Polystyrene 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.
Compliance & Regulations
| Property | Value | Unit | Conditions | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Compressive Strength(σc) | 2.697 | ksi | — | ||
Elongation at Break(εf) | 37.62 | - | — | ||
Flexural Strength (MOR)(σf) | 5.180 | ksi | — | ||
Hardness (Vickers)(HV) | 234.1 | HV | — | ||
Ultimate Tensile Strength(σUTS) | 4.641 | ksi | — | ||
Young's Modulus(E) | 296 | ksi | — |
| Property | Value | Unit | Conditions | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Glass Transition Temperature(Tg) | 208.4 | °F | — | ||
Melting Point / Solidus(Tm) | 460.9 | °F | — | ||
Maximum Service Temperature(Tmax) | 670.1 | °F | — | ||
Thermal Conductivity(k) | 0.1216 | BTU/(hr·ft·°F) | — |
| Property | Value | Unit | Conditions | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Band Gap(Eg) | 3.022 | eV | — |
| Property | Value | Unit | Conditions | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Refractive Index(n) | 1.582 | - | — |