The Styrene Producers Association (SPA)
Uses and properties
Styrene, a colourless clear liquid, is used in the manufacturing of polystyrene (PS), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), styrene-acrylonitrile (SAN), styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) and latices, and unsaturated polyester resins (UP resins).
ABS is a tough, heat-resistant thermoplastic. It is widely used for appliances and telephone housings, luggage, sporting helmets, pipe fittings and automotive parts.
SAN is mainly used in the automotive, electrical and electronics industry, as well as in household applications and building products.
Because of its excellent abrasion resistance, SBR is widely used in automobile and truck tyres.
Styrene-butadiene latex is mainly used for carpet backing and paper coating. Other applications include belting, flooring, wire and cable insulation, and footwear.
Polystyrene is widely used to make yoghurt and dessert containers and lids.
Expanded and extruded polystyrene foams are also used in building applications, where the high insulation values enable buildings to be kept warm in winter or cool in summer with significant reductions in fuel use.
Unsaturated polyester resins are mainly used in the construction, boat building, automotive and electrical industries. More recent applications include their use in large-scale wind turbines used to generate "renewable electricity".
Issues and regulations
Regulations
- Provide regulators and other official bodies with information to enable them to classify and where appropriate regulate the transportation, marketing and use of styrene
REACH implementation
- Advice and support on Styrene and Ethyl Benzene REACh Consortium.
Specific issues
- Support and resource studies relating to potential health effects of styrene
- Lead Responsible Care initiatives to maintain high standards of safety in transportation, storage and use of styrene.
Contacts/Further information
Eric Faes, Sector Group ManagerTel. + 32 2 6767227
Philippe Maréchal, Technical Manager
Tel. + 32 2 6767205
Websites:
Styrene Forum
Ethylbenzene
Styrene Monomer
Membership
BASFBayer Material Science
Dow Europe
Ineos Nova
Lyondell Basell
Polimeri Europa
Repsol-YPF
Sabic IP
Shell Chemicals
Total Petrochemicals
Chairman: Piet Vermeersch, Total Petrochemicals
