Polystyrene (PS) is a rigid, amorphous thermoplastic polymer produced by polymerization of styrene monomer, known for its ease of processing and excellent dimensional stability. It is widely used in consumer products, packaging, and protective applications due to its low cost, good stiffness, and transparency, with expanded (foam) variants providing superior insulation and cushioning properties. Engineers select PS when cost-effectiveness and ease of manufacturing are priorities, though its brittleness at low temperatures and limited chemical resistance make it unsuitable for high-stress or solvent-exposed environments.
Compliance & Regulations
| Property | Value | Unit | Conditions | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hardness (Vickers)(HV) | 2,700 | HV | — | ||
Ultimate Tensile Strength(σUTS) | 68.33 | MPa | — | ||
Young's Modulus(E) | 3.000 | GPa | — |
| Property | Value | Unit | Conditions | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Glass Transition Temperature(Tg) | 371.6 | K | — | ||
Melting Point / Solidus(Tm) | 399.7 | K | — | ||
Maximum Service Temperature(Tmax) | 512 | K | — | ||
Thermal Conductivity(k) | 0.2050 | W/(m·K) | — |
| Property | Value | Unit | Conditions | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Refractive Index(n) | 1.592 | - | — |