Also, being clear and transparent, it allows for the addition of various colors. One of the major … Print Uses of Polystyrene . Dates: Modify . The result of these evaluations: FDA for decades has determined that polystyrene is safe for use in contact with food. Owing to its less price as compared to other costly polymers, and ease of processing into different shapes and sizes, polystyrene is also used for making toys. Polystyrene Being Dow Thailand Group’s first factory built in Phra Pradaeng in 1978 before being relocated to Map Ta Phut in 1995, the polystyrene plant got raw materials from one of the Group’s subsidiaries – Siam Styrene Monomer Co., Ltd., to produce multi-purpose high-quality plastic products found in a wide range of every day’s item. Pure polystyrene resin is a highly transparent brittle material, and relatively inexpensive to produce. The U.S. National Toxicology Program Director Dr. Linda Birnbaum, Ph.D., was quoted widely in Associated Press reports in June 2011: “Let me put your mind at ease right away about Styrofoam … [the levels of styrene from polystyrene containers] are hundreds if not thousands of times lower than have occurred in the occupational setting…In finished products, certainly styrene is not an issue.”. Food packaging: Polystyrene is extensively used in packaging of food products. Production methods include thermoforming (vacuum forming) and injection molding. In the United States, FDA strictly regulates all food packaging materials, including polystyrene. It is a rather poor barrier to oxygen and water vapour and has a relatively low melting point. Other IT equipment also uses polystyrene because it can give the right kind of finish and shape. Polystyrene foam EPS can be used in manufacture of sliders, model planes and even surfboards because of its positive strength to weight ratio. FDA’s safety evaluations focus on three factors: Tiny amounts of styrene may remain in polystyrene following manufacture, so FDA has evaluated both the safety of the food contact material itself (polystyrene) and the safety of the substance that may migrate (styrene). Ampliation: • Polystyrene foam is a major environmental problem. It is an inexpensive resin per unit weight. The strength of EPS foam along with its shock absorbing properties makes it effective for use in childrens seats and cycling helmets. HIPS resins are available in a range of impact-resistant options. Polystyrene is … That’s one of the reasons why FDA regulates food packaging in the first place – to be confident that the amount of substances that might actually migrate is safe. Kayexalate (sodium polystyrene sulfonate) powder is used to treat high potassium in the blood. A key reason for this is the fact that it is a thermoplastic. Contamination by polystyrene foam in landfills. Polystyrene is a synthetic aromatic hydrocarbon polymer made from the monomer known as styrene. People can come into contact with styrene from the small amounts that may be present in air (primarily from automobile exhaust and cigarette smoke) and in foods and packaging. Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) plastic: used in refrigerator liners, medical devices, auto parts, small household appliances, toys, and luggage. Hot foods stay hot, cold foods stay cold, and fresh foods stay fresh. Polystyrene (solid and foam) is used to make many car parts, including knobs, instrument panels, trim, energy absorbing door panels and sound dampening foam. Polystyrene (PS) is used for producing disposable plastic cutlery and dinnerware, CD "jewel" cases, smoke detector housings, license plate frames, plastic model assembly kits, and many other objects where a rigid, economical plastic is desired. Polystyrene. How Does Styrene Improve Product Performance? 2 Names and Identifiers Expand this section. Both crystal polystyrene and HIPS find uses in respiratory care equipment, syringe hubs, and suction canisters. It is very popular all over the world. Composite products, also known as fiber-reinforced polymer composites (FRP): used in automobile components, military and commercial aircraft, boats, wind turbine parts, corrosion-resistant pipes and tanks, bathroom fixtures, sporting goods, and many other applications. This type of construction also reduces noise, … From being used as building materials to white foam packaging, expanded polystyrene has a wide range of end-use applications. What Makes Polystyrene Different from Styrene? Crystal polystyrene resins are glassy and crystal clear and are most often supplied in the form of one-eighth-inch granules. In its acid form, the resin is used as a solid acid catalyst in organic synthesis. Polystyrene foams are used for a variety of applications because of its excellent set of properties including good thermal insulation, good damping properties and being extremely light weight. 2020-12-19. “Evidence indicates that all blowing agents currently used or proposed in connection with the manufact… In addition, FDA has approved styrene as a food additive – it can be added in small amounts to baked goods, frozen dairy products, candy, gelatins, puddings and other food. It is used in solid or foam form widely for manufacturing these … 4 Related Records Expand this section. Test data submitted to FDA indicated that the migration of styrene from polystyrene foodservice products is tiny and expected to be significantly below the safety limits set by FDA itself – 10,000 times less than FDA’s acceptable daily intake level. Polystyrene also is made into a foam material, called expanded polystyrene (EPS) or extruded polystyrene (XPS), which is valued for its insulating and cushioning properties. When combined with various colorants, additives or other plastics, polystyrene is used to make appliances, electronics, automobile parts, toys, gardening pots and equipment and more. General-purpose polystyrene is clear, hard, and rather brittle. In 2013, the Plastics Foodservice Packaging Group provided updated styrene migration data to FDA. FDA has for decades stated that polystyrene is safe for use in contact with food. This thermoplastic polyester has very good dimensional stability. Styrene also is manufactured as a building block for materials used to make automobiles, electronics, boats, recreational vehicles, toys and countless other consumer products. It is applicable to a variety of end-user industries for producing a number of goods in different forms. Polystyrene can be solid or foamed. 1. Polystyrene (PS) / ˌ p ɒ l i ˈ s t aɪ r iː n / is a synthetic aromatic polymer made from the monomer styrene.Polystyrene can be solid or foamed. Due to its clarity and ease of sterilization, polystyrene is used for a wide range of medical applications, including tissue culture trays, test tubes, petri dishes, diagnostic components, housings for test kits and medical devices. It is widely employed in the food-service industry as rigid trays and containers, disposable eating utensils, and foamed cups, plates, and bowls. Styrene is a liquid that can be chemically linked to create polystyrene, a solid plastic that displays different properties. Public health officials encourage the use of sanitary, single-use foodservice packaging (such as polystyrene) in appropriate settings. The European Commission/European Food Safety Authority and other regulatory agencies have reached similar conclusions. PBT’s flame retardant properties coupled with its glass reinforcement allow it to have high flow and crystallize rapidly creating short mold cycles. 3 Chemical and Physical Properties Expand this section. This type of insulation can significantly reduce a building’s energy use and help control indoor temperature. Polystyrene can be solid or foamed. From 1999 to 2002, a 12-member international expert panel selected by the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis conducted a comprehensive review of potential health risks associated with workplace and environmental exposure to styrene. Polystyrene (PS) is a synthetic aromatic hydrocarbon polymer made from the monomer styrene. Read more: Debunking the Myths: Are there really 84,000 chemicals? In labware and packaging for kits and trays, polystyrene is competitive with PVC, polypropylene, and acrylics. It is an inexpensive resin per unit weight. PBT (Polybutylene terephthalate) is a thermoplastic material that is commonly used as an insulator for the electronics industry. That’s one of the reasons why FDA regulates food packaging in the first place – to be confident that the amount of substances that might actually migrate is safe. It is a cation-binding exchange resin that inhibits the absorption of potassium from the gastrointestinal tract (along with other cations) Sodium polystyrene sulfonate (Kayexalate) Uses: Use a well-ventilated area for printing, especially if you are using: 3D or laser printers that use filaments containing styrene copolymers. All packaging – glass, aluminum, paper and plastics (such as polystyrene) – contains substances that can “migrate” in very tiny amounts to foods or beverages. Use the search box to find information on the chemicals that are essential to the products you use every day. Composite products, also known as fiber-reinforced polymer composites (FRP): used in automobile components, military and commercial aircraft, boats, wind turbine parts, corrosion-resistant pipes and tanks, bathroom fixtures, sporting goods, and many other applications. Other uses. Photocopiers with toners containing styrene copolymers. Styrene Butadiene Latex (SBL): used in many paper coatings and in more than 90% of the broadloom carpeting made in the United States to attach carpet fibers to a backing material. General-purpose polystyrene is clear, hard, and rather brittle. Molecular Weight: 116.16 g/mol. Polystyrene foam: used in lightweight protective packaging, foodservice containers, building components, insulation, and more. Polystyrene is a hard, brilliantly transparent, stiff resin. The fact that it is not recyclable increases the ecological impact. Styrene Acrylonitrile (SAN) plastic: used for food containers, tableware, bathroom fittings, and optical fibers. Extruded polystyrene (XPS) foam is a rigid insulation that has also formed with polystyrene polymer, but manufactured using an extrusion process. 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. Polystyrene foodservice packaging generally is more economical – wholesale costs can be up to five times less than paper-based or reusable counterparts (reusable containers require extra equipment, labor, water, electricity, detergent, etc.). Polystyrene (solid and foam) is widely used to protect consumer products. CD and DVD cases, foam packaging peanuts for shipping, food packaging, meat/poultry trays and egg cartons typically are made with polystyrene to protect against damage or spoilage. Copyright © 2021. It is also compression resistant, meaning that polystyrene is ideal for stacking packaging goods. 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