High Impact Polystyrene & Polypropylene Revision

High Impact Polystyrene (HIPS)

Type: Thermoplastic

Advantages: Tougher than polystyrene, cheap to produce, and easy to process. Insulates, Matte finish.

Disadvantages: Minimal electrical properties,  low transparency, absorbs more moisture.

Applications: Mainly used in  household appliances such as trays, models, and calculators.

Notes:

• HIPS is perfect for demanding end-use applications in the food, dairy, and medical packaging industries. The properties ensures compliance with strict food and medical regulations.

• HIPS sheets are especially suitable for thermoforming, die cutting, and vacuum forming applications and is a very easy material to work with.

• No known microorganism can biodegrade HIPS, and it is often abundant as a form of pollution in the environment, particularly along shores and bodies of water.

• HIPS is perfect for demanding end-use applications in the food, dairy, and medical packaging industries. The properties ensures compliance with strict food and medical regulations

• HIPS sheets are especially suitable for thermoforming, die cutting, and vacuum forming applications and is a very easy material to work with.

• No known microorganism can biodegrade HIPS, and it is often abundant as a form of pollution in the environment, particularly along shores and bodies of water.

Polypropylene (PP)

Type: Thermoplastic

Advantages: Hard wearing material.  High heat resistance.  Hydrophilic material.

Disadvantages: Degrades from heat, UV radiation, and Oxidation.

Applications: Textiles e.g., ropes, and thermal clothing, loudspeakers, and stationery.

Notes:

• Polypropylene is a type of fibre. It can be used as a plastic or fabric. As a plastic it is opaque and brightly coloured; sometimes it is very tough but can also be very weak as well. It is usually formed into a thin thread that is woven into a strap that can be found on backpacks, bags, and other things.

• Like most plastics, polypropylene has virtually endless uses, and its development has not slowed since its discovery. Whether used for industrial molds, rugged currency, car parts, or Tupperware, polypropylene is one of a handful of materials the world is literally built around.

• Polypropylene is a colorless, translucent to transparent solid with a glossy surface. Polypropylene does not present any risk to the skin. The polymer should not be exposed to flames as it gives off smoke on burning.

• Injection molding is the largest PP market but it can also be made into fibres, film and sheet and extruded into pipe and conduit. Polypropylene and its alloys have become the plastic of choice in the automobile industry.