New die helps XPS processors counter the HFC output-shortfall blues

摘要

Making the legally mandated transition from hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) blowing agents to chlorine-free HFC blowing agents was a good move for the ozone layer but a tough one economically for processors of extruded polystyrene (XPS) foam, who typically saw their production fall by about 30% due to process changes necessary to accommodate the new blowing agents. But a new die design from Extrusion Dies Industries LLC (EDI) is said to so reduce the lengthy downtime needed for product changeovers that it can help processors offset much of the loss in productivity caused by switching to non-ozone-depleting blowing agents.