Advantages

  • Rigidity
  • Moldability
  • Paintability

Limitations

  • Poor weatherability
  • Poor chemical resistance
  • Brittleness

Overview

Polystyrene materials are available with a wide range of properties. They have low specific gravity, good dimensional stability and outstanding electricals. Addition of glass increases polystyrene’s strength, rigidity, dimensional stability and impact resistance.

Tensile strength is increased to 12,000 psi with a 40% glass loading. Flexural strength is increased to 19,000 psi and heat deflection temperature is raised to 210 degrees F (99 degrees C). This enables low cost styrene to be acceptable for high load applications not possible with non-reinforced resin.