polystyrene

[ pol-ee-stahy-reen, -steer-een ]

noun

, Chemistry.

1. a clear plastic or stiff foam, a polymer of styrene, used chiefly as an insulator in refrigerators and air conditioners.

polystyrene

/ ˌpɒlɪˈstaɪriːn /

noun

1. a synthetic thermoplastic material obtained by polymerizing styrene; used as a white rigid foam ( expanded polystyrene ) for insulating and packing and as a glasslike material in light fittings and water tanks

polystyrene

/ pŏl′ē-stī′rēn /

1. A brittle synthetic polymer composed of repeated styrene units. Polystyrene is transparent and rigid because the benzene rings in each styrene unit prevent the polystyrene chains from arranging themselves into a tight crystalline structure. Polystyrene has a wide variety of uses, especially as a solid foam for insulation and packaging.

Word History and Origins

Origin of polystyrene¹

First recorded in 1925–30; poly- + styrene

Example Sentences

The main room had rows of benches with weighing machines, polystyrene ice boxes, and desktop centrifuges.

From MIT Technology Review

Inside the building, encased by glass walls and covering more ground than four soccer fields, thousands upon thousands of lettuce plants floated on polystyrene mats in a hydroponic, or no-soil, growing system.

From Science News

The most common foam used in this process is referred to as EPS, which stands for expanded polystyrene, and it’s the go-to material for lightweight construction.

From Popular-Science

Huber and colleagues next plan to look for solvents to dissolve more kinds of plastic, such as the polystyrene in Styrofoam.

From Science News

Excellent insulation is achieved by a thick layer of expanded polystyrene on all sides, roof, and floor.

From Project Gutenberg