PS
GB GB/T 4454 · ISO 1043-1 PS · also Styron, Polystyrol
PS is general-purpose polystyrene (GPPS), a rigid, transparent amorphous styrenic thermoplastic supplied to ASTM D1996 and GB/T 4454 and sold under names such as Styron and Polystyrol.
Reference datasheet — PS is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
Values for the GPPS condition
PS grades and fills
PS is supplied in 6 conditions, soft to hard. GPPS is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 6 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Expanded polystyrene foam | Pick for low-cost thermal insulation, protective packaging and lost-foam patterns where mechanical loads are light. | 0.28 | |||
Antistatic / ESD HIPS | Pick for electronics trays, carriers and IC packaging where surface charge must be dissipated. | 21 | 24 | 25 | 70 Shore D |
High-impact polystyrene | Pick when parts must survive handling/drop loads or be thermoformed into tough opaque housings, refrigerator liners and packaging trays. | 24 | 25 | 40 | 100 HRR |
PS-FR | Pick for TV/appliance housings and electrical enclosures needing UL 94 V-0 at 1.5–3 mm; accept lower impact, higher density and reduced light stability. | 26 | 20 | ||
Medium-impact polystyrene | Compromise grade when some toughness is needed but GPPS-like stiffness and translucency must be kept. | 28 | 33 | 15 | 78 Shore D |
GPPSDefault General-purpose (crystal) polystyrene, unfilled transparent | Pick for clarity, stiffness, gloss and lowest cost where impact loading and solvents are absent. | 46 | 2.5 | 75 HRM |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways PS is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
FOOD | Food-contact / medical grade GPPS-HIPS | Certification |
What is PS?
PS is general-purpose polystyrene (GPPS), a rigid, transparent amorphous styrenic thermoplastic supplied to ASTM D1996 and GB/T 4454 and sold under names such as Styron and Polystyrol. Engineers select it for optical clarity, stiffness, dimensional stability and the lowest cost in the styrenic family; it is stocked as moulding pellets, extruded sheet, film and expanded (EPS) forms at 1.05 g/cm³ with 46 MPa tensile strength. The trade-off is brittleness at 2.5 % elongation, plus poor resistance to hydrocarbons, ketones and UV. HIPS or SAN is the usual step up when impact or chemical resistance is required. PS has a density of 1.05 g/cm³ (0.0379 lb/in³), lighter than 69% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 100°C (212 °F). PS has a yield strength of 45 MPa (6.53 ksi) and a tensile strength of 46 MPa (6.67 ksi) — weaker than 58% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 2.5% and the elastic modulus is 3.2 GPa (0.464 Msi).
What is PS used for?
- Disposable cutlery and cups
- CD/DVD cases
- Packaging inserts
- Lab-ware
- Optical light diffusers
- Model kits
Advantages
- Polishes to a fine finish — 80/100, better than 89% of polymer grades
- Low moisture uptake — 0.05%, better than 84% of polymer grades
- Stiff — 3.2 GPa (0.464 Msi), better than 77% of polymer grades
- Low embodied carbon — 3.4 kg CO₂/kg, better than 76% of polymer grades
Limitations
- Needs corrosion protection — 55/100, worse than 94% of polymer grades
- Limited ductility — 2.5%, worse than 89% of polymer grades
- Low fracture toughness — 1 MPa·√m (0.91 ksi·√in), worse than 87% of polymer grades
- Limited service temperature — 65°C (149 °F), worse than 83% of polymer grades
- Poor heat conductor — 0.14 W/m·K (0.0809 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 81% of polymer grades
PS properties
Typical room-temperature values for PS-GPPS; bars are the position among polymer grades.
Physical6
PS has a density of 1.05 g/cm³ (0.0379 lb/in³), lighter than 69% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 100°C (212 °F).
Mechanical17
PS has a yield strength of 45 MPa (6.53 ksi) and a tensile strength of 46 MPa (6.67 ksi) — weaker than 58% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 2.5% and the elastic modulus is 3.2 GPa (0.464 Msi).
Thermal11
PS is rated for continuous service to 65°C (149 °F). It conducts heat at 0.14 W/m·K (0.0809 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 81% of polymer grades. Thermal expansion is 70 µm/m·K (38.9 µin/in·°F).
Electrical7
PS is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 22 kV/mm (558.8 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10¹⁴ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (55/100), worse than 94% of polymer grades. UV resistance is poor.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of PS takes about 87 MJ of energy and emits 3.4 kg of CO₂ — less than 77% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 2%.
Manufacturability8
PS's machinability is good (60/100, better than 51% of polymer grades); weldability very good (70/100); formability fair (45/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the polymer family
Yield strength against density for every polymer grade FabDigit runs. PS is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with PS
Is PS easy to machine?
Machines fast with sharp positive-rake tools, high speed and light feeds; use air blast (no solvent/oil coolants) and avoid stress risers to prevent crazing and chip-out.
Can PS be welded?
Excellent solvent cementing (MEK, toluene, dichloromethane) and ultrasonic/hot-plate welding; do not attempt to weld to non-styrenics without adhesives.
Can PS be formed, bent or molded?
Very easy injection molding at 190–250 °C melt / 20–70 °C mold with 0.4–0.7 % shrinkage; HIPS and GPPS sheet thermoform and vacuum-form readily above ~130 °C.
PS chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| polybutadiene rubbergraft rubber phase in HIPS only | 4 – 12 | 7 |
| mineral oil / lubricantinternal lubricant/flow aid in HIPS and easy-flow GPPS | 0 – 3 | 1.5 |
| residual styrene monomerfood-grade limits per GB 4806.6 / EU 10/2011 | ≤ 0.1 | 0.03 |
| styrene (polystyrene homopolymer)GPPS: amorphous atactic polystyrene, Mw typically 200,000–300,000 g/mol | balance |
What surface finishes work on PS?
Molds to high gloss and can be printed, hot-stamped, vacuum-metallized or painted with PS-compatible (non-aggressive-solvent) systems; anneal machined parts near 70–80 °C to relieve stress before contact with solvents.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to PS in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- ISO
- 1043-1 PS
- GB (China)
- GB/T 4454
- Trade names
- StyronPolystyrol
- Also called
- GPPS
How much does PS cost?
PS is a budget-cost polymer ($), cheaper than about 90% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
PS — frequently asked
What is PS used for?
PS is typically used for disposable cutlery and cups, CD/DVD cases, packaging inserts, lab-ware, optical light diffusers and model kits. In short: lowest-cost clear thermoplastic; stiff but notch-sensitive; best solvent-cementing styrenic.
What is the yield strength of PS?
PS has a typical yield strength of 45 MPa (6.53 ksi) and a tensile strength of 46 MPa (6.67 ksi) — weaker than 58% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is PS easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (60/100, better than 51% of polymer grades). Machines fast with sharp positive-rake tools, high speed and light feeds; use air blast (no solvent/oil coolants) and avoid stress risers to prevent crazing and chip-out.
Can PS be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated very good (70/100). Excellent solvent cementing (MEK, toluene, dichloromethane) and ultrasonic/hot-plate welding; do not attempt to weld to non-styrenics without adhesives.
What surface finishes work on PS?
Molds to high gloss and can be printed, hot-stamped, vacuum-metallized or painted with PS-compatible (non-aggressive-solvent) systems; anneal machined parts near 70–80 °C to relieve stress before contact with solvents.
Can PS be formed, bent or molded?
Very easy injection molding at 190–250 °C melt / 20–70 °C mold with 0.4–0.7 % shrinkage; HIPS and GPPS sheet thermoform and vacuum-form readily above ~130 °C.
What is the maximum service temperature of PS?
PS is rated for continuous use to about 65°C (149 °F), and briefly to 85°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between PS GPPS and PS ESD?
GPPS is the default condition — pick for clarity, stiffness, gloss and lowest cost where impact loading and solvents are absent. ESD: pick for electronics trays, carriers and IC packaging where surface charge must be dissipated. Yield strength is 45 MPa in GPPS versus 21 MPa in ESD.
How much does PS cost?
PS is a budget-cost polymer ($), cheaper than about 90% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Sources
- ISO 1043-1 Plastics — Symbols and abbreviated terms — ISO (2011)
- ASTM D4549 Standard Classification System for Polystyrene Molding and Extrusion Materials — ASTM (2020)
- Engineered Materials Handbook, Vol. 2: Engineering Plastics — ASM International (1988)
- STYRON / Trinseo GPPS and HIPS grade datasheets — Trinseo (2023)
- CAMPUS plastics database — PS/HIPS entries — CWFG (2024)
- PlasticsEurope Eco-profile: General Purpose Polystyrene — PlasticsEurope (2020)
- GPPS/HIPS (2026)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.