Testing Flexural Strength of Expanded Polystyrene Boards for In-Plant Quality Assurance

This article deals with determination of flexural strength for the pur pose of product quality assurance of expanded polystyrene (EPS) boards. Using a newly developed, inexpensive flexural strength tester (FST) and a systematic sam pling plan, flexural strength of eight experimental EPS products was evaluated. The FST was shown to yield results as precise as the standard ASTM test method. This agreement implies that sampling at specified mold locations and using the FST for in-plant testing could improve the process of quality assurance for EPS thermal in sulating boards.