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Abstract
A German manufacturer of styrofoam beads, BASF, has developed a new type of high-R expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam. BASF's Neopor foam boasts an R-value of 4.4 to 4.7 per inch, considerably higher than typical EPS foams, which range from R-3.1 to R-4.2 per inch. Unfortunately, BASF marketing materials provide an inadequate explanation of how Neopor's improved performance is achieved. In spite of this limitation, BASF's claims appear to be well founded. While EPS foam is typically white, Neopor foam is gray. The graphic added to Neopor improves its performance by darkening the product, thereby reducing the amount of heat radiation that can pass through the foam. The graphite in Neopor acts as an "opacifier" that darkens the material. In Europe, Neopor has been installed on the exterior facades of existing buildings undergoing energy retrofit work.