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Why is polystyrene brittle?

Updated: 8/9/2023
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Unfilled polystyrene is also known as crystal polystyrene (PS) or general purpose polystyrene (GPPS). However, since crystal polystyrene is brittle, other polymers are added to polystyrene to improve its strength, and copolymers are formed as a result. One such copolymer is high impact polystyrene (HIPS), which is produced by adding polybutadiene rubber to polystyrene during the polymerization process. HIPS is tougher and has a greater impact strength than unfilled polystyrene.

There are different types of polystyrene. Extruded polystyrene (XPS) is one form of the polymer that has high tensile strength, with good elasticity. It is commonly known as Styrofoam™. The other common form of polystyrene is expanded polystyrene (EPS). Both EPS and XPS are made from similar materials but there are difference between the two. XPS has a higher density as compared to EPS, due to the absence of air passages between its cells. The higher density makes XPS more rigid and strong. Also, XPS is waterproof and is an effective thermal insulator.

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Q: Why is polystyrene brittle?
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Related questions

Why is High impact polystyrene used for DVD cases?

because it can protect the DVD cos it is hard and brittle. Hope this helps


What can you do with polystyrene?

Polystyrene can be used in various industries like Polystyrene Packaging, Construction, Display, Exhibition, Signs, and all areas of the foam industry. Various different items can be produced from polystyrene. For a complete range and details about products please visit: http://www.polystyrene.uk.com/


Does polystyrene exhibit yielding?

No, pure Polystyrene (PS) is quite brittle; hence, General Purpose Polystyrene (GPPS) does not yield. It breaks right after passing over its limit. However, the weakness of polystyrene, which is brittleness, is overcome when it is made into High Impact Polystyrene (HIPS). Having a higher breaking strain after polymerization, it is able to yield before breaking. Thus, from this tensile testing experiment, GPPS does not have yield strength, while HIPS has yield strength of 26.175N/mm2.


Is polystyrene biodegradable?

Polystyrene is NOT biodegradable


What is rigid polystyrene?

Rigid polystyrene is a hard plastic Rigid polystyrene is a hard plastic


What is the brittle cold temperature at which high impact polystyrene breaks easily please explain what easily definition you have used in your answer I am open to all insight?

A material is brittle if, when subjected to stress, it breaks without significant deformation (strain). Brittle materials absorb relatively little energy prior to fracture, even those of high strength. Breaking is often accompanied by a snapping sound. Brittle materials include most ceramics and glasses (which do not deform plastically) and some polymers, such as PMMA and polystyrene. Many steels become brittle at low temperatures (see ductile-brittle transition temperature), depending on their composition and processing.This principle generalizes to other classes of material. Naturally brittle materials, such as glass, are not difficult to toughen effectively. Most such techniques involve one of two mechanisms: to deflect or absorb the tip of a propagating crack, or to create carefully controlled residual stresses so that cracks from certain predictable sources will be forced closed. The first principle is used in laminated glass where two sheets of glass are separated by an interlayer of polyvinyl butyral, which as a viscoelastic polymer absorbs the growing crack. The second method is used in toughened glass and pre-stressed concrete. A demonstration of glass toughening is provided by Prince Rupert's Drop. Brittle polymers can be toughened by using metal particles to initiate crazes when a sample is stressed, a good example being high impact polystyrene or HIPS. The least brittle structural ceramics are silicon carbide (mainly by virtue of its high strength) and transformation-toughened zirconia.


Which has more crystalline atactic polystyrene or syndiotactic polystyre?

The atactic polystyrene is more crystalline than the syndiotactic polystyrene.


Why is polystyrene called polystyrene?

Because polystyrene is the polymer of the monomer styrene; poli in the Greek language has the meaning of many.


Why are lifesaving rings made of Polystyrene?

Polystyrene is not very dense.


What does the word polystyrene mean?

Polystyrene is a kind of hard plastic.


What is polystyrene made?

Polystyrene is obtained by the polymerization of the monomer styrene.


What are dangers of polystyrene beads?

Polystyrene is today difficult to be recycled.