51Թ

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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

/ ˌɒɪˈٲɪː /

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
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

polystyrene

/ ŏ′ē-īŧ /

  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.
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of polystyrene1

First recorded in 1925–30; poly- + styrene
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How does polystyrene compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Soil analysis in November 2023 found the land contained asbestos, plastic, polystyrene and asphalt.

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SB54 put an end to polystyrene — which had low recycling rates and high levels of pollution — in California.

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In the meantime, some polystyrene manufacturers and distributors are already getting rid of the plastic in anticipation of the law coming into effect.

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The study found higher levels of toxic flame retardants in polystyrene plastic, which is labeled with the number 6, said Liu.

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For instance, black foam and black coffee lids, which are often made of polystyrene, usually end up in landfills because color additives lead to ineffective sorting.

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