Will someone please tell me the difference between styrene and styrofoam? Thanks, Hank. Support The Troops
As far as I know, manufacturing/extrusion process and perhaps degree of polymerization/average molecular weight.
Both ought to be a basic polyethylene chain with phenyl rings hanging off of every other carbon atom.
Essentially, the basic polymer in both is the same. The main differences are in the extrusion process. For the average person, just think of it as foamed styrene. It has the same vulnerabilities and hazards as the stuff you use to build models.