The following sections of this BookRags Literature Study Guide is offprint from Gale's For Students Series: Presenting Analysis, Context, and Criticism on Commonly Studied Works: Introduction, Author Biography, Plot Summary, Characters, Themes, Style, Historical Context, Critical Overview, Criticism and Critical Essays, Media Adaptations, Topics for Further Study, Compare & Contrast, What Do I Read Next?, For Further Study, and Sources.
(c)1998-2002; (c)2002 by Gale. Gale is an imprint of The Gale Group, Inc., a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. Gale and Design and Thomson Learning are trademarks used herein under license.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Encyclopedia of Popular Fiction: "Social Concerns", "Thematic Overview", "Techniques", "Literary Precedents", "Key Questions", "Related Titles", "Adaptations", "Related Web Sites". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Guide to Literature for Young Adults: "About the Author", "Overview", "Setting", "Literary Qualities", "Social Sensitivity", "Topics for Discussion", "Ideas for Reports and Papers". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
All other sections in this Literature Study Guide are owned and copyrighted by BookRags, Inc.
Polystyrene is a high molecular weight polymer made up of repeating monomeric units of styrene. It is a clear, solid plastic that softens at about 185°F (85°C). It is produced through a free radical polymerization reaction of styrene monomers. First produced during the 1930s, polystyrene has become a valuable material with numerous applications for consumer products, packaging, and insulation.
The development of polystyrene began with the discovery in 1839 of styrene. By 1925, German scientists had included styrene in a synthetic rubber. The polymerization reactions which produce polystyrene were developed in 1937 by scientists at the Bakelite Corporation. Today, polystyrene is produced on an industrial scale using a bulk, free radical polymerization process.
Various characteristics make polystyrene a unique and useful material. Polystyrene is clear, easily colored and fabricated. This makes it an excellent material for producing consumer products like toys, housewares, light fixtures, lenses and appliances. It has fair mechanical properties but good resistance to acids and bases. It is also a good electric insulator. Polystyrene can be physically modified into expanded polystyrene which is an ideal packaging and insulation material. Polystyrene can also be chemically modified to produce copolymer resins that have better impact resistance. These materials are useful for making dishes, tumblers, and telephone parts.