HIPS.
High impact.
Refrigerator liners.
High-Impact Polystyrene (HIPS) — impact-modified styrene plastic. Standard for refrigerator liners, signs, food packaging, disposable items. Cost-effective.
Key principles.
Impact-modified
Polystyrene + butadiene rubber for impact toughness. Maintains rigidity.
UTS 22-25 MPa
Lower strength than ABS but higher toughness than standard polystyrene.
Easy injection
Excellent flow, low molding pressure. Faster cycles than ABS.
Very cheap
~$2/kg. Cheapest impact-grade plastic.
Cosmetic parts
Refrigerator interiors, signage, food packaging, toys, disposable cutlery.
Low strength
Not for structural or load-bearing applications.
FAQ
HIPS vs ABS?
HIPS cheaper, easier to process, less stiff. ABS stronger, more durable, more expensive. Choose by load.
Surface finish?
Excellent gloss in mold. Easy to paint, vacuum metallize.
Recycling?
Recyclable (#6). Limited recycling stream — usually downcycled.
Heat resistance?
Service temp up to 70°C. Deforms above this.
Food contact?
Some HIPS grades FDA approved. Specify food-contact grade.
Production scaling?
Cost-effective at any volume. Cheap commodity tooling investment.
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