External wall insulation is an important part of modern architecture. The selection of insulation materials affects the energy consumption and environmental friendliness of buildings. Among many materials, polystyrene foam is the mainstream variety in the insulation material market. However, it has been criticized for its flammability and environmental impact. Nowadays, many other environmentally friendly insulation materials have also been launched in the market.

First, let's talk about the limitations of polystyrene foam. On the one hand, it is a thermoplastic material with high thermal conductivity and poor insulation effect. Moreover, the lower the density, the worse the insulation performance. On the other hand, it is easy to burn and poses a risk to residents. This is because if a fire occurs, it will release a large amount of toxic substances. The key is that this material cannot be utilized by environmentally friendly material recycling companies.

In order to achieve sustainability, the insulation material industry is constantly developing energy-saving and environmentally friendly materials, such as polyurethane (PUR) foam insulation systems. Compared with polystyrene foam, polyurethane foam has lower thermal conductivity and is lighter, and does not contain harmful substances such as CFC and HCFC. Thanks to the sealing of air and the excellent performance of polyurethane, it can maintain high insulation performance while reducing the thickness of the wall. In other words, its use will reduce the demand for raw materials and lower building energy consumption.

Compared to PUR, mineral cotton (Rockwool) insulation can reduce weight significantly, which can save space to some extent. Moreover, mineral cotton is an environmentally friendly insulation material made from basalt minerals. It not only has the advantages of excellent quality, easy production, construction security, and long service life, but also uses mineral cotton insulation to reduce the emissions of pollutants such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter in urban buildings.

When choosing external wall insulation materials, not only should their insulation performance be considered, but also environmental factors should be taken into account. With the further improvement of environmental awareness and the continuous promotion of environmental policies, the market share of energy-saving and environmentally friendly insulation materials will gradually expand in the future.