HIPS Sheet Manufacturer

In the hidden corners of modern industry, a material called HIPS Sheet (High Impact Polystyrene Sheet) is quietly supporting our lives—from refrigerator linings to shopping mall billboards, from medical device casings to automotive interiors. So, what are HIPS sheets? How does this seemingly ordinary yet powerful plastic sheet balance strength and aesthetics, safety and cost? What material science wisdom lies behind its multiple identities?

Core Characteristics of HIPS Sheets

HIPS Sheet is a thermoplastic engineering plastic board based on High Impact Polystyrene. It forms a special "island-sea structure" by dispersing polybutadiene rubber particles in a polystyrene matrix, enabling the material to maintain rigidity while achieving excellent impact resistance.

Mechanical Performance Advantages

Compared with traditional polystyrene, the impact strength of HIPS Sheet is increased by 3-5 times, the tensile strength is maintained at 25-38MPa, the flexural strength can reach 42-45MPa, and it maintains a lightweight density of 1.06g/cm³. This allows it to withstand physical impacts in daily use without easy cracking.

Processing Adaptability

HIPS Sheet has excellent molding performance and supports secondary processing such as vacuum thermoforming, cutting, and thermal bending. Its melt flow rate is about 6g/10min (GB 3682 standard), and the injection molding shrinkage rate is only 0.4%-0.8%, ensuring dimensional stability during molding.

Material Structure and Manufacturing Processes

Although ordinary single-layer HIPS Sheet is tough, its surface is dull. To break through this limitation, advanced processes use multi-layer composite technology:

Gloss Enhancement Technology

Through precise in-mold lamination, a GPPS (General Purpose Polystyrene) material layer is fused onto the HIPS substrate to create High glossy HIPS sheet. This structure retains the tough core of HIPS while achieving a mirror-like gloss effect from GPPS, with a 60° glossiness of over 86.6%.

Flame Retardant Modification Process

Fire retardant HIPS sheet is achieved by adding flame retardants such as nano-silica, melamine cyanurate, and glass fibers. When the flame retardant content reaches 15%-20%, the sheet can pass the UL94 V-0 certification (1.5mm thickness), with a limiting oxygen index >37%, low smoke emission, and no dripping during combustion.

Surface Treatment and Functional Segmentation

To meet the needs of different scenarios, HIPS Sheet has derived four functional types:

High Gloss Aesthetic Type (High glossy HIPS sheet)

With a surface glossiness >85%, it can replace ABS in high-end home appliance casings (air conditioners, computers), cosmetic packaging, and other fields with strict appearance requirements. The mirror effect is achieved by increasing the melt temperature (up to 250℃) and mold temperature (65℃), combined with high-speed injection molding processes.

Safety Flame Retardant Type (Fire retardant HIPS sheet)

Complying with UL94 V-0/V-2 flame retardant grades, it uses halogen-free flame retardants (such as phosphorus compounds) and is suitable for fire-safety-sensitive scenarios like electrical connectors, lighting fixtures, and building interiors.

Medical and Food Grade

Certified by FDA, with a stable density of 1.06g/cm³ and no plasticizer migration, it is used in medical devices, food containers, etc.

Weather Resistance Enhanced Type

Added with UV stabilizers and cold-resistant toughening agents (such as low-temperature modifiers), it is suitable for outdoor signs in high-cold regions, linings of refrigeration equipment, etc.

Analysis of Industry Application Scenarios

The multifunctional characteristics of HIPS Sheet make it prominent in five major fields:

Home Appliance Manufacturing

Accounting for 45% of global HIPS consumption, especially High glossy HIPS sheet is widely used in refrigerator linings, air conditioner casings, and water dispenser panels. Its -40℃ low-temperature resistance ensures the stability of refrigerated components.

Advertising Display

HIPS Sheet with a thickness of 0.6-8mm can be used to make light boxes and display stands through UV printing, and the matte surface provides a glare-free visual experience.

Electronics and Electrical Equipment

Fire retardant HIPS sheet is used to make electrical casings and instrument panels, with flame retardancy combined with an insulation strength of 15KV/mm to ensure safety.

Medical Packaging

Medical-grade HIPS sheets are used for medicine bottle trays and diagnostic equipment casings, favored for their resistance to isopropyl alcohol disinfection.

Transportation Interiors

Automotive door panel linings and luggage racks use scratch-resistant HIPS sheets, meeting TS16949 automotive standards.

Scientific Selection: Key Parameters Matching Needs

When purchasing HIPS Sheet, core indicators should be locked based on application scenarios:

Mechanical Performance Triangle

Impact strength >8kJ/m² (GB/T1843) — preferred for heavy-duty equipment;

Flexural modulus >2000MPa — essential for structural components;

Rockwell hardness >R105 — critical for wear-resistant scenarios.

Thermal Parameters

Heat deflection temperature (0.45MPa) >85℃ — benchmark for high-temperature environments;

Mold temperature 65℃ — core of the high-gloss surface process.

Safety Certifications

Mandatory certifications: UL94 V-0 (electronics), FDA (food contact);

Recommended certifications: ISO9001, CE marking.

Hidden Value of Process Optimization

Even ordinary HIPS Sheet can significantly improve performance through injection molding process adjustments:

For every 10℃ increase in melt temperature, glossiness increases by 5%-8%;

A 30% increase in injection speed reduces surface flow marks by 60%;

Holding pressure of 7MPa + holding time of 20s eliminates 90% of sink marks.

When you need an engineering plastic solution that balances impact resistance, processing flexibility, and cost-effectiveness, HIPS Sheet is undoubtedly the ideal choice. Whether pursuing the aesthetic extremes of High glossy HIPS sheet or the safety focus of Fire retardant HIPS sheet, its performance boundaries are continuously expanding through material technology. Choosing an ISO9001-certified HIPS Sheet Manufacturer means obtaining end-to-end guarantee from raw material formulation and process control to application support—Sunplas, with a stable production capacity of over 3,000 tons/month and full thickness coverage of 0.6-8mm, provides CE-certified HIPS solutions to global customers, helping products break through the traditional boundaries of performance and aesthetics.