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Why XPS Needs Surface Treatment & Are You Aware of the Advantages?​

Why XPS Needs Surface Treatment & Are You Aware of the Advantages?​


Regarding surface treatments for XPS insulation boards, besides fluting and planing, there are indeed several other common processes. The primary objective of ​​all​​ these treatments is ​​to enhance the bonding strength​​ between the board and rendering mortar, adhesives, or other materials. This is necessary because the original smooth, dense surface offers poor adhesion.


​​Fluting

  • Process :​​ Mechanically machining parallel grooves (flutes) into the board surface.
  • ​​Purpose :​​ Significantly increases the bonding surface area (more than double compared to a flat surface); provides a mechanical interlocking structure for mortar or adhesive, greatly improving pull-off strength and shear resistance; assists in partial moisture dissipation .
  • ​​Characteristics :​​ Delivers a very significant improvement in bond strength; one of the most effective and widely used processes. Commonly used in External Thermal Insulation Composite Systems, roofs (especially pitched roofs), and other applications requiring high adhesion. Overall board thickness is ​​not reduced​​ after fluting.
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XPS_去皮.jpg

​​Planing

  • ​​Process :​​ Using mechanical equipment (e.g., planers) to uniformly remove the outermost smooth skin layer of the board (typically around 1mm thick).
  • ​​Purpose :​​ Removes the dense, smooth skin, exposing the rough, porous internal foam cell structure.
  • ​​Characteristics :​​ Dramatically improves mortar adhesion; provides a qualitative leap in bonding performance compared to untreated smooth surfaces. Cost is generally lower than fluting. Board thickness is ​​slightly reduced​​ by approximately 1mm after planing.

​​Embossing

  • Process :​​ Impressing a specific pattern (e.g., dimples, grid, rough texture) onto the surface using a patterned roller after board formation (before or after cooling).
  • ​​Purpose :​​ Increases surface roughness; creates micro-undulations through indentations to enhance mechanical interlocking and bond strength; may also provide anti-slip properties (particularly useful during roof installation).
  • ​​Characteristics :​​ Can be performed continuously on the production line for high efficiency. Effectiveness is superior to a smooth surface but generally less robust than fluting or planing. ​​Maintains​​ the original board thickness.
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​​Heat Treatment/Fusing

  • ​​Process :​​  Applying moderate heat to the XPS surface, causing the surface foam cells to melt, fuse together, or undergo slight deformation, thereby altering the surface structure.
  • ​​Purpose :​​ Intended to improve compatibility and bond strength with polymer-modified mortars by altering the surface morphology.
  • ​​Characteristics :​​  Less commonly applied compared to the previous methods.


  • ​Core Purpose:​​ All surface treatments fundamentally address ​​the poor bonding performance of the smooth skin​​.
  • ​Most Common Processes:​​ ​​Fluting​​ and ​​Planing (often including Sanding)​​ are currently the most widely used and reliably effective methods.
  • ​Embossing​​, as a relatively efficient process, also offers good results and is easily integrated into production lines.
  • ​Selection Considerations:​​ The specific treatment chosen depends on factors like required bond strength, application scenario (e.g., exterior walls, roofs, floors), cost, and available production equipment. High-performance ETICS typically prioritizes ​​fluted or planed boards​​.

For optimal selection during specification, it is highly recommended to request samples of boards with different surface treatments from suppliers, or to ask for pull-off strength test reports corresponding to the specific treatment methods. This allows for the best choice based on the specific project requirements.

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