SIBUR to Expand the EPS Production

Thu, 10 January 2008

SIBUR is about to start the construction of a new expandable polystyrene plant at Sibur-Khimprom CJSC (Perm).

The design capacity of the first line is 50 kta that would expectedly expand to 100 kta later on. The total capital investment cost for the first stage of the project is estimated at about 1.6 billion roubles.

Upon completion of the basic design in 2008 detail engineering, equipment procurement, and site preparation would be performed. The plant is due for start-up at the second half of 2010.

Expandable polystyrene (EPS) is produced by styrene polymerization with the addition of a gaseous foaming agent. EPS can be foamed into insulating boards and other finished products. The product has excellent heat-insulating and sound-proofing properties, high impact resistance, tensile strength, vibration resistance, light stability, and is also water- and dust-proof. EPS is resistant to hydrolysis, grease, acids, alkali and acid solutions.

EPS is widely used in construction for the production of insulating boards for thermal insulation of walls and ceilings (foam plastic), as well as for the production of thin-wаll items, flame retardant and food packaging.

Expandable polystyrene is an environmentally friendly product. Styrene contains carbon and hydrogen. It dissipates very rapidly into water and carbon dioxide when released into the atmosphere. When burning, EPS forms water and carbon dioxide, which is peculiar for other organic materials, e.g. wood.