying (Optional): Depending on the specific requirements and
applications, some EPS expander machines may include a drying stage
to remove any remaining moisture from the expanded beads.
Discharge: Once the expanded beads have gone through the
pre-expansion and aging processes, they are discharged from the
machine. The expanded EPS beads can then be collected, stored, and used in
subsequent manufacturing steps.
