polystyrene

Everyday

1. Polystyrene is a light plastic. The common white kind is full of air bubbles and is used for packaging, cups and food boxes. tree →
2. Hard clear polystyrene is used for things like plastic cutlery and CD cases. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons it is an insulator that keeps heat in or out and floats; in environment lessons it is hard to recycle and pollutes seas. Phrases: polystyrene cup, polystyrene packaging, polystyrene balls.

Examples

• The TV came packed in polystyrene. tree →
• A polystyrene cup keeps the tea hot. tree →
• Polystyrene is very light and floats on water. tree →
• We used polystyrene balls to make model planets. tree →
• Polystyrene is hard to recycle. tree →
• Bits of polystyrene were washed up on the beach. tree →

Note

Uncountable. In the USA the foam is often called «Styrofoam», which is a brand name. Say pol-ee-STY-reen. A good thermal insulator but bad for the environment.