Polystyrene (PS)

Aromatic vinyl thermoplastic produced in rigid, film, and expanded foam forms.

Core Principles & Analysis

• Expanded polystyrene foam is roughly 95 to 98 percent air by volume.
• First produced commercially by BASF in 1931.
• Pendant benzene rings make the glassy polymer brittle but optically clear.

Specifications & Metrics

• MONOMER: Styrene (C₈H₈)