Expandable styrene-acrylonitrile

M.H. Tusim and T.W. Rhoads, Plasticizers for expandable styrene-acrylonitrile resin, US Patent 5 071606, assigned to The Dow Chemical Company (Midland, MI), December 10,1991. 

Styrene [100-42-5] (phenylethene, viaylben2ene, phenylethylene, styrol, cinnamene), CgH5CH=CH2, is the simplest and by far the most important member of a series of aromatic monomers. Also known commercially as styrene monomer (SM), styrene is produced in large quantities for polymerization. It is a versatile monomer extensively used for the manufacture of plastics, including crystalline polystyrene, mbber-modifted impact polystyrene, expandable polystyrene, acrylonitrile—butadiene—styrene copolymer (ABS), styrene—acrylonitrile resins (SAN), styrene—butadiene latex, styrene—butadiene mbber (qv) (SBR), and unsaturated polyester resins (see Acrylonithile polya rs Styrene plastics). 

In Contact with Organic Vapors. Finely divided polystyrene beads (22-48 mesh) supported on a screen suspended above the surface of pentane in a closed vessel absorb as much as 9.2% in 2 days at 30°C. In the same way, a styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer is rendered expandable by exposure to vapors of a 90/10 mixture of pentane and methylene chloride (5). 

Foams (cellular structures) made by expanding a material by growing bubbles in it [11]. A foam has at least two components. At a macroscopic scale, there are the solid and liquid phases. The solid phase can be a polymer, ceramic or metal. The fluid phase is a gas in most synthetic foams, and a liquid in most natural foams. At a microscopic scale, the solid phase may itself consist of several components. For example, the solid phase of an amorphous polystyrene foam has only one component. On the other hand, the solid phase of a polyethylene foam or a flexible polyurethane foam typically has two components. These components are the crystalline and amorphous phases in polyethylene foams, and the hard and soft phases formed by the phase separation of the hard and soft segment blocks in flexible polyurethane foams. The solid phase of a polyurethane foam may, in fact, have even more than two components, since additional reinforcing components such as styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer or polyurea particles are often incorporated [12,13]. The solid is always a continuous phase in a foam. Foams can generally be classified as follows, based on whether the fluid phase is co-continuous with the solid phase ... 

The term styrenic describes the family of major plastic products that use styrene as their key building-block PS, expanded polystyrene (EPS), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer (ABS), styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer (SAN), styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) and unsaturated polyester resin (UP). Among these, UP is the only thermoset and will... 

Poly (styrene-co-acrylonitrile). See Styrene/acrylonitrile copolymer Poly (styrene-co-allyl alcohol). See Styrene/allyl alcohol copolymer Poly (styrene-co-butadiene). See Styrene/butadiene polymer Poly (styrene-co-divinylbenzene). See Styrene/DVB copolymer Poly (styrene-co-maleic anhydride). See Styrene/MA copolymer Poly (styrene-co-methyl methacrylate). See Styrene/methyl methacrylate copolymer Poly (styrene-co-a-methylstyrene). See Styrene/a-methyl styrene resin Poly (styrene-divinylbenzene). See Styrene/DVB copolymer Polystyrene, expandable Synonyms EPS Expandable polystyrene Expanded polystyrene XPS Definition Amorphous PS beads contg. pentane as a blowing agent and coated with a lubricant the polymer is converted to foamed articles with a closed cell structure by applic. of steam Properties Beads (0.4-1.5 mm diam.)... 

Many important polymers are made commerdally via suspension polymerization of vinyl monomers. These include poly(vinyl chloride), poly(methyl methacrylate), expandable polystyrene, styrene-acrylonitrile copolymers and a variety of ion-exchange resins and specialist materials. The annual polymer production from suspension processes is very high. 

Several commerdally important vinyl copolymers are manufactured using suspension polymerization, induding polystyrene (general purpose, expandable and high impact), poly (methyl methacrylate), poly(vinyl acetate), styrene-acrylonitrile... 

We previously reported that brominated aromatic phosphate esters are highly effective flame retardants for polymers containing oxygen such as polycarbonates and polyesters (9). Data were reported for use of this phosphate ester in polycarbonates, polyesters and blends. In some polymer systems, antimony oxide or sodium antimonate could be deleted. This paper is a continuation of that work and expands into polycarbonate alloys with polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS). 

In order to determine the sources of contamination, some water samples, including wastewaters and effluents from different industries were also sampled. Along the Cinca River and in the industrial area of Monzon, industrial effluents from two different industries were selected the first one produced EPS (Expandable polystyrene) treated with flame retardants and ABS (Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene), and the second one produced PVC (Polyvinyl chloride). As regards the Vero River, three industries were sampled the first one, a textile industry which produced polyester fibers treated with flame retardants, the second one produced epoxy... 

PS = Polystyrene including expanded polystyrene (EPS) and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) copolymers... 

Note ABS, acrylonitrile/butadiene/styrene EPS, expandable polystyrene HIPS, high-impact polystyrene PA, polyamide PBT, poly(butylene)terephthalate PC, polycarbonate PE, polyethylene PET, poly(ethylene)terephthalate PP, polypropylene PUR, polyurethane PVC, polyvinylchloride UPE, unsaturated polyester Textile, textile application. 

Styrene is produced by the alkylation of benzene with ethylene followed by catalytic dehydrogenation. It is used in the manufacture of general-purpose and high-impact polystyrene plastics ( 50%), expanded polystyrene ( 7%), copolymer resins with acrylonitrile and butadiene ( 7%) or acrylonitrile only ( 1%), styrene-butadiene latex ( 6%) and synthetic rubber ( 5%), unsaturated polyester resins ( 6%), and as a chemical intermediate. 

Transition metal catalyzed hydrogenation in ionic liquids has also been applied to the hydrogenation of polymers. First studies were presented by Dupont s group which investigated the hydrogenation of acrylonitrile-butadiene copolymers [102]. These early studies were later expanded by Rosso and coworkers studying the rhodium catalyzed hydrogenation of polybutadiene (PBD), nitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR) and styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) in a [BMIM][BF4]/toluene and a... 

Transparent and brittle used for cheap molded objects, e.g., Styron, Carinex, Hostyren, Lustrex. Modified with rubber to improve toughness, e.g., High impact Polystyrene (HIPS) and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer (ABS). Expanded by volatilization of a blended blowing agent (e.g., pentane) to make polystyrene foam, e.g., Styrocell, Styrofoam... 

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