Styrene (HIPS)
High-Impact Polystyrene Sheet
HIPS is the low-cost POP standard for temporary indoor and outdoor signage, and the substrate of choice when you need impact resistance, deep-draw thermoforming, and predictable printability at a competitive price.
At a glance
- Specific gravity
- 1.03
- Service temp (DTUL)
- 185°F / 85°C
- Tensile strength
- ≥ 6,300 psi
- Stock gauges
- Nine stock gauges
Applications
- POP signage: shelf talkers, wobblers, table tents, shelf strips, danglers, posters
- Temporary ID cards and badges
- Housekeeping and parking-lot signage
- Packaging and one-time-use items
- Printed toys, games, and promotional pieces
- Thermoformed trays, clamshells, and refrigerator liners
- Model board and prototyping
Features & benefits
- Low-cost POP sign standard for temporary indoor and outdoor use.
- High dyne levels and matte surface make printing easy by screen or litho.
- Available in a wide variety of gauges and stock sizes.
- Excellent coating, metalizing, die-cutting, and heat-bending characteristics.
- High heat distortion temperature with excellent low-temperature toughness.
- Litho-grade option engineered for high-speed ink adhesion.
Print & process compatibility
| Method | Compatibility | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Toner / Laser | ✓ | |
| HP Indigo | ✓ treated | |
| UV Inkjet | ✓ | |
| Solvent Inkjet | ✓ | |
| Screen | ✓ | |
| Offset | ✓ | |
| Litho | ✓ |
Available surfaces, finishes & gauges
| Surface / finish | Description | Stock gauges |
|---|---|---|
| Matte / Matte (stock) | Slightly textured surface in nine stock gauges. Stock colors include white, black, and yellow. Opacity levels from translucent to dead white. | Nine stock gauges |
| Gloss / Gloss | Corona-treated for high dyne levels and reliable ink adhesion. | Stock |
| Litho Grade | Special mixture engineered for high-speed litho ink adhesion. | Stock |
Typical properties
Typical of average lots. Job-specific qualification recommended for production runs — request a sample.
| Property | Typical value | Test method |
|---|---|---|
| Physical | ||
| Specific gravity | 1.03 | ASTM D 792 |
| Vicat softening temperature | 213°F / 100°C (rate B) | ASTM D 1525 |
| Deflection temp. under load (DTUL) | 185°F / 85°C (264 psi, 1.8 MPa) | ASTM D 648 |
| Bulk density | 38 – 42 lb/ft³ | — |
| Linear mold shrinkage | 0.004 – 0.008 in/in (24 hr) | ASTM D 955 |
| Melt flow rate | 3.0 g/10min (200°C, 5.0 kg) | ASTM D 1238 |
| Mechanical | ||
| Tensile strength | Min 6,300 psi | ASTM D 638 |
| Tensile modulus | 2,800 psi (1,620 MPa) @ 2.0 in/min | ASTM D 638 |
| Tensile elongation | 75 % @ 2.0 in/min | ASTM D 638 |
| Flexural strength | 4,600 psi (32 MPa) @ 0.1 in/min | ASTM D 790B |
| Flexural modulus | 238,000 psi (1,640 MPa) @ 0.1 in/min | ASTM D 790B |
| Notched Izod impact | 2.1 ft-lb/in (112 J/m) @ 73°F | ASTM D 256 |
Fabrication & converting
Excellent for thermoforming, die-cutting, drilling, scoring, and routing. Heat-bend characteristics make HIPS the default for display and packaging forming runs.