Polystyrene (PS)

Outstanding screen printing and thermoforming properties

Polystyrene is a sturdy sheet material with excellent screen printing and thermoforming properties. It is partly for this reason that it is a permanent choice for designers and screen printers. In comparison with corrugated cardboard, displays made of polystyrene are hardwearing and absorb virtually no moisture.

Amari Plastics supplies Polystyrene sheets directly from stock in a large number of colours and thicknesses, in both matte and high-gloss. In addition, we can provide you with bespoke-made batches for large orders.

Polystyreen toepassing Polystyreen toepassing

Polystyrene in our webshop

Unique features

  • Widely available
  • Light yet stiff
  • Good thermoformability

Applications

  • Packaging
  • Laboratory ware
  • Household appliances 
  • Insulation

Machining options

  • Drilling
  • Sawing/milling
  • Lettering
  • Warm bending
  • Gluing
  • Thermoforming
  • Digital printing
  • Screen printing
  • Cutting/punching
  • Lasering
  • Press offset
  • Yes
  • Not in all cases
  • No

How to identify Polystyrene

Drop a small sample of Polystyrene in water and it will sink.  Then set fire to it and it will burn quickly with a yellow flame and drip.  It will give off an illuminating gas or marigold odour along with a dense sooty smoke.

What are the main properties of Polystyrene

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Technical information

  • General
    Definition Norm Unit Value
    Density ISO 1183 g/m3 1.05
  • Mechanical
    Definition Norm Unit Value
    Tensile strength @ yield ISO 527 MPa (*)
    Tensile strength @ breakage ISO 527 MPa 59
    Elongation @ breakage ISO 527 % 3
    Tensile modulus of elasticity ISO 527 MPa 3,250
    Flexural strength ISO 178 MPa 106
    Charpy impact strength notched ISO 179 kJ/m2 1.47
    Charpy impact strength un-notched ISO 179 kJ/m2 16
    Rockwell hardness M/R scale ISO 2039 MPa 150

     

     

  • Optical
    Definition Norm Unit Value
    Light transmission ASTM D-1003 % 89
    Refractive index ASTM D-542   1.591
  • Thermal
    Definition Norm Unit Value
    Maximum service temperature   °C 80
    VICAT softening temperature (10 N) ISO 306 °C 106
    VICAT softening temperature (50 N) ISO 306 °C 101
    Heat deflection temperature, HDT A (1.8 MPa) ISO 75-2 °C 86
    Heat deflection temperature HDT B (0.45 MPa) ISO 75-2 °C 98
    Coefficient of linear thermal expansion ISO 75-2 x105/°C 8