Polystyrene

Polystyrene is a form of chemical compound that is mainly used for a wide variety of packaging.^[1]^[2] It is an aromatic polymer made from the monomer styrene, a liquid hydrocarbon that is manufactured from petroleum by the chemical industry. Polystyrene is one of the most widely used plastics, the scale being several billion kilograms per year.

Polystyrene can be in either a thermoset or a thermoplastic form.

Many styrene molecules bond together to make a polystyrene molecule. The squiggly lines show that the long polystyrene molecule goes on farther at both ends.

Polystyrene Media

Expanded polystyrene packaging
A polystyrene yogurt container
Polystyrene is flammable, and releases large amounts of black smoke upon burning.
The figure shows structural formulas and basic properties of the three types of polystyrene differing by their tacticity.
CD case made from general purpose polystyrene (GPPS) and high impact polystyrene (HIPS)
Disposable polystyrene razor
Closeup of expanded polystyrene packaging
Thermocol slabs made of expanded polystyrene (EPS) beads. The one on the left is from a packing box. The one on the right is used for crafts. It has a corky, papery texture and is used for stage decoration, exhibition models, and sometimes as a cheap alternative to shola (Aeschynomene aspera) stems for artwork.

References

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[test-1] Plastics

[test1-2] "Polystyrene (PS)".

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