Styrene Acrylonitrile (SAN) is a copolymer of styrene with acrylonitrile. The typical content of acrylonitrile in the SAN composition is between 20 and 30 %. It is basically used in general purpose polystyrene applications where additional chemical resistance is required and slightly higher temperature resistance.
SAN chemical formula.
The main producers of SAN are Trinseo, Styrolution and Polimeri Europe.
Among major styrene-acrylonitrile (SAN) properties belong:
- High transparency
- Chemical resistance
- High stiffness
- High surface hardness
SAN is very transparent and has nice glossy finish. The additional feature of scratch resistance makes it a suitable choice for point-of-sales displays and cosmetic articles.
SAN has a slight yellow tint by nature but is also available in different blue tinted variations. Also UV stable grades are available, as standard SAN is not suitable for outdoor use.
Typical SAN (styrene-acrylonitrile) applications are:
- Parts of refrigerators
- Shelf dividers
- Light covers
- Cosmetic packaging
- Kitchenware