This book serves as the first comprehensive reference to systematically cover the preparation, properties, and applications of styrenic polymers and copolymers. Important end-use considerations such as fracture properties, flammability, dynamic mechanical behavior, and photodegradation are covered in detail. The book also describes the latest advances in the field, from polymerization technologies to the beneficial attributes of novel polymer architectures, blends, and copolymers. The contributors span the globe; the majority are from Dow Chemical Co. or BASF, the leading commercial developers of styrenes and styrenic copolymers.

From the Preface: “...The key attribute of polystyrene that has led to its huge commercial success is its low cost...The costs associated with the introduction of new and improved polystyrene products must be low enough that profit can be realized without raising the sales price. This limitation, and the ongoing effort of the chemical industry to scrutinize/justify R&D budgets, places an intense challenge on industrial polystyrene researchers...Academic researchers are not under such focused cost contraints and therefore they will likely continue working on the development of new chemistries for making new styrenic polymers having novel controlled architectures...This book provides the reader with comprehensive information about polystyrene, and a historical overview of its development, as well as reviews describing the latest new technological developments.”

Target Audience: Basic and applied researchers, technologists, polymer scientists, physical chemists, and upper-level students concerned with the production, properties, and applications of styrenes and styrenic copolymers.

Table of Contents:

Introduction to Styrenic Polymers:

Historical Overview of Styrenic Polymers

Polystyrene and Styrene Copolymers — An Overview

Preparation of Styrenic Polymers:

Commercial Processes for the Manufacture of Polystyrene

Approaches to Low Residual Polystyrene

Process Modelling and Optimization of Styrene Polymerization

Living Free Radical Polymerization of Styrene

Increasing Production Rates of High MW Polystyrene

Preparation of Styrene Block Copolymers Using Nitroxide Mediated Polymerization

Major Classes of Styrenic Polymers:

Particle Foam Based on Expandable Polystyrene (EPS)

Rigid Polystyrene Foams and Alternative Blowing Agents

Polystyrene Packaging Applications: Foam Sheet and Oriented Sheet

Preparation, Properties and Applications of High-Impact Polystyrene

Key Structural Features Impacting SAN Copolymer Performance

Rubber Particle Formation in Mass ABS

High Heat Resistant ABS Technology

Synthesis, Properties and Applications of Acrylonitrile—Styrene—Acrylate Polymers

Syndiotactic Polystyrene:

Synthesis of Syndiotactic Polystyrene

Characterization, Properties and Applications of Syndiotactic Polystyrene

Rubber Modification of Syndiotactic Polystyrene

Polymeric Blends Based on Syndiotactic Polystyrene

Styrenic Block Copolymers:

Styrenic Block Copolymer Elastomers

Preparation, Properties and Applications of High Styrene Content Styrene—Butadiene Copolymers

Novel Polystyrenes:

Hydrogenated Polystyrenes: Preparation and Properties

Branched Polystyrene

"Super Polystyrene" — Styrene—Diphenylethylene Copolymers

Ethylene—Styrene Copolymers <

P>Properties of Styrenic Polymers:

Fracture Behaviour of High-Impact Polystyrene and Acrylonitrile—Butadiene—Styrene

Dynamic Mechanical Behaviour of Atactic Polystyrene, High-Impact Polystyrene and Other Styrenic Copolymers

Flame-Retardant Polystyrene: Theory and Practice

Photochemical Degradation of Styrenic Copolymers

Analysis and Levels of Styrenic Dimers and Trimers in Polystyrene Food Containers

Index