PS (general purpose, ‘crystal’) Material Data Sheet

PS (general purpose, ‘crystal’) Designation

Polystyrene (Medium/High Flow, Homopolymer)

PS (general purpose, ‘crystal’) Tradenames

Aarolene, Americas Styrenics, Bapolan, Certene, Chuan, Deltech, Diamond, Dylite, Edistir, Eporex, Evosource, Expandable, Extir, Gecet, Grupo Idesa, Hybranch, Hyrene, Icorene, Idemitsu, Innova, King Pearl, Krasten, Kumho, Lgstrene, Ming, Mtegrity, Neftekhim, Nexus, Okirol, Osterlene, Owispol, Polimaxx, Polyrex, Pre-Elec, Primaflex, Shuman, Sinelec, Solarene, Styron, Styropor, Supreme, Supreme Masterbatch, Surespec, Synthos, Tairirex, Taitacell, Taitarex, Total, Valtra, Yanshan

PS (general purpose, ‘crystal’) Typical uses

Toys, light diffusers, beakers, cutlery, general household appliances, video/audio cassette cases, electronic housings, refrigerator liners.

PS (general purpose, ‘crystal’) Compositional summary

(CH(C6H5)-CH2)n
Material family	Plastic (thermoplastic, amorphous)
Base material	PS (Polystyrene)
Polymer code	PS

PS (general purpose, ‘crystal’) Composition detail

Polymer

100

PS (general purpose, ‘crystal’) Physical properties

Density

1.04

–

1.05

g/cm³

PS (general purpose, ‘crystal’) Mechanical properties

Young’s modulus	2.28	–	3.28	GPa
Specific stiffness	2.18	–	3.14	MN.m/kg
Yield strength (elastic limit)	28.7	–	41.4	MPa
Tensile strength	35.9	–	51.7	MPa
Specific strength	27.5	–	39.6	kN.m/kg
Elongation	1.2	–	2.5	% strain
Compressive modulus	3.3	–	3.37	GPa
Compressive strength	82.7	–	89.6	MPa
Flexural modulus	2.61	–	3.37	GPa
Flexural strength (modulus of rupture)	69	–	101	MPa
Shear modulus	0.817	–	1.18	GPa
Bulk modulus	4.23	–	4.44	GPa
Poisson’s ratio	0.387	–	0.403
Shape factor	7
Hardness – Vickers	9	–	12	HV
Hardness – Rockwell M	60	–	75
Hardness – Rockwell R	99	–	109
Elastic stored energy (springs)	150	–	314	kJ/m³
Fatigue strength at 10^7 cycles	14.4	–	20.7	MPa

PS (general purpose, ‘crystal’) Impact & fracture properties

Fracture toughness	0.7	–	1.1	MPa.m^0.5
Toughness (G)	0.182	–	0.435	kJ/m²
Impact strength, notched 23 °C	2.86	–	3.15	kJ/m²
Impact strength, notched -30 °C	1.9	–	2.1	kJ/m²
Impact strength, unnotched 23 °C	8.6	–	14.9	kJ/m²
Impact strength, unnotched -30 °C	3.87	–	4.27	kJ/m²

PS (general purpose, ‘crystal’) Thermal properties

Glass temperature	90	–	100	°C
Heat deflection temperature 0.45MPa	86	–	96	°C
Heat deflection temperature 1.8MPa	76	–	94	°C
Vicat softening point	90	–	100	°C
Maximum service temperature	75	–	90	°C
Minimum service temperature	-75	–	-65	°C
Thermal conductivity	0.12	–	0.14	W/m.°C
Specific heat capacity	1.2e3	–	1.3e3	J/kg.°C
Thermal expansion coefficient	90	–	149	µstrain/°C
Thermal shock resistance	77.4	–	153	°C
Thermal distortion resistance	8.6e-4	–	0.00145	MW/m

PS (general purpose, ‘crystal’) Electrical properties

Electrical resistivity	1e25	–	1e27	µohm.cm
Electrical conductivity	1.72e-25	–	1.72e-23	%IACS
Dielectric constant (relative permittivity)	2.4	–	2.6
Dissipation factor (dielectric loss tangent)	1e-4	–	3e-4
Dielectric strength (dielectric breakdown)	19.7	–	22.6	MV/m
Comparative tracking index	275	–	575	V

PS (general purpose, ‘crystal’) Magnetic properties

Magnetic type

Non-magnetic

PS (general purpose, ‘crystal’) Optical, aesthetic and acoustic properties

Refractive index	1.55	–	1.61
Transparency	Optical quality
Acoustic velocity	1.47e3	–	1.78e3	m/s
Mechanical loss coefficient (tan delta)	0.0122	–	0.0175

PS (general purpose, ‘crystal’) Absorption & permeability

Water absorption @ 24 hrs	0.01	–	0.03	%
Water vapor transmission	3.42	–	3.99	g.mm/m².day
Permeability (O2)	120	–	145	cm³.mm/m².day.atm

PS (general purpose, ‘crystal’) Processing properties

Polymer injection molding	Excellent
Polymer extrusion	Excellent
Polymer thermoforming	Excellent
Linear mold shrinkage	0.4	–	0.7	%
Melt temperature	177	–	260	°C
Mold temperature	35	–	55	°C
Molding pressure range	34.4	–	138	MPa

PS (general purpose, ‘crystal’) Durability

Water (fresh)	Excellent
Water (salt)	Excellent
Weak acids	Excellent
Strong acids	Limited use
Weak alkalis	Excellent
Strong alkalis	Acceptable
Organic solvents	Unacceptable
Oxidation at 500C	Unacceptable
UV radiation (sunlight)	Fair
Flammability	Highly flammable