South African Polystyrene Suppliers: The Benefits of Polystyrene
Of the many South African polystyrene suppliers, all of them will tell you how versatile and useful the substance of polystyrene is. It is used in many forms and has many benefits.
There are several misconceptions about polystyrene and that is it unsafe or hazardous. In fact it is a perfectly safe material and is even recyclable and environmentally safe. Consult with any of the South African polystyrene suppliers to find out more information and some of the uses of polystyrene.
What is Polystyrene?
Polystyrene is a manufactured product that we use in everyday life. Breaking it down, polystyrene is a type of polymer that has thermoplastic properties. It is produced from the petroleum-derived monomer called styrene.
When it is in its solid form, polystyrene is a colourless and rigid plastic, but when it is heated it can return to a liquid state and can be reused used again.
Polystyrene is used extensively in many industries and is the base material for many products. Polystyrene is one of the most commonly used plastics in everyday life, and is second only to polyethylene.
A Brief History of Polystyrene
The discovery of polystyrene dates all the way back to 1839. A German chemist by the name of Eduard Simon distilled an oily substance from the resin of the Turkish sweetgum tree. He initially named it “styrol” and after a few days, oxidation led to the substance hardening and solidifying into a jelly. He then changed the name to ‘styrol oxide’.
Several scientists played with the substance, but it took eighty years to discover that heating styrol caused a chain reaction that produced macromolecules. This led to the name polystyrene. From 1931 German company IG Farben began manufacturing polystyrene. Since then polystyrene has evolved and in produced globally, including many South African polystyrene suppliers.
The Benefits of Polystyrene
Polystyrene is a widely used and versatile material with several benefits when it is applied:
- Polystyrene is a great insulator with has several advantages:
- It Reduces Noise – when used as insulation it greatly reduces the invasion of outside noise. This is ideal when living in industrial areas or if you live near a highway.
- It Is Waterproof – Water can cause significant dam age to a home. The waterproof properties of polystyrene repel water from internal structures and the foundations.
- It Has Low Thermal Conductivity - Polystyrene is a low thermal conductor, which means it will keep your house warm in the winter months, and cool in the summer season.
- Polystyrene is a superior packaging material with many advantageous properties:
- Its clean and resists bacteria, making it sanitary and safe in the food and beverage industry
- It’s light, strong and easy to handle, making it cheap to produce and affordable to transport.
- You can recycle it, making it environmentally friendly.
Polystyrene is a viable material in many industries. South African polystyrene suppliers will be able to provide you with information and quotes to make use of this versatile material.
