Difference between revisions of "Polystyrene"

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== Description ==
 
== Description ==
  
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 rubber 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 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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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.
  
 
== Synonyms and Related Terms ==
 
== Synonyms and Related Terms ==
  
PS; styrene polymer; polystyrne (Fr.); poliestireno (Esp.); polistirene (It.); poliestireno (Port.); styrene resin  
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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
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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
  
 
[[[SliderGallery rightalign|MFA- Polystyrene.jpg~FTIR|aaiHIPSpolystyrene.jpg~FTIR]]]
 
[[[SliderGallery rightalign|MFA- Polystyrene.jpg~FTIR|aaiHIPSpolystyrene.jpg~FTIR]]]
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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
  
* R. J. Gettens, G.L. Stout, R. J. Gettens, G.L. Stout, ''Painting Materials, A Short Encyclopaedia'', Dover Publications, New York, 1966  Comment: ref.index= 1.50-1.75
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* 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, G.S.Brady, ''Materials Handbook'', McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1971  Comment: ref. index = 1.59
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* 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
 
* ''Dictionary of Building Preservation'', Ward Bucher, ed., John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York City, 1996
  
* Theodore J. Reinhart, Theodore J. Reinhart, 'Glossary of Terms', ''Engineered Plastics'', ASM International, 1988
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* Theodore J. Reinhart, 'Glossary of Terms', ''Engineered Plastics'', ASM International, 1988
  
* Lynda A. Zycherman, J.Richard Schrock, Lynda A. Zycherman, J.Richard Schrock, ''A Guide to Museum Pest Control'', FAIC and Association of Systematics Collections, Washington DC, 1988
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* Lynda A. Zycherman, J.Richard Schrock, ''A Guide to Museum Pest Control'', FAIC and Association of Systematics Collections, Washington DC, 1988
  
* R.D. Harley, R.D. Harley, ''Artists' Pigments c. 1600-1835'', Butterworth Scientific, London, 1982
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* R.D. Harley, ''Artists' Pigments c. 1600-1835'', Butterworth Scientific, London, 1982
  
* Pam Hatchfield, Pam Hatchfield, ''Pollutants in the Museum Environment'', Archetype Press, London, 2002
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* Pam Hatchfield, ''Pollutants in the Museum Environment'', Archetype Press, London, 2002
  
* Thomas C. Jester (ed.), Thomas C. Jester (ed.), ''Twentieth-Century Building Materials'', McGraw-Hill Companies, Washington DC, 1995
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* Thomas C. Jester (ed.), ''Twentieth-Century Building Materials'', McGraw-Hill Companies, Washington DC, 1995
  
* M.Kaufman, M.Kaufman, ''The First Century of Plastics'', The Plastics and Rubber Institute, London, 1963  Comment: first developed commercially in 1930
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* M.Kaufman, ''The First Century of Plastics'', The Plastics and Rubber Institute, London, 1963  Comment: first developed commercially in 1930
  
* F. Kidd, F. Kidd, ''Brushmaking Materials'', Bristish Brush Manufacturers, London, 1957
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* F. Kidd, ''Brushmaking Materials'', Bristish Brush Manufacturers, London, 1957
  
* Sharon Blank, 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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* 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
  
 
* Art and Architecture Thesaurus Online, http://www.getty.edu/research/tools/vocabulary/aat/, J. Paul Getty Trust, Los Angeles, 2000
 
* Art and Architecture Thesaurus Online, http://www.getty.edu/research/tools/vocabulary/aat/, J. Paul Getty Trust, Los Angeles, 2000
  
* Website address 1, 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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* 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
  
  
  
 
[[Category:Materials database]]
 
[[Category:Materials database]]

Revision as of 07:54, 24 July 2013

Description

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 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. Polystyrene is used in insulation, toys, appliances, cabinets, containers, and furniture.

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

FTIR

MFA- Polystyrene.jpg

FTIR

AaiHIPSpolystyrene.jpg


Other Properties

Attacked by hydrocarbon solvents, oils, ketones, esters, inorganic acids.

Resistant to organic acids, alkalis, alcohols. Shrinks in boiling water.

Burns with luminous smoky flame giving faint odor of marigolds.

Composition [-C6H5CHCH2-]n
CAS 9003-53-6
Melting Point softens about 150C
Density 1.060
Refractive Index 1.59

Hazards and Safety

Combustible. Degrades in UV light.

Aldrich Chemical: MSDS

Comparisons

General Characteristics of Polymers

Physical Properties for Selected Thermoplastic Resins


Authority

  • 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
  • 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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