Styrene monomer is a colorless to yellowish monomer with a distinctive aromatic odour. It has low vapor pressure and high refractive index. It is chemically reactive and readily polymerizes by heat, light or peroxide catalysts. It is slightly soluble in water, but soluble in alcohol and ether. The polymerization results in volumetric shrinkage and exothermic heat generation.
Styrene is a clear, colorless aromatic liquid obtained from petroleum and natural gas. Styrene-based polymers are used to make everyday products such as appliances and electronics, automotive components, flooring, insulation, medical devices, packaging, paper coatings, toys and consumer goods, and tires.
The safety of styrene has been studied for many years, and extensive health and safety studies have concluded that styrene-based plastics as currently used are safe for consumer use. Some regulatory agencies have assigned a hazard classification to styrene monomer, but these classifications are not for products made from the monomer. These hazard classifications of the monomer pose no risk to users of styrene-based polymers or end-use products. Exposure levels to styrene for consumers are extremely low, and styrene is not harmful in the small amounts encountered in everyday products.
Styrene occurs naturally in the environment and many foods such as coffee, strawberries and cinnamon contain styrene. Today, it is commonly obtained from petroleum and natural gas by-products with styrene produced by the catalytic dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene. Commercially, styrene is produced together with propylene oxide. Styrene is an important monomer in the petrochemical industry with a world production of about 20 million tons per year.
A synthetic chemical, styrene is used to manufacture an incredible variety of materials in a wide variety of industries. The most recognizable styrene-based materials are polystyrene, and about 65 percent of all styrene used to manufacture it is polystyrene. Polystyrene is used in a wide variety of everyday products and is found in packaging, toys, amusement equipment, consumer electronics and safety helmets.
Our organization also provides styrene monomer analysis services with its trained and expert staff and advanced technological equipment, among the numerous test, measurement, analysis and evaluation studies it provides for businesses in various sectors.
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