Polystyrene, or PS for short, is considered the standard reference plastic in plastic thermoforming and is used for many applications. This is why many thermoforming projects start with PS plastic. When polystyrene is mentioned in thermoforming, it always refers to the impact-modified type PS-HI (high impact). PS plastic has a medium temperature application range of up to 80°C. Its medium hardness and strength mean that PS plastic is frequently used for thermoformed packaging and transport applications with low mechanical requirements and cost-effective production options.
PS plastic films or sheets require short heating and cooling cycles in the thermoforming machine, resulting in a high processing speed. Since PS has similar shrinkage behavior to PET-G, PET-A and ABS plastic, it is often possible to process these materials on a tool designed for PS plastic. For this reason, PS plastic can be described as a bottom-up plastic, from which it is possible to switch to a thermoplastic with increased mechanical properties and stability, such as ABS plastic, if required.
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In the post-processing or assembly of PS blisters, the plastic stands out due to its excellent bondability. This makes PS ideal for applications in which different components need to be joined together.
Thermoformable PS is strongly dependent in procurement price on the quotation of the precursor material styrene. Seasonal price peaks can occur in midsummer due to its use in the construction materials industry.
| Group | Standard Thermoplastics |
| Structure | Amorphous |
| Density | 1.05 |
| Continuous Use Temperature Min. (in °C) | -20 |
| Continuous Use Temperature Max. (in °C) | 60 |
| Thermal Expansion Transverse/Longitudinal to Flow Direction (10^-6 *K) | 80 |
| Melting Temperature (°C) | 100 |
| Max. Temp. Short-Term (°C) | 80 |
| Max. Temp. Long-Term (°C) | 70 |
| Impact Strength (KJ/m^2) | 10 |
| Abrasion Resistance | - |
| Yield Stress (N/mm²) | 26 |
| Tensile Strength (N/mm²) | 32 |
| Tensile Modulus of Elasticity (N/mm²) | 2150 |
| Elongation at Break (%) | 3 |
| Flexural Strength (N/mm²) | 103 |
| Ball Indentation Hardness (N/mm²) | 150 |
| Dielectric Strength (kV/mm) | 43 |
| Volume Resistivity (Ω · m) | >1E14 |
| Surface Resistivity (Ω) | >1E14 |
| Tracking Resistance CTI | 425 |
PS plastic (polystyrene) is a standard plastic that can be used universally in thermoforming. Due to its good processability and low price, it is often used for packaging, trays, covers and technical housings, especially in the electronics, medical technology and consumer goods industries.
