The Difference Between PP and PS

The colors of the products made of PP and PS are similar, and the products made by them are generally difficult to distinguish the material from the appearance. .

PP: Polypropylene, is a translucent, semi-crystalline thermoplastic.
PS: Polystyrene, environmentally friendly and non-toxic, has very good plasticity, poor toughness and brittleness.

So how to distinguish between PP and PS?

  • The difference in sound: The PS material is harder, so the percussive sound sounds more crisp. The PP material has good toughness and insufficient hardness, so the sound is dull.
  • The difference in appearance: PS can be very transparent, PP is not very transparent, it still looks like frosted glass.
  • The difference in texture: pp has good toughness, while ps is more rigid.

PP Sheet Material
PP Sheet Material
PS Sheet Material
PS Sheet Material

Generally speaking, the same thickness of pp and ps products, transparency: PS>PP, hardness: PS>PP, toughness PP>PS.