Learn About Your Plastic Sheet : 7 Facts About High Impact Polystyrene.

In this next blog post, we narrow our focus to duscuss one of the materials we extrude in greater
detail – High Impact Polystyrene (HIPS). HIPS is a very versatile, economical and tough
material that exhibits good impact strength, easy processing and works very well with
thermoforming processes. Below are 7 important facts about HIPS Plastic :
1. HIPS is a modified form of polystyrene:
Polystyrene (PS) plastic is a naturally transparent thermoplastic material that is available
in several forms. The most basic form of PS is general purpos PS (GPPS), also known as
crystal PS. GPPS is a result of styrene monomer polymerization and it it a transparent
product. Another common grade of PS is expandable PS (EPS). ES is a foamed version
of this material, often referred to as “Styrofoam” which is a name for EPS trademarked
by Dow Chemical Company in 1941. This material is commonly used in packaging
applications such as foam meat trays or foam egg cartons.

2. HIPS is a high impact strength material :

As the name would suggest, HIPS is a form of PS that carries with it a higher impact
strength. Homopolymer PS can often be brittle, and can be made more impact resistant if
combined with other materials. This form of PS typically is produced by adding around
5-10% rubber or butadiene co polymer. This increase the thoughness and impact strength
of the polymer and result in a very stiff product ideal for packaging applications. Due to
the durable nature of this material, high impact polystyrene sheet frim impact plastics is
used in packaging applications for a wide range of applications in the food, medical,
consumer goods, cosmetics, industrial and horticultural market among others.

3. HIPS is an amorphous polymer:

3. Polymers exhibit two tpes of morphology in a solid state – amorphous – and semi
crystalline. Whereas a semi-crystalline polymer refers to aplastic with organized and
tightly packed molecular chains, the polymer chains for amorphous plastic materials are
more disorganized. In an amorphous polymer the molecules are oriented randomly and
are interwined. To give you visual are more disorganized. In an amorphous polymer
the molecules are oriented randomly and are intertwined. To give you visual, the
organization, or lack thereof, of the polymer chains for amorphous materials are
often compared to a plate of cooked spaghetti. Amorphous polymers like HIPS
are isotropic in flow, meaning that shrink uniformly in the direction of the flow and
transverse to flow. This typically results in less shrinkage and less warping than
semi-crystalline polymers. Amorphous polymers are typically transparent,
however HIPS is a translucent white in its natural state.

4. HIPS is compatible with food packaging applications:

HIPS is available in FDA approved grades and is compatible

with food packaging applications. The rigid nature of this material makes it ideal
for food packaging applications such as cookie and bakery trays or deli sandwich
clamshells. While the moisture vapor transmission numbers aren’t as good as
with other polymers, HIPS has inherent moisture barrier properties that make this
material suitable for short shelf life products. In addition, improvements to
particular grades of HIPS have resulted in good environmental stress crack
resistance (ESCR), making this material suitable for the packaging of fatty foods
such as butter. This material can be used in low-heat food packaging
applications but it is not recommended for applications where the packaging will
undergo heat higher than approximately 185°F.

5. HIPS is a good printable substrate:

High impact polystyrene can be decorated using a variety of printing methods

including screen printing, offset lithography, and flexography. This material is
compatible with corona treatment processes which helps mitigate problems with
adhesion to the plastic.

6. HIPS is a recyclable material:

 HIPS is a 100% recyclable material and is identified by the
resin ID code ‘6.’ However, while HIPS and other forms of PS can be recycled,
not all recycling centers and municipalities in the US accept this material.
According to the 2015-16 Centralized Study on Availability of Recycling, it is
estimated that between 20 – 60% of the US population has access to recycling
programs that accept PS products such as cups, containers clamshells and lids,
while less than 20% have access to programs that accept PS cutlery, Foam PS
trays/containers, foam clamshells, and other EPS packaging. Impact plastics
offers a recycled grade Utility HIPS for non-FDA applications. 

7. HIPS can be easily customized:

HIPS from Impact plastics is an easily customized material and is available in

virtually any color under the sun. This material is compatible with a variety of
processes and is therefore available in a vast range of colors, finishes and
additive package formulations. Additional customization of HIPS sheet from
Impact include:

- Custom color match HIPS including pearl, iridescent, and metallic colors
- Custom Embossing including small square, diamond plate & brushed      
metal
- Custom laminates including mylar, mirror, brushed metal & wood grain
- High gloss COEX and Matte surface finishes
- Electro Static Dissipative 
- Double-sided corona treatment
- Clear HIPS 
- Multi-layer Coextrusion