Polystyrene (PS) is a thermoplastic resin with good processing properties. It is used in many applications including food packaging, domestic appliances, electronic goods, toys, household goods and furniture.
The loss of growth in demand for PS has been a major challenge for the industry. One of the main reasons has been the high cost of feedstocks blamed on the soaring price of benzene. Overcapacity has also been a problems and despite capacity cuts, the polystyrene market remains 30% oversupplied.
Styrene will polymerise spontaneously on heating in an oxygen-free atmosphere but catalysts are added to ensure complete polymerisation at lower temperatures. There are three types of polystyrene processes generally used - suspension, solution and mass (bulk) polymerisation.
Two main types of polystyrene are produced: crystal which is a clear, amorphous resin with good stiffness and electrical properties; and impact which contains varying levels of polybutadiene to improve toughness and impact resistance. Polystyrene depolymerises when heated above 300oC and burns with a smoky flame.
Polystyrene
Price Reports
ICIS pricing gives you access to a quarterly overview of the polystyrene (PS) market, including any major price movements, key developments and market commentary.
More about Polystyrene Price Reports
Polystyrene
Uses and Outlook
Polystyrene (PS) is a thermoplastic resin with good processing properties. It is used in many applications including food packaging, domestic appliances, electronic goods, toys, household goods and furniture.
More about Polystyrene Uses and Outlook
Polystyrene
Process Technologies
Polystyrene was first produced commercially in the 1930s and the ready availability of styrene feedstock has helped it to grow. Styrene will polymerise spontaneously on heating in an oxygen-free atmosphere but catalysts are added to ensure complete polymerisation at lower temperatures. Processes have been designed to aid heat transfer from the exothermic reaction, which can lead to low molecular weight polymers being formed if not controlled.
More about Polystyrene Process Technologies
Search for
Polystyrene
Suppliers
If you are sourcing
Polystyrene
products and services, use ICIS search for fast and accurate results. ICIS search
is the search engine dedicated to the chemical industry – we show you only relevant
results -
search now.
Polystyrene
Price Forecasting
Do you want to know next month’s
Polystyrene
price now? Since launching, ICIS forecasting has accurately predicted price direction
changes in even the most volatile markets.
Request your free sample Polystyrene report .
Polystyrene
Plants and Projects
Get the latest information on global
Polystyrene
plants and projects