What is PS Plastic?

PS plastic, or polystyrene, is a thermoplastic polymer. It’s formed by polymerizing styrene and is recyclable. Virgin PS plastic can be recycled into recycled PS plastic. Under normal conditions, this type of plastic is hard, transparent, odorless, and burns with an unstable flame.

PS plastic was first discovered during the combustion of styrene in a glass tube at 200 degrees Celsius in 1845. However, it wasn’t until 1937 that this type of plastic was synthesized, put into use, and became widespread as it is today. The chemical formula for PS plastic is (CH[C6H5]-CH2)̵n.

PS Plastic Pellets

Types of PS Plastic

EPS Plastic

EPS (Expanded Polystyrene) is also known as Styrofoam. This type of plastic is produced in pellet form and contains the flammable gas pentane (C5H12).

EPS beads consist of 90-95% polystyrene and 5-10% pentane or carbon dioxide. After processing, the EPS beads expand in size and adhere to each other. This allows EPS to be molded into various products during manufacturing.

EPS Foam

HIPS Plastic

This is a type of PS-based plastic with many outstanding advantages, such as high rigidity and transparency. This type of plastic is commonly used in manufacturing and is formed by thermoforming with temperatures ranging from 180 to 240 degrees Celsius.

Besides its high rigidity, HIPS plastic is also waterproof. It is often used to make casings for familiar products such as motorcycles, televisions, boxes, trays for cakes and candies, yogurt containers, single-use cups, plates, etc.

HIPS Plastic is often used for single-use cups and plates

GPPS Plastic

GPPS plastic is made from polystyrene and is naturally white. It is also known as General Purpose Polystyrene 525N. GPPS plastic is commonly used to make wall clocks, electricity meter casings, and high-end cosmetic containers.

GPPS Plastic is also used for cosmetic packaging

Characteristics of PS Plastic

Here are some notable characteristics of PS plastic:

• PS plastic is hard, transparent like glass, and odorless.
• 1 cubic centimeter of PS plastic weighs about 1.05g.
• PS plastic is solvent-resistant and stress-crack resistant.
• When burning, it produces a yellow-orange flame with black soot.
• PS plastic has a certain degree of hardness and brittleness, and it has low impact strength and is easily broken.

PS Plastic is usually transparent and odorless

• PS has poor chemical resistance and weatherability.
• Its weaknesses can be improved during manufacturing. For example, adding polybutadiene during polymerization creates HIPS.
• PS plastic can be manufactured into EPS, also known as Styrofoam.
• This type of plastic is colorless, making it easy to blend with other colors. Therefore, it has a beautiful appearance and is easy to process by molding and injection molding.

Tanaka 6141-B 1:16 Scale Rock Climbing Remote Control Car Toy made from PS Plastic

Applications of PS Plastic

Thanks to its hardness, lightness, and ease of color blending, PS plastic is widely used in various fields, such as:

• Electronics: Used to manufacture sockets, switches, household appliances, connectors, etc.
• Automotive: Used for engine heat vents, wiper frames, control system valves, and various electrical connectors.
• Mechanical equipment: Used to manufacture electronic computer covers, electric iron covers, cameras and accessories, electronic watch casings, etc.
• Household appliances: Used to produce Styrofoam food containers, hair dryers, computer casings, kitchen appliances, children’s toys, etc.

QUNXING 803BM-R Batman Remote Control Car Toy

Precautions When Using PS Plastic Products

When exposed to heat or external environmental catalysts, PS can pose a risk to humans. Therefore, keep the following in mind when using PS plastic products:

• Carefully research the product’s ingredients and origin to ensure quality and safety. To minimize potential hazards, choose reputable suppliers of plastic products.
• For PS plastic food containers and trays, store them at normal temperatures not exceeding 70 degrees Celsius. Do not use them for boiling water, oily foods, vinegar, etc. When exposed to high temperatures, PS plastic undergoes chemical reactions that can produce toxins.

Store items made from PS plastic at temperatures not exceeding 70 degrees Celsius

Frequently Asked Questions About PS Plastic

1. Is PS plastic toxic?

PS plastic is a commonly used material in everyday life. However, you should not use PS plastic products to hold excessively hot food or drinks. At high temperatures, PS plastic releases a significant amount of styrene (SM), which can be harmful to the liver.

Do not use PS plastic containers for hot food

2. Can PS plastic be recycled?

In fact, PS, HIPS, and EPS plastics are 100% recyclable. These recycled plastics can be manufactured into items such as trays and packaging fillers. However, recycled PS plastic should not be used for food or drink containers.

Bowa 8342 Ice Cream Shop Cart Toy Set (31 pieces)

We hope this article has provided you with useful information about PS plastic, its characteristics, and its applications in daily life. If you have any questions, please contact our toll-free hotline 1900.866.874 (8:00 – 21:30) or visit our website avakids.com for consultation and support!