Styreenin

Styrene, also known as vinylbenzene or styrene monomer, is an aromatic hydrocarbon with the formula C8H8. It is a colorless, oily liquid with a distinctive sweet odor. Styrene is flammable and volatile; it is sparingly soluble in water and miscible with many organic solvents. In industry it is primarily handled as a monomer for polymer synthesis.

Styrene is produced mainly by the dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene, which is obtained from benzene and ethene. The process uses high temperatures and catalysts to convert ethylbenzene to styrene while releasing hydrogen. Global production is measured in tens of millions of tonnes per year, and most output serves as a feedstock for polymers and related materials.

As a monomer, styrene is polymerized to polystyrene, a widely used plastic. It also forms copolymers such as styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), among others, which underpin packaging foams, consumer electronics housings, automotive parts, and insulation materials. In addition to polymer production, styrene finds use in coatings, adhesives, and synthetic resins.

Health, safety, and environmental considerations are important in handling styrene. Exposure can affect the nervous system and cause eye, skin, and respiratory irritation. It is classified by IARC as possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B). It is regulated as a volatile organic compound in many jurisdictions. Proper storage and handling require good ventilation, leak controls, and stabilizers to prevent premature polymerization; standard fire and spill response procedures apply. Environmentally, styrene is volatile and can contribute to air pollution; spills require containment and appropriate treatment of contaminated wastewater.