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Advice for handling of

Styrene Monomer
in the
Unsaturated Polyester Resins (UPR)
and Composites Industry
A guide for customers of
Shell chemicals companies
Global Product Steward SMPO

Copyright of Royal Dutch Shell

April 2011

Contents
Role of Styrene Monomer in the UPR Industry
Safe Handling Information from UPR Industry
Key Facts about Styrene
Safe Handling Information from Styrene Manufacturers
Shell Chemicals Product Stewardship Materials

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Jan 2011

Role of Styrene Monomer in the UPR industry


 Unsaturated polyester resins (solid polymers at room temperature) are

dissolved in a volatile, reactive, unsaturated monomer, usually styrene, in


combination with reinforcing fibres (usually glass fibre) into structural
materials, generally referred to as fibre reinforced laminates or fibre
reinforced composites.
 During the cure of unsaturated polyester resins, styrene - the reactive
monomer in which the unsaturated polyester is dissolved - co-polymerises
with the reactive sites in the unsaturated polyester chains to form a three
dimensional solid (a thermo-setting plastic).
 In some processing techniques, a very small proportion of the reactive
monomer may escape into the atmosphere before copolymerisation.
(Ref. The European UP/VP Resin Association)

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Jan 2011

Available Safe Handling Information from the UPR


Industry Association
These Safe Handling Guides
address the key health, safety
and environmental issues
associated with the storage and
processing of raw materials in
the UP/VE resin industry
(available in English, German Spanish,
French, Italian, Polish language)

Link to the guides:


The European UP/VE Resin Association

Safe Handling Guides

Copyright of Royal Dutch Shell

Jan 2011

Key Facts about Styrene Monomer


It is a naturally occurring substance that may be found in trace
amounts in the environment and in foods such as strawberries, nuts
and cinnamon, beef, coffee beans, peanuts, wheat, oats.
It has a limited persistence in the environment. It quickly disappears
from soil or water surfaces into the atmosphere, where it is rapidly
destroyed. If present in soil or groundwater, styrene degrades readily.
The most recent EU risk assessment for styrene exposure to the
environment and human health (both consumers and workers) was
completed in December 2008. It concluded there was no need for
further information and/or testing or risk reduction measures beyond
those being applied at that time. The registration dossier submitted
under the REACH Regulation in 2010 supports those conclusions.
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Jan 2011

Safe Handling Information from Styrene Manufacturers


Association
The Styrene Manufacturers have jointly reviewed environmental,
health and safety aspects of styrene, i.e. how to handle, store and
distribute the material according to current industry standards and
guidelines.
The Styrene Producers Association (SPA), a Sector Group of the
European Chemical Industry Council (CEFIC), encourages customers
and potential users of styrene to review their applications from the
standpoint of human health and environmental quality.
The Responsible Care commitment of the chemical industry
represents efforts to assist customers in developing sound product
stewardship practices to better safeguard workers and operations,
and to protect the environment:
Link to: Styrene Monomer: Environmental Health and Safety Guidelines
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Jan 2011

Shell Chemicals Product Stewardship Materials


Material Safety Data Sheet search - Shell Chemicals: type Styrene
Monomer and select language and country
Styrene monomer web section at Shell Chemicals
Styrene customer presentation
Sharing high standards in styrene storage - Shell Chemicals
Sharing high standards in styrene storage - animation - Shell
Chemicals
Product Stewardship summaries - Shell Chemicals as part of Shell
Chemicals commitment to Responsible Care Global Charter

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Jan 2011

Copyright of Royal Dutch Shell

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