As an interesting aside, we have a local manufacturer of bead foam
products that can make bead foam up to a comparable density as
divinicell, in which case it is a very different product as compared to
what we are used to seeing, and has some impressive properties. I
haven't been to the plant to view the product, but I'd love to play with
some samples.   I had entirely dismissed EPS as garbage until speaking
to their engineer.   The high density stuff (as much as 5psf) normally
is used beneath concrete where extremely high loads are expected.   They
manufacture to order, and I've seen 30 foot continuous lengths of the
stuff laminated between OSB sheets and other materials and simply stood
up for walls.  This of course is the low density stuff.........
    My own experiments with the low density extruded polystyrene foam
(blue or pink XPS) suggest that with heat and pressure it is possible to
create a pretty ideal foam with a higher density outer surface and lower
density core, more closely matched to the structural requirements of
core material.   The problem however is that when one heats and
compresses, the gas inside the cells has increased pressure.... which
gives it resilience, but also potentially means that at high temps it
might "revert" / expand back to original.   The cells in effect are mini
pressure vessels, and that is a mixed blessing.   I hope to build a
small pressing device to achieve a more controlled result over the next
day or two.

                                     H.W.

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