Difference between revisions of "Polystyrene"

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[[File:2006.139-SC177413.jpg|thumb|Ebendorf Necklace<br>MFA #:2006.139]]
 
== Description ==
 
== Description ==
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[[File:Pitcher 2010578.jpg|thumb|Plastic pitcher<br>MFA# 2010.578]]
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A thermoplastic polyolefin made from styrene with a general composition of [-C6H5CHCH2-]n. Although probably known earlier, polystyrene was described in 1839 by E. Simon of Germany, after he watched the clear [[styrene|styrene]] liquid distilled from [[storax (resin)|storax]] resin cool then harden to form a solid mass. Polystyrene was first commercially made in 1929 by I.G. Farben (Germany) for use in [[styrene-butadiene%20rubber|styrene butadiene]] synthetic rubbers. Polystyrene is a hard, strong solid with good dimensional stability and impact resistance; it can be molded and fabricated. Polystyrene is often prepared as an expanded foam ([[Styrofoam|Styrofoam®]]) using blowing agents for use in temperature and sound insulation. It can be co-polymerized with many other polymers for increased flexibility, i.e. [[ABS |ABS rubbers]] are made from [[acrylonitrile]], [[butadiene]], and styrene.
  
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A thermoplastic polymer made from styrene. Although probably known earlier, polystyrene was described in 1839 by E. Simon of Germany, after he watched the clear [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=styrene styrene] liquid distilled from [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=storax storax] resin cool then harden to form a solid mass. Polystyrene was first commercially made in 1929 by I.G. Farben (Germany) for use in [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=styrene-butadiene%20rubber styrene butadiene] synthetic rubbers. Polystyrene is a hard, strong solid with good dimensional stability and impact resistance; it can be molded and fabricated. Polystyrene is often prepared as an expanded foam ([http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=Styrofoam%C2%AE Styrofoam®]) using blowing agents for use in temperature and sound insulation. It can be co-polymerized with many other polymers for increased flexibility, i.e. ABS rubbers are made from acrylonitrile, butadiene, and styrene. Polystyrene is used in insulation, toys, appliances, cabinets, containers, and furniture.
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Examples include:
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{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
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== Synonyms and Related Terms ==
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! Polystyrene Forms !! Uses!! Products
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PS; styrene polymer; polystyrène (Fr.); poliestireno (Esp.); polistirene (It.); poliestireno (Port.); styrene resin
 
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Examples: Styrofoam® [Dow]; Luran; Styron; Lustrex; Fome-Cor®; Algil [Polymers, Inc.]; Permene [Modglin Co.]; Shalon [Polymers, Inc.]; Polyfil [Mack Molding]; Durastran
 
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[[[SliderGallery rightalign|MFA- Polystyrene.jpg~FTIR|aaiHIPSpolystyrene.jpg~FTIR]]]
 
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== Other Properties ==
 
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Attacked by hydrocarbon solvents, oils, ketones, esters, inorganic acids. 
 
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Resistant to organic acids, alkalis, alcohols. Shrinks in boiling water. 
 
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Burns with luminous smoky flame giving faint odor of marigolds.
 
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{| class="wikitable"
 
 
|-
 
|-
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! scope="row"| Composition
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!Extruded Foam, Closed Cell
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| [-C6H5CHCH2-]n
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|Container, Padding, Packing
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|Dow Chemical: Styrofoam
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<br>Gilman Bros.: Stylite, Cellulite
 
|-
 
|-
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! scope="row"| CAS
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!Polystyrene core laminated with paper or plastic on both sides
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| 9003-53-6
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|Support, Backing
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|3A Composites: Fome-Cor
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<br>Bainbridge: Artcare Foam Core Boards & Artcare Restore
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<br>Laird Plastics: Gatorboard
 
|-
 
|-
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! scope="row"| Melting Point
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!Expanded polystyrene foam
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| softens about 150C
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|Loose-fill molded pieces
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|patented Dow Chemical: Packing peanuts (packing noodles, foam popcorn)
 
|-
 
|-
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! scope="row"| Density
 
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| 1.060
 
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|-
 
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! scope="row"| Refractive Index
 
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| 1.59
 
 
|}
 
|}
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== Synonyms and Related Terms ==
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PS; styrene polymer; polystyrène (Fr.); poliestireno (Esp.); polistirene (It.); poliestireno (Port.); styrene resin
  
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== Hazards and Safety ==
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Examples: Styrofoam® [Dow]; Luran; Styron; Lustrex; [[Fome-Cor|Fome-Cor®]]; Algil [Polymers, Inc.]; Permene [Modglin Co.]; Shalon [Polymers, Inc.]; Polyfil [Mack Molding]; Durastran; Plexene
  
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Combustible. Degrades in UV light.
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==Applications==
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* Foam, peanuts
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* Transparent enclosures, containers
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* Inexpensive rigid plastics: disposable cutlery, cabinets, furniture
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* Foam boards, insulation
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[[[SliderGallery rightalign|MFA- Polystyrene.jpg~FTIR|aaiHIPSpolystyrene.jpg~FTIR]]]
  
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==Personal Risks==
 
Aldrich Chemical: [http://hazard.com/msds/f2/ckx/ckxtw.html MSDS]
 
Aldrich Chemical: [http://hazard.com/msds/f2/ckx/ckxtw.html MSDS]
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==Collection Risks==
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* Degrades in UV radiation and light which causes yellowing and embrittlement.<ref name=Sh>Shashoua, Yvonne. Conservation of Plastics: Materials Science, Degradation and Preservation. Amsterdam etc.: Elsevier, 2008. 248</ref>
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* Photo-oxidation increases “Plasticizers exuding from PVC are very good solvents and can dissolve polystyrene boxes.” <ref name=S>Scott R. Williams. Plastic Storage Products. In ‘Preventive Conservation: Collection Storage’ Lisa Elkin and Christopher A. Norris (eds.), Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections, New York. 2019. 774</ref>
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* Polystyrene carries a static charge and attracts dust.
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* Poor shock absorber.
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==Environmental Risks==
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== Physical and Chemical Properties ==
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* Chemically stable at room temperature <ref name=Sh/>
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* Attacked by hydrocarbon solvents, oils, ketones, esters, inorganic acids. 
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* Resistant to organic acids, alkalis, alcohols.
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* Shrinks in boiling water <ref name=S/> 
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* Burns with luminous smoky flame giving faint odor of marigolds.
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* CAS = 9003-53-6
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* Melting Point = softens about 150C
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* Density = 1.060
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* Refractive Index = 1.59
  
 
== Comparisons ==
 
== Comparisons ==
Line 49: Line 63:
 
[[media:download_file_359.pdf|Physical Properties for Selected Thermoplastic Resins]]
 
[[media:download_file_359.pdf|Physical Properties for Selected Thermoplastic Resins]]
  
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== Sources Checked for Data in Record ==
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<references/>
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== Authority ==
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* Contributions: Gina Watkinson, AIC Plastics Panel, 2020.
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* ''The American Heritage Dictionary'' or ''Encarta'', via Microsoft Bookshelf 98, Microsoft Corp., 1998
 
* ''The American Heritage Dictionary'' or ''Encarta'', via Microsoft Bookshelf 98, Microsoft Corp., 1998
  
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* Sharon Blank, An introduction to plastics and rubbers in collections, ''Studies in Conservation'', 35, 53-63, 1990  Comment: used in synthetic rubbers since 1927... it was first used as polystyrene in the mid 1930s
 
* Sharon Blank, An introduction to plastics and rubbers in collections, ''Studies in Conservation'', 35, 53-63, 1990  Comment: used in synthetic rubbers since 1927... it was first used as polystyrene in the mid 1930s
  
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* Art and Architecture Thesaurus Online, http://www.getty.edu/research/tools/vocabulary/aat/, J. Paul Getty Trust, Los Angeles, 2000
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* Art and Architecture Thesaurus Online, https://www.getty.edu/research/tools/vocabulary/aat/, J. Paul Getty Trust, Los Angeles, 2000
  
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* Website address 1  Comment: www.nswpmith.com.au/historyofplastics.html  In Europe, I.G.Farbenindustrie: experiments 1924, production 1929  In US, Dow Chemical: experiments before 1930, production 1937
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* History of Plastics www.nswpmith.com.au/historyofplastics.html  Comments:In Europe, I.G.Farbenindustrie: experiments 1924, production 1929  In US, Dow Chemical: experiments before 1930, production 1937
  
  
  
 
[[Category:Materials database]]
 
[[Category:Materials database]]

Latest revision as of 09:02, 18 October 2022

Ebendorf Necklace
MFA #:2006.139

Description

Plastic pitcher
MFA# 2010.578

A thermoplastic polyolefin made from styrene with a general composition of [-C6H5CHCH2-]n. Although probably known earlier, polystyrene was described in 1839 by E. Simon of Germany, after he watched the clear Styrene liquid distilled from storax resin cool then harden to form a solid mass. Polystyrene was first commercially made in 1929 by I.G. Farben (Germany) for use in styrene butadiene synthetic rubbers. Polystyrene is a hard, strong solid with good dimensional stability and impact resistance; it can be molded and fabricated. Polystyrene is often prepared as an expanded foam (Styrofoam®) using blowing agents for use in temperature and sound insulation. It can be co-polymerized with many other polymers for increased flexibility, i.e. ABS rubbers are made from Acrylonitrile, Butadiene, and styrene.

Examples include:

Polystyrene Forms Uses Products
Extruded Foam, Closed Cell Container, Padding, Packing Dow Chemical: Styrofoam


Gilman Bros.: Stylite, Cellulite

Polystyrene core laminated with paper or plastic on both sides Support, Backing 3A Composites: Fome-Cor


Bainbridge: Artcare Foam Core Boards & Artcare Restore
Laird Plastics: Gatorboard

Expanded polystyrene foam Loose-fill molded pieces patented Dow Chemical: Packing peanuts (packing noodles, foam popcorn)

Synonyms and Related Terms

PS; styrene polymer; polystyrène (Fr.); poliestireno (Esp.); polistirene (It.); poliestireno (Port.); styrene resin

Examples: Styrofoam® [Dow]; Luran; Styron; Lustrex; Fome-Cor®; Algil [Polymers, Inc.]; Permene [Modglin Co.]; Shalon [Polymers, Inc.]; Polyfil [Mack Molding]; Durastran; Plexene

Applications

  • Foam, peanuts
  • Transparent enclosures, containers
  • Inexpensive rigid plastics: disposable cutlery, cabinets, furniture
  • Foam boards, insulation

FTIR

MFA- Polystyrene.jpg

FTIR

AaiHIPSpolystyrene.jpg


Personal Risks

Aldrich Chemical: MSDS

Collection Risks

  • Degrades in UV radiation and light which causes yellowing and embrittlement.[1]
  • Photo-oxidation increases “Plasticizers exuding from PVC are very good solvents and can dissolve polystyrene boxes.” [2]
  • Polystyrene carries a static charge and attracts dust.
  • Poor shock absorber.

Environmental Risks

Physical and Chemical Properties

  • Chemically stable at room temperature [1]
  • Attacked by hydrocarbon solvents, oils, ketones, esters, inorganic acids.
  • Resistant to organic acids, alkalis, alcohols.
  • Shrinks in boiling water [2]
  • Burns with luminous smoky flame giving faint odor of marigolds.
  • CAS = 9003-53-6
  • Melting Point = softens about 150C
  • Density = 1.060
  • Refractive Index = 1.59

Comparisons

General Characteristics of Polymers

Physical Properties for Selected Thermoplastic Resins

Sources Checked for Data in Record

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Shashoua, Yvonne. Conservation of Plastics: Materials Science, Degradation and Preservation. Amsterdam etc.: Elsevier, 2008. 248
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Scott R. Williams. Plastic Storage Products. In ‘Preventive Conservation: Collection Storage’ Lisa Elkin and Christopher A. Norris (eds.), Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections, New York. 2019. 774
  • Contributions: Gina Watkinson, AIC Plastics Panel, 2020.
  • The American Heritage Dictionary or Encarta, via Microsoft Bookshelf 98, Microsoft Corp., 1998
  • R. J. Gettens, G.L. Stout, Painting Materials, A Short Encyclopaedia, Dover Publications, New York, 1966 Comment: ref.index= 1.50-1.75
  • G.S.Brady, Materials Handbook, McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1971 Comment: ref. index = 1.59
  • Dictionary of Building Preservation, Ward Bucher, ed., John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York City, 1996
  • Theodore J. Reinhart, 'Glossary of Terms', Engineered Plastics, ASM International, 1988
  • Lynda A. Zycherman, J.Richard Schrock, A Guide to Museum Pest Control, FAIC and Association of Systematics Collections, Washington DC, 1988
  • R.D. Harley, Artists' Pigments c. 1600-1835, Butterworth Scientific, London, 1982
  • Pam Hatchfield, Pollutants in the Museum Environment, Archetype Press, London, 2002
  • Thomas C. Jester (ed.), Twentieth-Century Building Materials, McGraw-Hill Companies, Washington DC, 1995
  • M.Kaufman, The First Century of Plastics, The Plastics and Rubber Institute, London, 1963 Comment: first developed commercially in 1930
  • F. Kidd, Brushmaking Materials, Bristish Brush Manufacturers, London, 1957
  • Sharon Blank, An introduction to plastics and rubbers in collections, Studies in Conservation, 35, 53-63, 1990 Comment: used in synthetic rubbers since 1927... it was first used as polystyrene in the mid 1930s
  • History of Plastics www.nswpmith.com.au/historyofplastics.html Comments:In Europe, I.G.Farbenindustrie: experiments 1924, production 1929 In US, Dow Chemical: experiments before 1930, production 1937

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