Design Nomenclature / Physical Model Making

Styrene

Also called polystyrene sheet, HIPS, high-impact polystyrene, plastic card, Evergreen

Physical Model Making
2D & 3D

This entry has not been translated yet and is shown in English.

White sheet plastic from 0.25 mm up, the standard body material for appearance models. It cuts by scoring and snapping, solvent-welds into a genuinely seamless piece, thermoforms at low heat, and takes primer with no preparation at all. It also creeps, so large flat panels bow over months.

Section through a styrene sheet being scored: a knife has cut a shallow V perhaps a third of the way through, and the sheet is drawn hinging apart from the root of the V in a clean fracture.

Not to be confused with

PMMAA hard, optically clear thermoplastic that laser-cuts to a flame-polished edge and solvent-welds invisibly. Cast acrylic machines and lasers cleanly; extruded is cheaper, gummier, and crazes when solvent touches it. It is brittle — it cracks where a tougher plastic would bend — and it holds an edge under load until it doesn't.

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