Description
High Impact Polystyrene (HIPS), often referred to as styrene, is an easily machined and fabricated impact-resistant, versatile, and economical plastic. HIPS is often the preferred material for low strength structural applications. Its excellent dimensional stability, an affinity for paint, and glue make it an obvious choice for machining pre-production prototypes.
Forms of Polystyrene
Polystryene can come in a few different forms:
- Styrene or Polystryene Plastic
- Polystyrene Foam (often referred to as Styrofoam)
- Polystyrene Film
What is High Impact Polystyrene?
HIPS, a form of polystyrene plastic, is combined with polybutadiene to increase its strength and versatility. In its original form, PS is a homopolymer, which results in a more brittle material. As high impact polystyrene, it is a copolymer which offers more durability and can be used in a wider set of applications.
