Styrene: Characteristics
Why an inhibitor is all that stops it setting solid
What this tab covers The physical and chemical properties that set its grade, price and uses, with the commercial grades and the standards that define them.Purity and inhibitor level are the key commercial properties, because styrene polymerises on its own if warm or uninhibited.
Properties that matter commercially
| Property | Value / specification | Why it matters | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purity | at least 99.8% (ASTM D2827 type, indicative) | Polymer quality | indicative |
| Inhibitor (TBC) | typically 10-15 ppm (indicative) | Prevents polymerisation in storage | indicative |
| Boiling point | 145 C | Vacuum distillation needed to avoid polymerisation | standard data |
Commercial grades
- Polymer grade SM (standard)
- High-purity for specialty copolymers