English Abstract

Styrenic Resin Ryo SAITO Corporate Research & Development Department PS Japan Corporation, Kawasaki-City Kanagawa, Japan Nippon Gomu Kyokaishi,(2007),80(8),292-296 General Review in Japanese Abstract Polystyrene includes GPPS (General purpose polystyrene) and HIPS (High impact polystyrene). The domestic market of polystyrene was about one million ton/year in 1990's, but since 2000, the domestic market has been decreasing due to the decrease of electric appliances application. Many electric appliances manufacturers transferred their factories overseas. Polystyrene manufacturers were reorganized in decade. Ten polystyrene makers of 1993 were gathered to four companies by 2003. The price of styrene has been soaring since the second half of 2004. Polystyrene is mature business. For general purposes, the number of grades of polystyrene has been decreasing and will continually decreasing in future. It is not easy to develop new applications or new grades for polystyrene. But, in resent years, a few of new market or polystyrene grades have been developed in fields of optics, food packaging, flame retardation and other functional fields. PS Japan Corporation has various kinds of functional polystyrene grades; low volatile grade, heat resistant grade, transparent HIPS, and so on. Recycling of polystyrene and safety of styrene oligomer are important. Also in the future, it is essential to steadily develop new market and original materials of polystyrene. Keywords: Polystyrene, GPPS, HIPS, Domestic Market, Functional Grade

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