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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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11y ago
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6mo ago

Polystyrene is brittle because its molecular structure consists of long, straight chains of hydrocarbons that are packed closely together. This arrangement makes the material rigid and prone to stress concentration, causing it to break easily under tension or impact.

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Q: Why is polystyrene brittle?
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Related questions

Can POLYSTYRENE be frozen?

Yes, polystyrene can be frozen. Freezing polystyrene can help preserve food or keep it fresh for longer periods. However, extreme temperature changes can cause polystyrene to become brittle and potentially crack.


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.


What can you do with polystyrene?

Polystyrene can be used to make insulation, packaging materials, disposable utensils, models, and even some building materials. It can also be recycled into new products. However, it can be harmful to the environment if not disposed of properly.


Is polystyrene biodegradable?

Polystyrene is NOT biodegradable


What is rigid polystyrene?

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


What are the differences between high impact polystyrene and ordinary polystyrene?

High impact polystyrene (HIPS) contains additional elastomers or polybutadiene which enhance its impact resistance compared to ordinary polystyrene. HIPS is tougher and more suitable for applications requiring durability and strength, while ordinary polystyrene is more rigid and brittle. HIPS is commonly used in products like refrigerator liners, toys, and automotive parts, whereas ordinary polystyrene is often used in packaging and disposable cups.


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.


Why is polystyrene called polystyrene?

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


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 is the other name for polystyrene?

The other name for polystyrene is Styrofoam.


What country is polystyrene from?

Polystyrene was discovered in Germany. Eduard Simon discovered it in 1839. He was from Berlin. Polystyrene is also called thermocole.