2.2.1 XEPS Manufacturing Process XEPS begins as a solid granule that is fed into an extruder. The granules are melted and @ non-CFC blowing agent is injected into the mixture to make it foamable. Itis then forced through a die where the foam is shaped to the desired dimensions. Panel fabrication is similar to that described for EPS (Andrews 1992a, p. 29). 2.2.2 XEPS Thermal Properties Once the XEPS has been extruded, the thermal resistance is approximately R- 8.0 per inch. However, the blowing agent rapidly outgasses during the first three months, causing the R-value to decrease. The “aged” R-value is approximately R-5.0 per inch. Unlike EPS, the R-value is unaffected by the density. The average density is 1.5 Ibs/#. As with EPS, thermal performance increases with decreasing temperatures as shown in Table 2.3. All other thermal properties are similar to EPS (Andrews 1992a, p. 29). TABLE 2.3. XEPS Thermal Properties AMBIENT TEMPERATURE | 40 F | 75 F AGED R-VALUE 54 5.0 Source: Andrews 1992a, p. 29 2.2.3 XEPS Combustibility The combustibility characteristics of XEPS are similar to those of EPS (Andrews 1992a, p. 29). 24