Polystyrene high gloss

Polystyrene may be extruded to produce film and other transparent articles with high gloss finish but in commercial practice the formulations toughened with rubber are used to a greater extent (extruded transparent film is toughened by stretching and orientation while it is still hot from the die). 

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. 

Decorative films are a natural application for SBC. These films can be used for gift wrap, flower wrap or food wrap. They require high gloss, transparency, stiffness, deadfold and transparent color. The economics and stiffness of the film can also be easily modified by blending with crystal polystyrene [18]. Highly decorated SBC films are also used as decorative laminated films on foamed polystyrene trays and packages. 

SBCs have also been used in toy applications that do not require clarity. Because SBCs can be easily colored, are durable and have very high gloss, they are used for non-clear components. Although often used in the neat form, SBC can also be blended with other polymers such as high-impact polystyrene. 

A variation of the HIPS process uses diblock polybutadiene-polystyrene rubbers to produce core-shell rubber particles with polystyrene cores and thin polybutadiene shells. The small particle size of 0.1 to 0.4 pm is less than optimum for toughening but provides a high-gloss material. 

Giuffria, R., Carhart, R.O., and Davis, D.A. (1963) High gloss of extruded high impact polystyrene sheet A microscopical study of sheet morphology. J. pl. Polym. Sd.. 7,1731. 

A wide spectrum of properties maybe obtained by varying the ratios of thermoplastics, polyester, and styrene in the blend. Among the thermoplastics quoted in the literature for such blending are poly (methyl methacrylate), polystyrene, PVC, and polyethylene. High-gloss DMCs using low-shrink resins have found uses in kitchen appliances such as toaster end plates, steam iron bases, and casings for electric heaters. 

Rubber toughened polystyrene is widely used in electronic and kitchen appliances. This type of application requires a good balance of stiffness, impact resistance, and ready coloration. Telephones, which are frequently dropped, are an excellent example of the benefits of rubber toughened polystyrene. The high surface gloss that we desire is obtained by minimizing the size of the rubber particles. Larger items, such as canoes, can be thermoformed from extruded sheet. 

Diacetone alcohol [123-42-2] (4-hydroxy-4-methyl-2-pentanone) is an almost odorless ketone alcohol that is weakly acidic as a result of rearrangement to the enol form. It is miscible with water and organic solvents except aliphatic hydrocarbons. It acts as a good solvent for cellulose esters and ethers, alcohol-soluble resins, castor oil, and plasticizers. Poly(vinyl acetate) and chlorinated rubber are partially dissolved or swollen. Polystyrene, poly(vinyl chloride), vinyl chloride copolymers, dam-ar resins, resin esters, rubber, bitumen, mineral oils, ketone resins, and maleate resins are insoluble. Diacetone alcohol is used as a high boiler in stoving enamels to improve flow and gloss. 

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