polystyrene
polymerPolystyrene is a thermoplastic polymer produced by polymerization of the styrene monomer, valued for its rigidity, ease of processing, and low cost. It is widely used in consumer products, packaging, insulation, and disposable food service items where moderate strength and dimensional stability are sufficient. Engineers select polystyrene when lightweight construction, cost efficiency, and good machinability are priorities, though its brittleness at low temperatures and limited chemical resistance compared to engineering plastics like polycarbonate or ABS make it unsuitable for structural applications under stress or prolonged thermal exposure.
food packaging and foaminsulation boards and cupsconsumer electronics housingsinjection-molded containersdecorative and architectural trimdisposable labware
Compliance & Regulations
?UL 94?ITAR?EAR?Conflict Free?RoHS?REACH?TSCA?Prop 65
| Property | Value | Unit | Conditions | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Compressive Strength(σc) | — | ksi | — | — | |
Elongation at Break(εf) | — | - | — | — | |
Flexural Strength (MOR)(σf) | — | ksi | — | — | |
Hardness (Vickers)(HV) | — | HV | — | — | |
Ultimate Tensile Strength(σUTS) | — | ksi | — | — | |
Young's Modulus(E) | — | ksi | — | — |
Verified Unverified Low confidence (<80%) Link to source
| Property | Value | Unit | Conditions | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Glass Transition Temperature(Tg) | — | °F | — | — | |
Melting Point / Solidus(Tm) | — | °F | — | — | |
Maximum Service Temperature(Tmax) | — | °F | — | — | |
Thermal Conductivity(k) | — | BTU/(hr·ft·°F) | — | — |
Verified Unverified Low confidence (<80%) Link to source
| Property | Value | Unit | Conditions | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Band Gap(Eg) | — | eV | — | — |
Verified Unverified Low confidence (<80%) Link to source
| Property | Value | Unit | Conditions | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Refractive Index(n) | — | - | — | — |
Verified Unverified Low confidence (<80%) Link to source
Regulatory Screening
Environmental
Export Control
Safety & Biocompatibility
Quality & Standards
Industry-Specific
RoHS, REACH, and Prop 65 statuses are validated against official substance lists (ECHA SVHC Candidate List, OEHHA Prop 65, RoHS Annex II). Other regulations are estimated from composition and material classification. All screening is a starting point for due diligence — always verify with your supplier before making compliance decisions.