Difference between revisions of "Geofoam"

Latest revision as of 09:22, 20 September 2010

Geofoam is expanded polystyrene (EPS) or extruded polystyrene (XPS) manufactured into large lightweight blocks. The blocks vary in size but are often 2 m x 0.75 m x 0.75 m. The primary function of geofoam is to provide a lightweight void fill below a highway, bridge approach, embankment or parking lot. EPS Geofoam minimizes settlement on underground utilities. Geofoam is also used in much broader applications, the major ones being as lightweight fill, green roof fill, compressible inclusions, thermal insulation, and (when appropriately formed) drainage.^[1]

The area of geofoam can nicely segue into geocombs, previously called ultralight cellular structures which Horvath ^[2] defines as “any manufactured material created by an extrusion process that results in a final product that consists of numerous open-ended tubes that are glued, bonded, fused or otherwise bundled together.” The cross-sectional geometry of an individual tube typically has a simple geometric shape (circle, ellipse, hexagon, octagon, etc.) and is of the order of 25 mm across. The overall cross-section of the assemblage of bundled tubes resembles a honeycomb that gives rise to its name. Presently, only rigid polymers (polypropylene and PVC) have also been used as geocomb material.

History

The first documented use of EPS Geofoam was in Norway in 1972 when it was used to raise the frost line beneath the Flom Bridge. The largest US project utilizing EPS Geofoam was the I-15 project in Salt Lake City in 2001. Geofoam was used to speed construction by reducing the time needed for settlement.^[3]

See also

• Geosynthetic

References

External links

• ACH Foam Technologies - Geofoam Manufacturer
• Atlas EPS - Geofoam Manufacturer
• EPS Molders Association