Chapter 46

High Impact Polystyrene

Category: Styrenic, thermoplastic.
General Properties: High impact polystyrene
(HIPS) is modied with polybutadiene elastomers.
The high impact grades contain 612% of the elastomer. The elastomers are introduced into the base
polymer to improve the impact resistance and deformation before fracture. Through the incorporation of
different elastomers into the chain, products with a
wide range of properties can be produced.
NOVA Chemicals Styrosun resins are weatherable HIPS specically designed for use in outdoor applications. Styrosun contains an inherently
weather resistant rubber that is cross-linked and
grafted into the polymer matrix. This unique polymer structure provides long-term color stability and
physical property retention.[132]

Weathering Properties
Unmodied HIPS resins usually experience
greater change from outdoor exposure than general purpose polystyrene formulations. HIPS resins
usually show less change than resins modied
with ignition-resistant chemical additives.[133] Solar
radiation, particularly at the UV end of the spectrum,
acts together with atmospheric oxygen to cause
embrittlement and yellowing. These changes occur
mainly in the butadiene elastomer.[13]
Styrosun resins are resistant to sunlight and
maintain signicant physical properties after weathering. The weather resistant properties of Styrosun
resins are achieved by combining proprietary UV
stabilization technology with an inherently UVstable impact modier.[134]
The key advantage of Styrosun resin is the
retention of physical properties after outdoor weathering. Applications using Styrosun resins maintain functional product life and toughness after UV
exposure.[134]

Molded plaques of Styrosun and typical competitive outdoor polymers were exposed at four
different locations in the United States and color
retention (as E) was monitored over time. The
color retention performance of Styrosun HIPS,
acrylonitrile-styrene-acrylate (ASA), UV-stabilized
acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (UV-ABS), UVstabilized high impact polystyrene (UV-HIPS), and
lled polypropylene (PP) was compared after 18
months at four different exposure sites in the United
States. The results demonstrated that Styrosun and
ASA had equivalent performance (E range 4.9
6.5). UV-ABS and UV-HIPS were also equivalent in
performance (E range 18.526.1). Filled PP exhibited the smallest change in color over this exposure
period (E range 1.62.2). A E value of 5 or less is
generally considered to be negligible unless directly
compared to an unexposed control.[132]
Molded plaques of Styrosun and various other
materials were exposed in Xenon Arc WeatherOmeters (ATLAS Material Testing Technology
LLC) as per ASTM protocol G155 Cycle 2. By calculation, 3000 hours of accelerated weathering by
this protocol is theoretically equivalent to one year
of exposure in Florida or 0.8 years in Arizona. The
color retention of white Styrosun after 3000 hours
of accelerated weathering was identical to its color
retention after 18 months of Florida outdoor weathering. In this accelerated exposure test, neitherASAnor
UV-ABS exhibited the same degree of color change
seen after Florida exposure. However UV-ABS was
again less resistant to color change than Styrosun .
Filled PP exhibited the smallest change in color over
this exposure period. Examination of the accelerated
weathering E graph also illustrates the signicant
amount of scatter in the data.[132]
The samples were also tested for retained impact
strengths. There are three impact results reported
by a Dynatup (Instron Corporation) impact test
instrument. The energy at maximum load is the
energy at the moment of impact, the total energy

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The Effects of UV Light and Weather on Plastics and Elastomers

is the energy required to break the test plaque, and

the maximum load is the weight required to break
the test plaque. When these absolute numbers were
compared, in all cases Styrosun was stronger and
tougher than lled PP, but not as strong as UV-ABS.
When the percentage retention values were compared, Styrosun was found to retain its properties
signicantly better than UV-ABS and similar to
lled PP.[132]

Addition of UV stabilizers overcomes the yellowing and brittleness associated with prolonged
exposure of unmodied HIPS to sunlight.[132] Combinations of UV absorbors (UVAs) and hindered
amine light stabilizers (HALSs) can provide
improved performance.[135]

Weathering Properties by Material Supplier Trade Name

Table 46-1. Color Change, E, after 18 Months of Florida Outdoor Exposure for NOVA Chemicals
Styrosun HIPS and Other Materials
Material Family

High Impact Polystyrene

Material Grade

NOVA Chemicals Styrosun HIPS and Other Materials

Reference Number

132

Exposure Conditions

Florida, Arizona, Kentucky, Illinois

Exposure Time

18 months
Styrosun 3600

ASA

UV-ABS

UV-HIPS

Filled PP

E Florida

5.2

5.4

18.5

19.4

2.2

E Arizona

6.5

6.5

25.3

23.7

1.8

E Kentucky

5.0

4.9

24.2

22.0

1.6

E Illinois

5.8

4.8

26.1

23.1

1.6

Materials
SURFACE AND APPEARANCE

Table 46-2. Color Change, E, after 18 Months of Florida Outdoor Exposure and 3000 hours of
Accelerated Weathering for NOVA Chemicals Styrosun HIPS and Other Materials
Material Family

High Impact Polystyrene

Material Grade

NOVA Chemicals Styrosun HIPS and Other Materials

Reference Number

132

Exposure Conditions

Florida Outdoor Exposure

Accelerated Exposure

18 months

3000 hrs

Exposure Time
Materials

Styrosun 3600

ASA

UV-ABS

Filled PP

Styrosun 3600

ASA

UV-ABS

Filled PP

5.4

18.5

2.2

5.2

1.3

7.5

2.1

SURFACE AND APPEARANCE

E

5.2

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46: High Impact Polystyrene

Table 46-3. Impact Retention after 3000 hours of Accelerated Weathering for NOVA Chemicals
Styrosun HIPS and Other Materials
Material Family

High Impact Polystyrene

Material Grade

NOVA Chemicals Styrosun HIPS and Other Materials

Reference Number

132

Exposure Conditions

Accelerated Exposure

Exposure Time
Materials

3000 hrs
Styrosun

3600

Styrosun

3600

UV-ABS

Filled PP

RETENTION OF ENERGY AT MAXIMUM LOAD

Impact Retention (%)

80.7

102.7

39.1

107.2

88.3

76.9

42.9

135.1

88.4

82.6

28.2

98.1

RETENTION OF TOTAL ENERGY

Impact Retention (%)
RETENTION OF MAXIMUM LOAD
Impact Retention (%)

Graph 46-1. Yellowness Index after Fadeometer Exposure of Dow Styron Impact and Flame-Retardant
Polystyrene and Dow Styron Unmodied Polystyrene.

234

The Effects of UV Light and Weather on Plastics and Elastomers

Graph 46-2. Color Change, E, after Florida Outdoor Exposure of NOVA Chemicals Styrosun HIPS and
Other Materials.[132]
25

FLORIDA
20

15

10

0
White Styrosun
3600
3 months

White ASA
6 months

White UV ABS
9 months

White UV HIPS

12 months

15 months

White filled PP
18 months

Graph 46-3. Color Change, E, after Arizona Outdoor Exposure of NOVA Chemicals Styrosun HIPS and
Other Materials.[132]
30

ARIZONA
25

20
15
10
5
0
White Styrosun
3600
3 months

White ASA
6 months

White UV ABS
9 months

White UV HIPS

12 months

15 months

White filled PP
18 months

235

46: High Impact Polystyrene

Graph 46-4. Color Change, E, after Kentucky Outdoor Exposure of NOVA Chemicals Styrosun HIPS and
Other Materials.[132]
30

KENTUCKY
25

20
15
10
5
0
White Styrosun
3600
3 months

White ASA
6 months

White UV ABS
9 months

White UV HIPS

12 months

15 months

White filled PP
18 months

Graph 46-5. Color Change, E, after Illinois Outdoor Exposure of NOVA Chemicals Styrosun HIPS and Other
Materials.[132]
30

ILLINOIS
25

20

15

10

0
White Styrosun
3600
3 months

White ASA
6 months

White UV ABS
9 months

White UV HIPS

12 months

15 months

White filled PP
18 months

236

The Effects of UV Light and Weather on Plastics and Elastomers

Energy at Maximum Load (% Retention)

Graph 46-6. Impact Property Retention, Energy at Maximum Load, after 3000 hours of Atlas WeatherOmeters Exposure for NOVA Chemicals Styrosun HIPS and Other Materials.[132]
140.0
120.0
100.0
80.0
60.0
40.0
20.0
0.0
0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

Exposure Time (hrs)

UV ABS-BLACK

SSUN 3600 BLACK

SSUN 6600 BLACK

FILLED PP-WHITE

Graph 46-7. Impact Property Retention, Total Energy, after 3000 hours of Atlas Weather-Ometers Exposure
for NOVA Chemicals Styrosun HIPS and Other Materials.[132]
200.0

Total Energy (% Retention)

180.0
160.0
140.0
120.0
100.0
80.0
60.0
40.0
20.0
0.0
0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

Exposure Time (hrs)

UV ABS-BLACK

SSUN 3600 BLACK

SSUN 6600 BLACK

FILLED PP-WHITE

237

46: High Impact Polystyrene

Graph 46-8. Impact Property Retention, Maximum Load, after 3000 hours of Atlas Weather-Ometers
Exposure for NOVA Chemicals Styrosun HIPS and Other Materials.[132]

Maximum Load (% Retention)

120.0
100.0
80.0
60.0
40.0
20.0
0.0
0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

Exposure Time (hrs)

UV ABS-BLACK

SSUN 3600 BLACK

SSUN 6600 BLACK

FILLED PP-WHITE

Graph 46-9. Impact Strength after Xenon Arc Weathering of HIPS as per ISO 4692-2.[135]
80

Impact Strength (kJ/m2)

60
0.25% UVA
0.25% HALS
40

20

Control

0
0

250

500

750

1000

Exposure Time (hrs)

Note: 2 mm plaques; base stabilization: 0.05% Irganox 245; UVA:Tinuvin P, Tinuvin 327, or Tinuvin 328; HALS:Tinuvin
770, Tinuvin 765, or Chimassorb 119.

238

The Effects of UV Light and Weather on Plastics and Elastomers

Graph 46-10. Yellowness Index after Xenon Arc Weathering of HIPS as per ISO 4892-2.[136]
20

Control

Yellowness Index

15

10

0.1% Tinuvin P
0.1% Tinuvin 770

1000

2000

3000

Exposure Time (hrs)

4000

5000