Materials for Design

PS (Polystyrene)

Despite its crystal-like clarity, polystyrene isn’t a material that suggests quality. Think of the rustling sound of the tray in a box of chocolates or an Airfix model kit – it is a plastic that has entered our consciousness in the same way that PVC and polythene have. As with polythene and polypropylene, it is a material that, from a designer’s perspective, is inexpensive and easy to process.

One of its major features is its water-like clarity; just think of the little compartments that you have in your fridge or the iconic BIC pens. It is also pretty hard and accepts colour well, and if you think about how thin the sections of a cheap disposable plastic cup are, you get an idea of its rigidity. Although it doesn’t have as many ...