Hopper: EPS beads, which are small polystyrene pellets, are loaded into a hopper located at the top of the machine.
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.
