Knowde Enhanced TDS
Identification & Functionality
- Additives Included
- Chemical Family
- Polymer Name
- Plastics & Elastomers Functions
- Technologies
- Product Families
Features & Benefits
- Labeling Claims
Applications & Uses
- Applications
- Plastics & Elastomers End Uses
- Plastics & Elastomers Processing Methods
- Applications
sunpor® A321 is used as a multi-application packaging material for contour moldings with a minimum wall thickness of 10 mm.
Properly processed EPS foam packaging made from sunpor® A321 provides high mechanical strength also with low densities, is not hygroscopic, and does not become friable in low temperatures.
Molded EPS packaging parts have to act as shock absorbers and cushion their content against blows from outside, i.e. they have to absorb the energy released in an impact. The mainly closed cell structure of molded foam parts made from sunpor® A321 absorbs the impact stress as "deformation work“.
In this process the air enclosed in the cells is first compressed, while bigger impact forces may also deform or crack the cell walls. Strength requirements, as well as testing and dimensioning, of EPS packaging are described in DIN 55471.
- Food Packaging
sunpor® A321 is made from styrene and additives which are, in accordance with Austrian and German provisions (if not already included in EU directives), suitable for the production of foodstuff packaging. It is the responsibility of the user to verify if a certain packaging material is suitable for the specific foodstuff to be packaged.
Properties
- Typical Properties
| Value | Units | Test Method / Conditions | |
| Density Range | 15 - 30 | kg/m3 | — |
| Granulate Geometry | Bead-shaped granulate | — | — |
| Typical Granulate Diameter (min. 95% by weight) | 0.7 - 1.1 | mm | — |
| Pentane Content (at the time of packaging) | min. 5.0 | % | — |
| Water Content (at the time of packaging) | max. 0.4 | % | — |
Technical Details & Test Data
- Processing
Pre-expansion
With discontinuously operating, state-of-the-art preexpanders sunpor® A321 can be pre-expanded to densities of approx. 18 kg/m³. Lower densities can be achieved by double pre-expansion or in optimized machines. sunpor® A321 has been treated with an antistatic agent to prevent a build-up of electro-static charge during transport.
Intermediate aging
Intermediate aging should be between 10 and 48 hours
Molding:
sunpor® A321 can be processed in industry-standard molding machines with a relatively wide range of steaming settings. If recycled material is added care has to be taken that the density of the recycled material equals the preexpansion density as closely as possible to prevent segregation during production.
Safety & Health
- Safety Instructions
Flammable pentane-air mixtures may be generated during storage and processing of sunpor® A321. For this reason, adequate ventilation must be ensured (LEL pentane 1.3 % by volume). The blowing agent pentane escapes relatively slowly from EPS foam blocks. Thus, when cutting recently molded blocks, the formation of a flammable pentane-air mixture has to be anticipated. In addition, all conceivable sources of ignition must be kept away, and the build-up of electric charges has to be prevented.
Packaging & Availability
- Packaging
sunpor® A321 is shipped in octabins (height max. 192 cm) on wooden pallets (114 x 114 cm) containing 1,150 kg net of material.
- Shipping
UN-Number 2211 Designation Polymeric beads, expandable
Class 9 Packing Group III ADR
Storage & Handling
- Storage
The octabins are not weather- or water-proof and must therefore not be exposed to outdoor conditions. It is not recommended to stack octabins more than one layer high. In case of double-stacking octabins under controlled conditions, the recommendations laid out in the document "Instructions for stacking sunpor octabins“ must be followed.
In order to obtain the desired properties of sunpor®A321, the raw material should be stored below 20 °C and be processed within one month.