what is the structure of polystyrene

What is polystyrene, and what is it used for?

Polystyrene is prepared by free radical addition polymerization of styrene in the presence of benzoyl peroxide as a catalyst. It is used for making polystyrene products like polystyrene sheets, polystyrene foam, brush handles, and combs. It is used for making talcum powder.

What are the different uses of polystyrene?

few of the places that you’ve probably seen polystyrene:

• Plastic cutlery
• Shipping and packing materials
• Insulation in buildings
• Food packaging
• Libraries

What are the physical properties of polystyrene?

Properties of Polystyrene

• Physical Properties. The density of polystyrene can vary from 10kg/m3 to 50kg/m3. ...
• Mechanical Properties. The mechanical properties of a polymer include its strength, elongation, modulus, impact strength, and toughness.
• Optical Properties. ...
• Thermal Properties. ...
• Electrical Properties. ...
• Chemical Properties. ...
• Other Forms of Polystyrene. ...
• Uses. ...

What are the main polystyrene properties?

Polystyrene has a number of properties: it has a low melting point, it is translucent before tint is added, and it is hard and brittle. Depending on the application it is used for, Polystyrene’s properties will change. It is rigid, but when heated to 100 Celsius, it becomes a flowing liquid. The material can also be put into a foamed state.

What structure does polystyrene have?

Polystyrene is a vinyl polymer. Structurally, it is a long hydrocarbon chain, with a phenyl group attached to every other carbon atom. Polystyrene is produced by free radical vinyl polymerization, from the monomer styrene.

Does polystyrene have a linear structure?

Some of the common examples of linear polymers are polyethylene, PVC, polystyrene, and polyamides. Linear polymers are generally more rigid.

Is polystyrene linear or branched?

Pure polystyrene is a linear polymer.

What is the formation of polystyrene?

Polystyrene is created via the polymerization of styrene - a petroleum based, liquid hydrocarbon monomer. In this three-step synthesis, styrene is formed via the radical bromination of ethylbenzene and the elimination reaction of (1-bromo-ethyl)benzene.

What is the properties of polystyrene?

Unmodified polystyrene is clear, rigid, brittle and moderately strong. Its electrical properties as a dielectric material are good, though it has relatively low heat resistance. Polystyrene is soluble in most chlorinated and aromatic solvents, though not in alcohols.

What is the structure of the polymer?

A polymer is composed of many simple molecules that are repeating structural units called monomers. A single polymer molecule may consist of hundreds to a million monomers and may have a linear, branched, or network structure.

What is a branched structure?

Branched: A molecule or polymer with a nonlinear backbone. Branches sprout from one or more atoms of the main skeleton (or from monomers along the chain of a polymer).

What are the 3 basic structure of polymers?

The four basic polymer structures are linear, branched, crosslinked, and networked.

What is the structure of a linear polymer?

Structure of Linear Polymers A linear polymer is simply a chain in which all of the carbon-carbon bonds exist in a single straight line. An example of a linear polymer is Teflon, which is made from tetrafluoroethylene. It is a single strand of units made from two carbon atoms and four fluorine atoms.

What kind of polymer is polystyrene?

What is Polystyrene? (C8H8)n is a synthetic aromatic hydrocarbon polymer with the chemical name Polystyrene. Polystyrene is a hard, brilliantly transparent, stiff resin. It is produced by the polymerization of styrene and is the most widely used plastic.

What does the name polystyrene tell you about the structure of the compound?

What is the chemical structure of polystyrene? Polystyrene is a plastic. As its name suggests, it is made up of many ("poly") styrenes. Styrene is a small organic compound with the chemical formula C6H5CH=CH2.

How does polystyrene break down?

While it resists most chemicals, Styrofoam's one weakness is sunlight. In a process called photodegradation, requiring consistent exposure to sunlight, Styrofoam does start to break down, eventually forming a powdery substance.

What is the difference between polystyrene and styrofoam?

The foam that you formerly knew as styrofoam is actually expanded polystyrene foam or EPS. This material is made from polystyrene, a plastic that's often used to make clear products like food packaging or lab equipment.

How does polystyrene break down?

While it resists most chemicals, Styrofoam's one weakness is sunlight. In a process called photodegradation, requiring consistent exposure to sunlight, Styrofoam does start to break down, eventually forming a powdery substance.

Is polystyrene a chain growth polymer?

Commodity polymers, which are typically found in most consumer products, are usually formed by chain growth. These include polyethylene, polystyrene, and polypropylene. Polymerization in chain growth begins with a reaction between a monomer and a reactive species, which results in the formation of an active site.

What is the difference between polystyrene and expanded polystyrene?

XPS is manufactured in a continuous extrusion process that produces a closed cell form of foam insulation. EPS, on the other hand, is manufactured by expanding spherical beads in a mold and then using heat and pressure to fuse the beads together. Each product has proponents claiming one out performs the other.

1. Why is Polystyrene brittle in Nature?

Due to the chain stiffening effect of the benzene ring, polystyrene is hard but brittle in nature. It emits a characteristic metallic sound when dr...

2. Why does Polystyrene exist in Amorphous State?

Because of the presence of bulky phenyl groups, packing of polystyrene chains is not efficient and hence it is an amorphous polymer.

3. Explain the five properties of Polystyrene.

Five properties of polystyrene are given below:Polystyrene has a good optical property like it is a transparent polymer allowing high transmission...

4. What are the opinions of scientists on the safety of polystyrene foodservice packaging?

A 12-member worldwide expert panel assembled by the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis undertook a comprehensive study of potential health concerns l...

5. Is it typical for packaging materials to contaminate food?

Glass, aluminum, paper, and polymers like polystyrene all include chemicals that can "migrate" or sip into the foods or beverages at minimal levels...

6. Is it possible to develop eco-friendly styrene?

Several research organizations have been working on various modernization techniques to lower production costs and environmental implications throu...

7. Is polystyrene harmful to people?

Polystyrene contains carcinogens and neurotoxins, Styrene and Benzene, potentially dangerous to people. In reality, hot foods and drinks cause the...

8. What exactly is meant by the term extruded polystyrene?

Extruded polystyrene is a form of plastic used to manufacture various items, including building materials and storage containers. After this materi...

9. How can I download reading material from Vedantu?

Accessing material from Vedantu is extremely easy and student-friendly. Students have to simply visit the website of Vedantu and create an account....

Is polystyrene plastic?

Polystyrene (PS) plastic is a thermoplastic that is naturally transparent and available both as a standard solid plastic and in the form of a rigid...

Where does polystyrene come from?

Polystyrene is one of the best-known synthetic polymers there are polyethene, polypropylene and polyester among others. Styrene, the liquid hydroca...

Is polystyrene toxic to humans?

Polystyrene contains the toxic substances Styrene and Benzene, possible carcinogens and neurotoxins that are harmful to humans. In fact, hot foods...

Why is polystyrene useful?

Polystyrene is the packaging material of choice because it is light and cool. Snapping in half or collapsing is easy but, crucially, it is high in...

Is polystyrene polar or non-polar?

Because polystyrene contains only carbon hydrogen bonds, it is non-polar and can dissolve only in non-polar solvents, much as dissolves. The genera...

What is polystyrene used for?

Polystyrene ( (C 8 H 8) n ) Uses 1 Medically it is used for sterilizing test tubes, diagnostic components, and other medical devices. 2 It is used to manufacture car parts which include knobs, instrument panels, sound dampening foam, etc. 3 Polystyrene food service packaging keeps the food fresh for a longer period of time and is less expensive than alternatives. 4 It is used in packaging consumer goods such as DVD cases, egg cartons, to protect against spoilage or damage. 5 It provides thermal insulation and is used in refrigerators, freezers, etc. 6 Used in housing in all IT equipment such as Television, computer, etc.

Why is polystyrene used in packaging?

Polystyrene is the packaging material of choice, because it is light and cool. Snapping in half or collapsing is easy but, crucially, it is high in compression and thus protects fragile objects if dropped or crushed. Polystyrene is also a very strong insulator which means that it accumulates electrical charge easily.

What is the best synthetic polymer?

Polystyrene is one of the best known synthetic polymers there are polyethylene, polypropylene and polyester among others. Styrene, the liquid hydrocarbon from which EPF is made, was extracted from storax balsam in the late 19th century, which comes from a tree in Asia Minor called the Oriental sweet gum.

What is the most widely used plastic?

Polystyrene is a hard, brilliantly transparent, stiff resin. It is produced by the polymerization of styrene and is the most widely used plastic. At room temperature, the thermoplastic polymer is a solid but when heated above 100 °C it flows. It becomes rigid again when it cools down.

What is PS plastic?

Polystyrene (PS) plastic is a thermoplastic that is naturally transparent and available both as a standard solid plastic and in the form of a rigid foam material. PS plastic is widely used in a number of consumer product applications, and is also particularly useful for commercial packaging.

Is polystyrene soluble in water?

Polystyrene is insoluble in water. Polystyrene is compound is non-biodegradable with a couple of exceptions. It is easily dissolved by many aromatic hydrocarbon solvents and chlorinated solvents. It is widely used in the food-service industry as rigid trays, containers, disposable eating plates, bowls, etc.

Is polystyrene polar or nonpolar?

Because polystyrene contains only carbon hydrogen bonds, it is non-polar and can dissolve only in non-polar solvents, much as dissolves. The general starch structure is depicted below. Starch contains bonds of oxygen carbon and oxygen hydrogen which make it a polar molecule.

What is polystyrene polymer?

Polystyrene is an addition polymer that results when styrene monomers interconnect ( polymerization ). In the polymerization, the carbon-carbon π bond of the vinyl group is broken and a new carbon-carbon σ bond is formed, attaching to the carbon of another styrene monomer to the chain.

When was polystyrene discovered?

Polystyrene was discovered in 1839 by Eduard Simon, an apothecary from Berlin. From storax, the resin of the Oriental sweetgum tree Liquidambar orientalis, he distilled an oily substance, a monomer that he named styrol.

How is styrene butadiene rubber made?

Styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) is produced like PS-I by graft copolymerization, but with a lower styrene content. Styrene-butadiene rubber thus consists of a rubber matrix with a polystyrene phase dispersed therein. Unlike PS-I and SBC, it is not a thermoplastic, but an elastomer. Within the rubber phase, the polystyrene phase is assembled into domains. This causes physical cross-linking on a microscopic level. When the material is heated above the glass transition point, the domains disintegrate, the cross-linking is temporarily suspended and the material can be processed like a thermoplastic.

Why is polystyrene not recycled?

Most polystyrene products are currently not recycled due to the lack of incentive to invest in the compactors and logistical systems required . Due to the low density of polystyrene foam, it is not economical to collect. However, if the waste material goes through an initial compaction process, the material changes density from typically 30 kg/m 3 to 330 kg/m 3 and becomes a recyclable commodity of high value for producers of recycled plastic pellets. Expanded polystyrene scrap can be easily added to products such as EPS insulation sheets and other EPS materials for construction applications; many manufacturers cannot obtain sufficient scrap because of collection issues. When it is not used to make more EPS, foam scrap can be turned into products such as clothes hangers, park benches, flower pots, toys, rulers, stapler bodies, seedling containers, picture frames, and architectural molding from recycled PS. As of 2016, around 100 tonnes of EPS are recycled every month in the UK.

How long does it take for polystyrene to biodegrade?

Waste polystyrene takes hundreds of years to biodegrade and is resistant to photo-oxidation.

Which is stronger, acrylonitrile or polystyrene?

Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) is a material that is stronger than pure polystyrene.

What is the name of the substance that is heated with styrol?

This eventually led to the substance receiving its present name, polystyrene.

What is the difference between styrene and polystyrene?

The difference is chemistry. Styrene is a liquid that can be chemically linked to create polystyrene, a solid plastic that displays different properties. Polystyrene is used to make a variety of consumer products, such as foodservice containers, cushioning for shipping delicate electronics and insulation.

What is polystyrene foam?

Lightweight polystyrene foam provides excellent thermal insulation in numerous applications, such as building walls and roofing, refrigerators and freezers, and industrial cold storage facilities. Polystyrene insulation is inert, durable and resistant to water damage.

What is XPS foam?

Extruded polystyrene (XPS) foam is a rigid insulation that has also formed with polystyrene polymer, but manufactured using an extrusion process. This type of insulation can significantly reduce a building’s energy use and help control indoor temperature. Uses & Benefits. Safety Information.

Why is polystyrene used in foodservice?

Polystyrene foodservice packaging can help reduce food-borne illness in homes, hospitals, schools, nursing homes, cafeterias and restaurants. Polystyrene foodservice packaging is preferred by the foodservice industry because it works better than alternatives. Hot foods stay hot, cold foods stay cold, and fresh foods stay fresh.

Why are cups made of foam?

Commonly used cups, plates and sandwich containers made of foam polystyrene use significantly less energy and water than comparable paper-based or corn-based alternatives, primarily due to foam polystyrene’s much lower weight.

What is a styrofoam?

Many people incorrectly use the name STYROFOAM® to refer to polystyrene in food service; STYROFOAM® is a registered trademark of The Dow Chemical Company that refers to its branded building material products.

What are some appliances made of polystyrene?

Refrigerators, air conditioners, ovens, microwaves, vacuum cleaners, blenders – these and other appliances often are made with polystyrene (solid and foam) because it is inert (doesn’t react with other materials), cost-effective and long-lasting.

What is polystyrene made of?

What is Polystyrene? Polystyrene is a naturally transparent and synthetic thermoplastic extracted from a styrene monomer. It is typically available in two forms – Solid Plastic and rigid foam material.

How many grades of polystyrene are there?

There are three main grades of polystyrene used worldwide.

How is PS Made?

Like other thermoplastics, PS is made by filtration of hydrogen fuels into lighter groups called “fractions”. Some of those fractions are blended with certain catalysts to though polystyrene; the process is called polymerization. PS foams are made by “Blowing agents” that enlarge or lengthen and shape the foam so that it can trap air.

How much is polystyrene worth in 2023?

PS plastic and foam will have a market value of over USD 33 Billion by the end of 2023.

What are the disadvantages of polystyrene?

Disadvantages of Polystyrene – 1 High Flammability. Should be handled carefully 2 Recycling is possible but is very expensive 3 Harmful to environment 4 EPS, due to its low density, fill a large amount of space in the landfills.

When was styrene first used?

I. G. Farben started the commercial production of styrene monomer in Ludwigshafen by the year 1931. They used it in many applications by successfully developing a reactor vessel that extruded polystyrene through a heated tube and cutter, producing PS in pellet form.

When was PS plastic invented?

History of PS Plastic –. Polystyrene was invented in 1839 by Edward Simon, a medical professional from Berlin, Germany. He started by filtering an oily substance, a monomer made from Styrol (derived from storax). I. G. Farben started the commercial production of styrene monomer in Ludwigshafen by the year 1931.

What is the chemical structure of polystyrene?

Polystyrene is a plastic. As its name suggests, it is made up of many ("poly") styrenes. Styrene is a small organic compound with the chemical formula C 6 H 5 CH=CH 2. Styrene is also known as vinylbenzene. That’s because it has a vinyl (-CH=CH 2) functional group attached to a benzene ring (C 6 H 6 ).

What are the two main forms of polystyrene?

Polystyrene exists in two main forms: as a solid or as a foam. As a foam, its two forms are expanded polystyrene (EPS) and extruded polystyrene (XPS). Expanded polystyrene is commonly used in packaging. Extruded polystyrene (XPS) is commonly used in architectural models.

What is a long chain of repeating monomers called?

Long chains of repeating monomers are called polymers . Long-form and abbreviated skeletal formulae for polystyrene (Source: Let’s Talk Science using image by Yikrazuul via Wikimedia Commons ). When lots of styrene chains get mixed together, they get tangled up and make a strong, interconnected mesh. This is polystyrene.

How is polystyrene recycled?

Recycling polystyrene is possible. First , it is shipped to a recycling facility, where it is sorted and cleaned. Next, the polystyrene is shredded into tiny pieces.Then, it is exposed to heat, which causes it to melt into a paste. The paste is compressed and dried into pellets or blocks before it is shipped to another facility. There, it is made into new products.

Why is polystyrene so easy to make?

It is easy to make things with because it is a thermoplastic. Thermoplastics will fully become a liquid when they reach their melting point. When the thermoplastic is cooled, it becomes a solid again.

Why is polystyrene so lightweight?

Also, it is so lightweight that shipping companies don’t find it cost-effective to ship to a recycling centre. Plus, when poly styrene is used to store food or drinks, it is often too contaminated to reuse. That’s because the organic particles stick into the foam.

How long does polystyrene last?

There has been much debate about how long polystyrene will last in the environment, and scientists estimate that it could last anywhere from 500 years to possibly even forever. Because of all this, it’s important to reuse all of the polystyrene products that we can.

What is polystyrene foam made of?

Polystyrene foam was formerly made with the aid of chlorofluorocarbon blowing agents—a class of compounds that has been banned for environmental reasons. Now foamed by pentane or carbon dioxide gas, polystyrene is made into insulation and packaging materials as well as food containers such as beverage cups, egg cartons, and disposable plates and trays. Solid polystyrene products include injection-molded eating utensils, videocassettes and audiocassettes, and cases for audiocassettes and compact discs. Many fresh foods are packaged in clear vacuum-formed polystyrene trays, owing to the high gas permeability and good water-vapour transmission of the material. The clear windows in many postage envelopes are made of polystyrene film. The plastic recycling code number of polystyrene is #6. Recycled polystyrene products are commonly melted down and reused in foamed insulation.

How is styrene obtained?

Styrene is obtained by reacting ethylene with benzene in the presence of aluminum chloride to yield ethylbenzene. The benzene group in this compound is then dehydrogenated to yield phenylethylene, or styrene, a clear liquid hydrocarbon with the chemical structure CH 2 =CHC 6 H 5. Styrene is polymerized by using free-radical initiators primarily in bulk and suspension processes, although solution and emulsion methods are also employed. The structure of the polymer repeating unit can be represented as:

What is thermoplastic resin made of?

This rigid, relatively brittle thermoplastic resin is polymerized from styrene (CH2=CHC6H5). Styrene, also...

When was styrene polymerized?

The polymerization of styrene has been known since 1839 , when German pharmacist Eduard Simon reported its conversion into a solid later named metastyrol. As late as 1930 little commercial use had been found for the polymer because of brittleness and crazing (minute cracking), which were caused by impurities that brought about the cross-linking of the polymer chains. By 1937 American chemist Robert Dreisbach and others at the Dow Chemical Company ’s physics laboratory had obtained purified styrene monomer through the dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene and developed a pilot polymerization process. By 1938 polystyrene was being produced commercially. It quickly became one of the most important modern plastics, owing to the low cost of producing large volumes of styrene monomer, the ease of shaping the melted polymer in injection-molding operations, and the optical and physical properties of the material.

What is the recycling code for polystyrene?

The plastic recycling code number of polystyrene is #6. Recycled polystyrene products are commonly melted down and reused in foamed insulation. Despite its advantageous properties, polystyrene is brittle and flammable; it also softens in boiling water and, without the addition of chemical stabilizers, yellows upon prolonged exposure to sunlight.

Is styrofoam recycled?

Discover the reasons why Styrofoam ( polystyrene) is not recycled as much as it could be. Learn why Styrofoam (polystyr ene) is not recycled as much as it could be. Polystyrene foam was formerly made with the aid of chlorofluorocarbon blowing agents—a class of compounds that has been banned for environmental reasons.

Is polystyrene a glass?

Polystyrene, the organic polymer listed in the table of technolog ical applications of amorphous solids, is a prototypical example of a polymeric glass. These glasses, whose atomic-scale structure has been discussed in connection with Figure 7B, make up a broad class of lightweight structural materials important…

How is polystyrene made?

Polystyrene is produced by the polymerization of the monomer styrene, which is a derivative of petroleum. If you look at the chemical structure of polystyrene, you’ll see that it is composed of carbon and hydrogen atoms only. Thus, it is classified as a hydrocarbon. Now, if you observe the bonds in its chemical structure, you’ll see that the carbon atoms are linked to one another by covalent bonds. Every alternate carbon atom on the polystyrene chain has a phenyl group (name given to benzene ring) attached to it. It is a long-chain hydrocarbon, and its chemical formula is C8H8)n. Given below is the chemical structure of polystyrene.

What is the chemical formula for polystyrene?

It is a long-chain hydrocarbon, and its chemical formula is C8H8)n. Given below is the chemical structure of polystyrene.

What is a high impact polystyrene?

One such copolymer is high impact polystyrene (HIPS), which is produced by adding polybutadiene rubber to polystyrene during the polymerization process. HIPS is tougher and has a greater impact strength than unfilled polystyrene. There are different types of polystyrene.

What is XPS polymer?

Extruded polystyrene (XPS) is one form of the polymer that has high tensile strength, with good elasticity. It is commonly known as Styrofoam™. The other common form of polystyrene is expanded polystyrene (EPS). Both EPS and XPS are made from similar materials but there are difference between the two.

What is the density of polystyrene?

The density of polystyrene can vary from 10kg/m3 to 50kg/m3. Unfilled polystyrene is amorphous, and has a glassy, sparkling appearance. It is also known as crystal polystyrene. An important property of extruded polystyrene is its buoyancy or ability to float in water.

Why is polystyrene so elastic?

The physical properties of polystyrene are due to the presence of weak van der Waals forces between the chains of polymer. On heating, the forces weaken further, and the chains slide past one another. This is the reason polystyrene is highly elastic and softens when heated beyond its glass transition temperature.

When was polystyrene first used?

Uses. Polystyrene was first produced in Germany, in the year 1930, by I.G. Farben. Since then, it has come a long way, and today, it is one of the most widely manufactured polymers in the world, second only to polyethylene. A key reason for this is the fact that it is a thermoplastic.

Overview

Structure

History

Degradation

Forms produced

Co-polymers

Environmental issues

Safety