• Small, white, spherical plastic beads
• Typically contain 3 - 8% by weight pentane blowing agent
• Pentane is in a family of flammable chemicals called alkanes:
  • CH₄ = methane (natural gas heating fuel)
  • C₃H₈ = propane (fuel for barbecue grills)
  • C₄H₁₀ = butane (cigarette lighter fuel)
  • C₅H₁₂ = pentane (EPS blowing agent)
  • C₈H₁₈ = octane (automotive fuel)

With appropriate safety measures in place, handling EPS is no different than handling any of these common fuels.

• Pentane vapors can be found in virtually all areas of an EPS converting facility including:
  • Bead storage
  • Pre-expansion
  • Pre-puff aging
  • Molding
  • Finished goods storage