Polystyrene (PS)
- An everyday plastic used in many day to day applications, for example food packaging
- Standard plastic polystyrene is transparent and translucent with a high surface quality
- Well suited to use in high-frequency technology due to its good dielectric properties and radiation resistance
A flexible solution
Polystyrene offers high stiffness, medium hardness and viscosity, but a low impact resistance. While the temperature range of permanent application is roughly between -10 °C and 80 °C (14 °F to 176 °F), special polystyrene types can even be used from -30 °C to 70 °C (-22 °F to 158 °F). Its melting point is at 240 °C (464 °F).
High-level resistance
Chemically resistant to acids and bases, provided their concentration is not too high, polystyrene is also resistant to fats and oils. It must not, however, come into contact with oxidants and aliphatic, aromatic or chlorinated hydrocarbons. Whilst completely soluble in many esters and ketones plus in aromatic and chlorinated hydrocarbons, polystyrene is flammable and not resistant to atmospheric influences.
An everyday plastic
PS is most commonly used for packaging (especially food packaging), sound and thermal insulation. It is also used to produce supermarket shelving systems or high racks. It is possible to produce high-impact polystyrene (PS-HI). And, if modified with natural rubber, PS can also be used to manufacture housings for the electronic industry.
