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Polystyrene (PSt)

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Encyclopedia of Polymeric Nanomaterials

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Synonyms

Polystyrene; PS; Styrene polymer; Styrenic polymer

Definition

Polymer obtained from addition polymerization of styrene.

Introduction

Polystyrene is a polymer of styrene [–(CH2CH(C6H5)) n –], which is categorized as one of the most popular thermoplastic resins including high-density polyethylene, low-density polyethylene, polypropylene, and poly(vinyl chloride) [1, 2]. Polystyrene was first discovered in distillation of storax resin (a natural resin) in 1839 by Eduard Simon (in Germany). The commercial production of polystyrene as a synthetic resin began in the 1930s (in 1931 by BASF, in 1938 by Dow). Various styrene-based polymers are now manufactured as resin, form, and rubber all over the world to be processed into materials and goods essential for our daily life.

Polystyrene can be prepared by four kinds of addition polymerization of styrene through different active species and/or intermediates: via radical, anionic, cationic, and coordination polymerization (Fig. 1) [1]....

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Polymer Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Katsura, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto, 615-8510, Japan

    Takaya Terashima

Authors
  1. Takaya Terashima
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Takaya Terashima .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Fiber and Textile Science, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Matsugasaki, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan

    Shiro Kobayashi

  2. Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Mainz, Germany

    Klaus Müllen

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Terashima, T. (2015). Polystyrene (PSt). In: Kobayashi, S., Müllen, K. (eds) Encyclopedia of Polymeric Nanomaterials. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-29648-2_255

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