What is High Impact Polystyrene used for?
2024-03-18 13:12What is High Impact Polystyrene?
High Impact Polystyrene, commonly known as HIPS, is a rubber modified version of General Purpose Polystyrene. The addition of rubber makes the thermoplastic incredibly durable, with a much higher impact resistance than its former compound. Like all thermoplastics, the material can become soft and pliable when heated, and re-solidify upon cooling. These factors alone make HIPS a great material to manufacture components with.
Properties of High Impact Polystyrene
HIPS has many different properties that allow for a wide range of uses and applications for the thermoplastic. With more rubber content, the material can easily undergo manufacturing processes such as vacuum forming, and easily bends and moulds whilst retaining its durability. Its properties do not weaken once re-moulded either; making it very reliable. Due to its amorphous properties, HIPS can be painted – making it great for design purposes that require strong aesthetics.