{"id":16544,"date":"2024-06-14T11:20:38","date_gmt":"2024-06-14T09:20:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/?p=16544"},"modified":"2026-06-17T16:29:54","modified_gmt":"2026-06-17T14:29:54","slug":"polystyrene-what-can-this-plastic-not-do","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/en\/polystyrene-what-can-this-plastic-not-do\/","title":{"rendered":"Polystyrene: What can this Plastic (not) do?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_73 ez-toc-wrap-center counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-white ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/en\/polystyrene-what-can-this-plastic-not-do\/#History_of_Polystyrene\" title=\"History of Polystyrene\">History of Polystyrene<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/en\/polystyrene-what-can-this-plastic-not-do\/#What_Is_Polystyrene_and_How_Is_It_Made\" title=\"What Is Polystyrene and How Is It Made?\">What Is Polystyrene and How Is It Made?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/en\/polystyrene-what-can-this-plastic-not-do\/#How_Is_Expanded_Polystyrene_EPS_Made\" title=\"How Is Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) Made?\">How Is Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) Made?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/en\/polystyrene-what-can-this-plastic-not-do\/#Uses_of_Styrene_Plastic\" title=\"Uses of Styrene Plastic\">Uses of Styrene Plastic<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/en\/polystyrene-what-can-this-plastic-not-do\/#Styrofoam_as_an_Insulating_and_Packaging_Material\" title=\"Styrofoam as an Insulating and Packaging Material\">Styrofoam as an Insulating and Packaging Material<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/en\/polystyrene-what-can-this-plastic-not-do\/#Persistence_Reusability_and_Recycling\" title=\"Persistence, Reusability and Recycling\">Persistence, Reusability and Recycling<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/en\/polystyrene-what-can-this-plastic-not-do\/#Alternatives_to_Polystyrene\" title=\"Alternatives to Polystyrene\">Alternatives to Polystyrene<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Polystyrene, PS, Styrofoam or styrene plastic \u2013 this material is as versatile as its many names. The thermoplastic made up around 5.2%<sup>[1]<\/sup> of the world&#8217;s plastic production in 2023. It was first developed for other purposes, but today PS is best known as an insulating material. So what makes it so special? And what is polystyrene used to make? This article answers these questions and shows why polystyrene still matters today.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"History_of_Polystyrene\"><\/span>History of Polystyrene<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Polystyrene&#8217;s rise began in the 1930s. That was when the German conglomerate IG Farben, then Europe&#8217;s largest industrial group, started large-scale technical production.<\/p>\n<div class=\"box info  \"><div class=\"box-inner-block\"><i class=\"fa tie-shortcode-boxicon\"><\/i>\n\t\t\tPolystyrene was first synthesised in Germany back in the 19th century. It only gained wider attention in the 20th century, though. Early on, PS was mainly used to make plastic tableware and other household items.\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">In its early days, PS was used to insulate cables, for example. Then, in 1949, the German-Austrian BASF chemist Fritz Stastny (1908\u20131985) developed a way to foam polystyrene. He had discovered the process by chance and patented it under the well-known name Styropor. Since then, PS has become one of the most widely used plastics in the world.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Because PS is so common, it is having a growing impact on the environment. The material is not always disposed of or recycled properly. Some companies are already working on modern methods. Their aim is to feed PS back into a recycling loop \u2013 or avoid it altogether.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Is_Polystyrene_and_How_Is_It_Made\"><\/span>What Is Polystyrene and How Is It Made?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Polystyrene belongs to the plastomers, which makes it a thermoplastic polymer. Thermoplastic means that PS becomes mouldable at certain temperatures. As the name suggests, polystyrene is made up of many styrene monomers. Styrene \u2013 more precisely called phenylethene \u2013 consists of a vinyl group and a phenyl group. This is why it is also known as vinylbenzene.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Styrene is produced in one of two ways: by dehydrogenating ethylbenzene or by alkylating benzene with ethene. Ethylbenzene is a direct by-product of crude oil refining and is distilled from pyrolysis gasoline. The ethylbenzene is then catalytically dehydrogenated at high pressures and temperatures. This step uses an aluminium oxide or iron oxide catalyst.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Polystyrene forms through a free-radical polymerisation reaction. Here, styrene monomers are heated together with added initiator compounds such as benzoyl peroxide or azo compounds. These initiators create radicals. The radicals trigger the styrene monomers to link together and form polystyrene molecules.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_9952\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-9952\" style=\"width: 400px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-9952\" title=\"Structure of polystyrene\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Polystyrene.jpg\" alt=\"Structure of polystyrene\" width=\"400\" height=\"477\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Polystyrene.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Polystyrene-251x300.jpg 251w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-9952\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><center>Structure of polystyrene<\/center><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The polymerisation is exothermic and releases around 74.5 kJ\/mol of heat energy. The mixture of monomers and polymers is then freed of excess styrene in a degasser at about +230 \u00b0C (+446 \u00b0F). This achieves a conversion rate of roughly 90% PS.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The resulting polystyrene can be transported and processed further as pellets or granules. PS appears as a transparent or slightly cloudy <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/de\/schlaeuche\/harte-kunststoffschlaeuche-kunststoffrohre\">plastic<\/a> with a smooth surface and a glass-like texture. Polystyrene occurs in a crystalline (hard) and an amorphous (glassy) form.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Is_Expanded_Polystyrene_EPS_Made\"><\/span>How Is Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) Made?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Expanded polystyrene (EPS) \u2013 also known by the brand name Styrofoam \u2013 is made in a multi-step process. First, beads of polystyrene resin are pre-foamed at around +90 \u00b0C (+194 \u00b0F) using steam. During this stage, air enters the beads. As a result, the thermoplastic expands to 20 to 50 times its original volume and forms open cell structures.<\/p>\n<div class=\"box success  \"><div class=\"box-inner-block\"><i class=\"fa tie-shortcode-boxicon\"><\/i>\n\t\t\tThis is why EPS consists of about 98% air and only 2% PS. The foam beads are placed into moulds. There, steam at around +115 \u00b0C (+239 \u00b0F) foams them up and fuses them together.\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The expanded polystyrene foam is then cooled. This lets it harden and stabilises the cell structures. The degree of expansion determines the density of the foam boards produced later, which ranges from 10 to 35 kg\/m\u00b3. Finally, the plastic boards are cut to size with mechanical or thermal saws.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_9955\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-9955\" style=\"width: 450px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-9955\" title=\"Scanning electron microscope image of expanded polystyrene (EPS)\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Polystyrene-im-Rasterelektronenmikroskop.jpg\" alt=\"Scanning electron microscope image of expanded polystyrene (EPS)\" width=\"450\" height=\"390\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Polystyrene-im-Rasterelektronenmikroskop.jpg 660w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Polystyrene-im-Rasterelektronenmikroskop-300x260.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-9955\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><center>Scanning electron microscope image of expanded polystyrene (EPS)<\/center><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Extrusion is another way to make polystyrene foam. The foam produced this way is called extruded polystyrene (XPS). Molten polystyrene resin is pressed through a heated nozzle and expanded by pressure and heat. A blowing agent such as pentane or carbon dioxide is used during the process. It foams up the liquid material under heat.<\/p>\n<div class=\"box note  \"><div class=\"box-inner-block\"><i class=\"fa tie-shortcode-boxicon\"><\/i>\n\t\t\tThis extruded polystyrene foam has a closed-cell structure, so the individual cells are not connected. This is the main difference between EPS and XPS, because in EPS the cells are linked. As a result, XPS offers better thermal insulation and density, plus lower flammability than EPS.\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Uses_of_Styrene_Plastic\"><\/span>Uses of <strong>Styrene Plastic<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Today, polystyrene is found in many products, including packaging, containers, tableware, foams and insulation. Thanks to its high transparency, the polymer also works well for optical applications such as microscopy and fluorescence measurements.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/laboratory-equipment\/laboratory-containers\/test-tubes-centrifuge-tubes-and-cuvettes\/29860\/macro-cuvette-made-of-ps-crystal-clear\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-9957 size-medium\" title=\"Macro cuvette made of PS \u2013 crystal clear\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/makro-kuevette-aus-ps-glasklar-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"Macro cuvette made of PS \u2013 crystal clear\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/makro-kuevette-aus-ps-glasklar-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/makro-kuevette-aus-ps-glasklar-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/makro-kuevette-aus-ps-glasklar.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/laboratory-equipment\/laboratory-containers\/tubes-jars-and-boxes\/29744\/specimen-jar-made-of-ps-with-screw-closure\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-9959 size-medium\" title=\"Specimen jar made of Polystyrene (PS) \u2013 with screw cap\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/praeparatedose-aus-ps-mit-schraubverschluss-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"Specimen jar made of Polystyrene (PS) \u2013 with screw cap\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/praeparatedose-aus-ps-mit-schraubverschluss-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/praeparatedose-aus-ps-mit-schraubverschluss-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/praeparatedose-aus-ps-mit-schraubverschluss.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">PS is often used for consumables in laboratory analysis, such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/laboratory-equipment\/laboratory-containers\/tubes-jars-and-boxes\">lab tubes<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/laboratory-equipment\/laboratory-containers\/test-tubes-centrifuge-tubes-and-cuvettes\">cuvettes<\/a>. Many <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/laboratory-equipment\/laboratory-containers\/bottles-carboys-and-accessories\">lab bottles<\/a>, dishes and crucibles, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/laboratory-equipment\/metering-facilities-and-metering-devices\/pipette-and-accessories\">pipettes<\/a>, and handles for scalpels and knives are also made from this material. Even <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/semi-finished-products\">semi-finished products<\/a> like plastic sheets benefit from the properties of polystyrene \u2013 and so do <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/flow-meters\">flow meters<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/filtration\">filtration elements<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Styrofoam_as_an_Insulating_and_Packaging_Material\"><\/span>Styrofoam as an Insulating and Packaging Material<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">As a foam, PS is used in helmets, where it absorbs impacts and protects the wearer&#8217;s head from injury. Because of its special properties, using polystyrene as a foam calls for extra care. In construction, for example, PS insulation boards are built into floors, walls and roofs. The trapped air makes XPS and EPS suitable as insulating materials. XPS, in particular, can be used for insulation with especially high demands.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/laboratory-equipment\/metering-facilities-and-metering-devices\/pipette-and-accessories\/29942\/universal-measuring-pipette-made-of-ps\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-9963 size-medium\" title=\"Universal measuring pipette made of PS\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/universal-messpipette-aus-ps-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"Universal measuring pipette made of Polystyrene (PS)\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/universal-messpipette-aus-ps-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/universal-messpipette-aus-ps-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/universal-messpipette-aus-ps.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/semi-finished-products\/plates\/plastic-sheets\/30240\/plate-made-of-ps\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-9964 size-medium\" title=\"Plate made of Polystyrene \" src=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/platte-aus-ps-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"Polystyrene sheet\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/platte-aus-ps-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/platte-aus-ps-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/platte-aus-ps.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">EPS and XPS are remarkably pressure-resistant, lightweight and versatile. They are even used in insulating systems such as fridges and freezers, helping them cool with less energy. Beyond insulation, their impact resistance makes them ideal packaging for sensitive products like electronics. Polystyrene foam can also block sound, and EPS is especially good for this. XPS, in turn, is ideal for model-making and prototyping, where its light weight and mouldability are a real advantage.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">In general, rigid PS foam \u2013 both XPS and EPS \u2013 is a highly flammable insulating material that releases harmful gases in a fire. When building homes, you therefore need precautions to ensure fire safety. Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) are an especially important group of flame-retardant substances used with XPS and EPS. BFRs help flames spread more slowly and reduce the toxic gases formed in a fire. Unfortunately, BFRs are very problematic for the environment. For this reason, they are banned or only permitted to a limited extent in the EU.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Persistence_Reusability_and_Recycling\"><\/span>Persistence, Reusability and Recycling<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">As with other plastics, the question of recycling and reusing PS products is not fully resolved. The general approach to cutting plastic waste follows a clear order of priority: reduce, reuse, recycle. Around the world, there are various efforts to bring PS and polystyrene foams into a circular economy, and most of these are based on recycling.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">In mechanical recycling of expanded polystyrene, clean, single-type PS waste is ground into granules. These are added to products such as insulation boards or lightweight concrete, where they act as a pore-forming agent. Solvent-based recycling such as BASF&#8217;s ChemCycling aims to dissolve PS products completely. The resulting pyrolysis oil is then turned into high-quality new plastic material.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Alternatives_to_Polystyrene\"><\/span>Alternatives to Polystyrene<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">There are many alternatives to PS foams. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/semi-finished-products\/plates\/foam-rubber-sheets\">Sheets of cellular rubber, sponge rubber and silicone foam<\/a>, for instance, can be used where EPS and XPS would fail, thanks to their heat resistance. Their flexible, compressible nature also makes silicone foams attractive in the construction industry, for sealing joints and gaps. Foamed silicones are used as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/tubes-hoses\/protective-and-insulating-hoses\">protective and insulating hoses<\/a> for thermal insulation, too.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/tubes-hoses\/protective-and-insulating-hoses\/31328\/silicone-insulating-tubing-with-jacket\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-9966 size-medium\" title=\"Silicone insulating tubing with jacket\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/silikon-isolierschlauch-mit-ummantelung-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"Silicone insulating tubing with jacket\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/silikon-isolierschlauch-mit-ummantelung-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/silikon-isolierschlauch-mit-ummantelung-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/silikon-isolierschlauch-mit-ummantelung.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/tubes-hoses\/protective-and-insulating-hoses\/28619\/pur-insulating-tubing\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-9967 size-medium\" title=\"PUR insulating tubing\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/pur-isolierschlauch-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"PUR insulating tubing\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/pur-isolierschlauch-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/pur-isolierschlauch-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/pur-isolierschlauch.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Foam boards made of polyether urethane (PEUR) are used where high elasticity, abrasion resistance and shock absorption are needed. EPS and XPS tend to be stiffer and not very abrasion-resistant. In such cases, they can be replaced by PEUR foam boards.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">In other areas, researchers are working on avoiding plastic altogether. Packaging made from mycelium \u2013 the \u201croots\u201d of fungi \u2013 is one sustainable and promising option. Mycelium can be moulded into almost any shape, is impact-resistant and fully recyclable. However, researchers are still fine-tuning many details. So it is hard to say if and when mycelium packaging will replace the plastic-based versions.<\/p>\n<pre><strong>Sources:\r\n<\/strong>[1]: https:\/\/plasticseurope.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Plasticsthefastfacts2023-1.pdf<\/pre>\n<pre><strong>Image sources:<\/strong>\r\nFeatured image | \u00a9 NorGal - stock.adobe.com\r\nExpanded polystyrene under the scanning electron microscope | By HaefnerP - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/w\/index.php?curid=149092438<\/pre>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Polystyrene, PS, Styrofoam or styrene plastic \u2013 this material is as versatile as its many names. The thermoplastic made up around 5.2%[1] of the world&#8217;s plastic production in 2023. It was first developed for other purposes, but today PS is best known as an insulating material. So what makes it so special? And what is &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":13499,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3028,3029],"tags":[4178,4181,3765,4180,4179],"class_list":["post-16544","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","","category-alle-beitraege-en","category-werkstoffe-in-der-chemie-en","tag-eps","tag-expanded-polystyrene","tag-polystyrene","tag-polystyrene-foam","tag-styrofoam"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Polystyrene: What can this Plastic (not) do? - Reichelt Chemietechnik Magazine<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Polystyrene (PS) explained: what it is, how it&#039;s made and where EPS and XPS are used. 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