POLYSTYRENE
EDWARD BRUNS
MOHAMMED ALZAYER
M AT E 3 5 1
1 2 / 11 / 2 0 1 3
Why PS?
Hispalois, . "CD box made of GPPS and HIPS." Wikimedia Commons, 05 May 2007. Web. 8 Dec
2013.
Kyriaki, . "Image of White Zinfandel in plastic cups." Wikimedia Commons, 31 May 2006. Web. 8
Dec 2013.
Tomia. "Plastic recycle logo PS.“ Wikimedia Commons, 22 Feb 2006. Web. 8 Dec 2013.
Outline
• Overview of PS
• Synthesis:
Mechanisms
Steps
Tactisity
• Properties
Physical
Thermal
Mechanical
• Applications
Foam Peanuts (EPS)
Other Applications
Overview
•
•
•
•
Monomer(s): Styrene (reaction below)
Contains: Phenyl rings
Mn Range: 100,000–400,000
Key Characteristic: Thermoplastic
Mills, Ben, and Jynto. "Ball and stick model of the styrene molecule.." . Wikimedia Commons,
9 Nov 2009. Web. 25 Nov 2013.
Padleckas, H. "Ethylbenzene to Styrene." . Wikimedia Commons, 23 Jan 2005. Web. 25 Nov
2013.
Saklıdır, Tüm. "PS Production." Aral Chemicals, (2012). Web. 8 Dec 2013.
Synthesis
• Mechanism:
Addition
• This includes:
free radicals, cationic, anionic
• Steps:
Initiation, Propagation, Termination
Synthesis Steps
• Initiation:
• Propagation:
"Polymers Production." School of Materials Science and Engineering. The University of New
South Wales. Web. 25 Nov 2013.
Synthesis Steps
• Termination:
1. Combination
2. Disproportionation
"Polymers Production." School of Materials Science and Engineering. The University of New
South Wales. Web. 25 Nov 2013.
"Polymer Synthesis." Polymers and Liquid Crystals. Case Western Reserve University. Web. 25
Nov 2013.
Tacticity and Crystallinity
Isotactic
Syndiotactic
Commercial
Mostly amorphous
Atactic
Increase crystallinity
Commercial
"Tacticity." Polymer Science Learning Center. Polymer Science Learning Foundation. Web. 25
Nov 2013.
Forms of PS
General Purpose PS
(GPPS)
High Impact PS (HIPS)
Expanded PS (EPS)
"Assembled CD Jewel Cases & Clear Trays." Disc Makers, n.d. Web. 8 Dec 2013.
Mammal, Small. "I, Party Cup: A Documentary." Grist.org, (2012). Web. 8 Dec 2013.
"Round White EPS Foam Disc 6"." Party Supplies. Maple Craft, (2012). Web. 8 Dec 2013.
Forms of PS
Characteristics
General Purpose
PS (GPPS)
High Impact PS
(HIPS)
Expanded PS (EPS)
Clear, hard, brittle
Tough, hard
Tough, lightweight,
rigid-foam
Cost index ($/lbs)
≤ 0.9
Embodied energy
(MJ/kg)
86.40
87.40
88.60
Trade names
Dylene (Arco)
Bextrene
Styropor (BASF),
Styrofoam
Hammond, Geoff, and Craig Jones. "Ineventory of Carbon and Energy." Department of
Mechanical Engineering. University of Bath, UK, 01 Jan 2011. Web. 8 Dec 2013.
Material Properties Database. MakeItFrom.com (2009). Web. 8 Dec 2013.
"PS Polymer Profile." Omnexus. SpecialChem SA, (2013). Web. 8 Dec 2013.
"Styropor® Expandable Polystyrene (EPS)." BASF, (2007). Web. 8 Dec 2013.
"High Impact Polystyrene (HIPS)." EZ Chem, LLC, (2009). Web. 8 Dec 2013.
Physical Properties
Density
(g/cm3)
Glass
Transition T
(°C)
General
Purpose PS
(GPPS)
High Impact Expanded
PS (HIPS)
PS (EPS)
Rubber
bands
(natural)
Legos (ABS)
1.05
1.04
0.9-1.0
1.06
-70
100
0.008-1.10
100
Material Properties Database. MakeItFrom.com (2009). Web. 8 Dec 2013.
Material Property Data. MatWeb, LLC, (1996). Web. 8 Dec 2013.
Thermal Properties
General
Purpose PS
(GPPS)
High Impact Expanded
PS (HIPS)
PS (EPS)
Rubber
bands
(natural)
Legos (ABS)
Thermal
0.14
Conductivity
(W/m-K)
0.22
0.0270.0418
0.14
0.23
Thermal
Expansion
(µm/m-K)
(20°C)
80
0.08-70
225
95
120
Material Properties Database. MakeItFrom.com (2009). Web. 8 Dec 2013.
Material Property Data. MatWeb, LLC, (1996). Web. 8 Dec 2013.
Mechanical Properties
General
Purpose PS
(GPPS)
High Impact Expanded
PS (HIPS)
PS (EPS)
Rubber
bands
(natural)
Legos (ABS)
Young’s
modulus
(GPa)
2.9
1.9
0.00650.04
-
1.9
UTS (MPa)
46
80
0.08-0.911
3.5-35
40
Elongation
at break (%)
2%
40%
5-13.4%
300-900 %
20%
Material Properties Database. MakeItFrom.com (2009). Web. 8 Dec 2013.
Material Property Data. MatWeb, LLC, (1996). Web. 8 Dec 2013.
Applications: Foam Peanuts
• Why PS?
• Processing of Expanded
Polystyrene (EPS):
- PS beads + 6 wt% pentane.
- Expand beads.
- Dry and cure beads.
- Transfer pre-expanded
beads to molds.
• environmental concerns
"Packaging Peanuts A to Z." Inspire Creators. Davison, 20 Oct 2010. Web. 25 Nov 2013.
"Polystyrene Processing." EGTEI. The Interprofessional Technical Centre for Studies on Air
Pollution (CITEPA). Web. 25 Nov 2013.
Salazar, Dennis. "Two New Green Packaging Products Eliminate the Use of Bubble Packaging
and/or Packing Peanuts." . Salazar Packaging, inc., 26 Jul 2012. Web. 25 Nov 2013.
Applications: Others
• GPPS:
injection molded or
thermoformed
Food containers (HIPS)
• HIPS:
Polybutadiene
added during
polymerization
Packaging (EPS)
Lab supplies (GPPS)
"Disposable Polystyrene Sample Cups." SKS Science, n.d. Web. 8 Dec 2013.
"Plastic Food Packaging." Plastic Ingenuity, 12 Mar 2013. Web. 8 Dec 2013.
"Polystyrene and Styrolux." BASF, n.d. Web. 8 Dec 2013.
"Styro Boxes." Aqua-Pak., n.d. Web. 8 Dec 2013.
"Disposable Polystyrene Sample Cups." SKS Science, (2012). Web. 8 Dec 2013.
Rovere, Correa, Grassi, and Dal Pizzol. "Role of the rubber content on the toughness of high
impact polystyrene." Springer US, 01 Feb 2008. Web. 8 Dec 2013.
Conclusion
• Polystyrene (PS) is a thermoplastic polymerized
from styrene monomer by addition
• Cheap to produce, hence one of the most popular
polymers
• Pure PS is brittle (GPPS), adding polybutadiene
makes it tougher (HIPS)
• Foam form of PS can be produced by adding a
blowing agent (EPS)
• Applications include packaging and containers