Day 007 - 06 Jul 94 - Page 13

     
     1
         Q.   Polystyrene foam is polystyrene which has been expanded?
     2        A.  Correct.
 
     3   Q.   By a blowing agent?
              A.  Correct, to make cells inside.
     4
         Q.   The word "poly" suggests there is a form of the substance
     5        which is mono or single in its chemical composition?
              A.  Correct.  Ammonamer(?) called styrene and many
     6        styrenes is polystyrene.
 
     7   Q.   Many styrenes is polystyrenes?
              A.  Correct.
     8
         MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Is styrene an absolute or does polystyrene
     9        mean various kinds of styrene?
              A.  No, there is an absolute -- there is a single type of
    10        styrene that they polymerise to make polystyrene.
 
    MR. RAMPTON:  Is it a description -- here I may go off the road
               -- of its molecular construction?
    12        A.  Yes.
 
    13   Q.   How is the transition made from styrene to polystyrene, or
              perhaps it does not matter?
    14        A.  The polystyrene from styrene?
 
    15   Q.   From styrene?
              A.  Styrene to polystyrene, did you say?
    16
         Q.   Yes, styrene to polystyrene?
    17        A.  Essentially, styrene and ethylene are put into a very
              large kettle, heated under pressure which forces a chain
    18        reaction; the styrenes and ethylene connect to one another
              and make a very long chain of hundreds of thousands of
    19        units.
 
    20   Q.   A long, molecular chain?
              A.  Correct.
    21
         Q.   I am going in slightly the wrong order, but are there any
    22        environmental concerns or considerations at that stage of
              conversion from styrene to polystyrene?
    23        A.  Well, they are dealing with chemicals, the styrene
              chemical and ethylene, which certainly would present some
    24        type of hazard, though the manufacturing processes are
              very well controlled, very well contained.  In the US
    25        I can speak of, they meet all of the regulatory
              environmental regulations and all of OSHA - our 
    26        Occupational, Safety and Hazard Association guidelines, so 
              that it is not a risk to the workers in the plants. 
    27
         Q.   Is ethylene itself a substance which is significantly
    28        hazardous to the environment or not?
              A.  I am a little bit out of my expertise there.  I am not
    29        certain.
 
    30   Q.   Let us leave that.  Where does styrene come from?
              A.  Styrene is a product of the petroleum cracking