“The dimensional stability exhibited by PS 5200 at elevated temperatures is particularly valuable for high-speed, profile extrusion of products with thinner walls,” said Holly Wilson, Marketing Manager for Polystyrene Durables at NOVA Chemicals.

“The increased strength and stiffness of PS 5200 may make it possible to downgauge extruded sheet for thermoformed parts with modest depth of draw, such as lids and portion packaging” said Bruce Ligo, NOVA Chemicals’ Marketing Manager for Polystyrene Food Packaging.

Compared to a standard extrusion grade from NOVA Chemicals, PS 5200 exhibits higher strength and stiffness and should provide faster set up due to its higher Vicat softening temperature, making possible higher extrusion throughput and reducing sag during thermoforming. PS 5200 also provides significantly greater tensile strength, flexural modulus and flexural strength, as well as an increase in impact strength when compared with the company’s PS 5410 extrusion grade resin.

Initially PS 5200 will be available only to North American processors. The company will examine potential applications in other regions of the world.

NOVA Chemicals Corporation is a focused commodity chemical company, producing olefins/polyolefins and styrenics at 18 locations in the United States, Canada, France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. NOVA Chemicals Corporation also owns 29 percent of Methanex Corporation, the world’s largest and lowest cost producer of methanol. NOVA Chemicals Corporation shares trade on the Toronto and New York exchanges under the trading symbol NCX. Visit NOVA Chemicals on the Internet at www.novachemicals.com.