Sort of a Big Development - Dupont Foam Board is now Gray

[Rivet Miscounter]

Not sure if this has been covered, searched Dupont and nothing came up recently.

I've been planning to reboot my Z layout for some time, and this includes expanding the size a small amount.   Track pretty well stays the same but the layout board needed to be completely replaced.   I also decided to add a layer of plywood to my former "foam-only" sandwich.   SO anyway, I was searching various sizes of foam and noticed that on Lowe's website the foam boards looked gray.  I thought it might have been some sort of covering but no, they are actually gray now.   I just bought some 1" and 1/2".

This is pretty helpful in the model railroading realm, any time the scenery or foam facia gets nicked and you see a nice pink or blue divot.

One possible downside, it does appear to be different.   Research revealed that this version is supposed to be more "greenhouse gas friendly".  Either a different formula or they let it age maybe before shipping it.   Haven't dug into it that far.

[Chris333]

My Lowes sells green foam
https://www.lowes.com/pd/GreenGuard-GreenGuard-LG-2-X4-X-8-XPS-Insulation-Board/5001939777

[Scottl]

Mine is more black than gray.  I like it but the sculptamold looks like melting snow.

[C855B]

... I was searching various sizes of foam and noticed that on Lowe's website the foam boards looked gray.  I thought it might have been some sort of covering but no, they are actually gray now.   I just bought some 1" and 1/2".
...
One possible downside, it does appear to be different.   Research revealed that this version is supposed to be more "greenhouse gas friendly". ...

Interesting. I'll have to make it a point to check our local Lowe's. Usually don't shop there, not after Menards opened around the corner.

It's useful to know that thickness selection varies by region at both Lowe's and Home Depot, and, at least here, foam inventory is seasonal. No problem at Menards, who stocks pink (Owens-Corning) 1/4" fanfold, 1/2", 1", 1-1/2" and 2" sizes full-time.

The greenhouse gas thing? I dunno. Were they using CO₂ to foam the styrene? It used to be CFCs. If they stock it here I'll pick up a sheet and compare it to pink and blue. Pink > blue in terms of strength and toolability, so I'm really curious.

[Scottl]

Many CFCs are proportionately worse greenhouse gases, they have a long lifetime in the atmosphere compared to CO2, so they are being altered for both climate and ozone depletion.  The ozone/climate-friendly versions are HCFCs are more reactive and flushed out relatively quickly.

[nkalanaga]

Scottl:  That actually looks good, for a late winter scene.  Make the foam a little browner, and it could be the basalt hills of eastern Washington and Oregon.

[JMaurer1]

Here in Cali we have two choices: pink foam...usually out of stock, or the styrofoam (little white balls of foam) that is practically unusable for model railroad purposes.

[C855B]

Yesterday I picked up a sheet of 1" DuPont foam board at Lowe's for $25. They had a fun time locating it because, yes, inventory showed 42 sheets, but it was still in the receiving area having only arrived last week. It's a light gray, not the charcoal-ish color Scott is using. Same price as pink (Owens-Corning) at Menards.

Local store is stocking 1/2" and 1", but the next closest Lowe's also has 2" for $47 while the pink 2"/25psi stuff I use is $37 at Menards.

No impression yet, things are a little nutso around here at the moment. Maybe this weekend?