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GPPS (General Purpose Polystyrene)

PolymersCommodity
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General Purpose Polystyrene (GPPS), also called Crystal PS — an amorphous, glassy, transparent thermoplastic with sparkle appearance. Excellent optical clarity (~88-92% light transmission), high stiffness, good dimensional stability, low cost. Inherently brittle (elongation 1-3%) and notch-sensitive — HIPS is the impact-modified alternative. Commercialized in the 1930s; today mainly produced by INEOS Styrolution, Trinseo, and TotalEnergies. Typical applications: disposable cups, CD cases, Petri dishes, yogurt containers, cosmetic packaging, costume jewelry, toys, office equipment.

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International equivalents

FlagStandardCountryGradeNumberMatch
ISO 1043INTPSREF
🇺🇸ASTM D5634USAPS100%
🇩🇪DIN 7741GermanyPS (Typ 1)100%

Mechanical properties — Pro

Typical

PropertyValueUnit
Density
Tensile Strength
Elastic Modulus
Elongation
Glass Transition Temp (Tg)
hdt_1.8mpa
impact_kv
Water Absorption (24h)
light_transmission
Continuous Use Temp

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All data is for reference only. Equivalents indicate similarity, not identity. Always verify against the applicable specification for safety-critical applications. materialref.com accepts no liability for decisions based on this data.