Product Composition
Fullback® Insulated Siding is made of two components: a poly vinyl chloride (PVC) veneer and an expanded polystyrene (EPS) insulating foam backer. The composition of both components are listed below.
Vinyl Composition:
Vinyl, also known as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), starts with two simple building blocks: common salt (57%) and natural gas (43%). Salt, which chlorine is extracted from, is one of the Earth's most natural compounds. From the natural gas, ethylene is made. According to the U.S. Energy Information Agency's 2008 Short-term Energy outlook, most natural gas utilized to manufacture ethylene is domestically produced, which reduces consumption of imported oil products.*
EPS Insulation Composition:
The insulating foam backer is made of expanded polystyrene (EPS), which is 98% air and 2% plastic. Polystyrene is formed by linking together molecules of styrene monomer, which consists solely of carbon and hydrogen. Styrene occurs naturally and is found in many foods and beverages, such as coffee, milk, strawberries, tomatoes, olives and nuts.
Pentane is used to blow polystyrene into it's final lightweight, expanded cellular form. During the blowing process, pentane is reduced to water and carbon dioxide. Pentane has a low volatility and is created in nature when vegetable matter breaks down. It is a non CFC and is not harmful to the ozone later, unlike CFC's and HCFC's.
EPS has been proven to be a safe, highly-effective compound which provides excellent thermal insulation because air is a poor conductor of heat when trapped in the "bubbles" and not allowed to circulate.
EPS is non toxic, non carcinogenic and non mutanogenic.
*12 Things You Didn't Know That Makes Vinyl Siding Green (VSI)
Below is more information about the Vinyl Siding Institute's certification process for vinyl siding.