High-impact polystyrene rubber particle morphology

Another example of an alternative rubber system is the asymmetric radial polymer (ARPS). ARPS has four equal arms of polybutadiene, with a polystyrene segment attached to one of the polybutadiene arms. A HIPS product made with ARPS blends polybutadiene produces two separate rubber phases with different morphologies and particle size distributions. The ARPS produces a capsular morphology and the polybutadiene produces a normal cellular morphology surrounded by a lamellar structure that provides a reactor product with both high gloss and high impact. 

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