It is a synthetic material, made of crude oil. A liquid is extruded from the oil. From this liquid a refinery will make little balls (polystyrene). By injecting steam into these little balls they expand and glue together (styropor).  

Distinctive are it's colour and weigth. Styropor is always white and almost weigthless.

Other names: polystyrene, EPS, tempex, styropor.

In Europe it is CFK-free (non-European material might be toxic during baking, please check before using this material).

It can be used as insulation material (houses, helms), but also as packaging material. Furthermore it is also handy as light foundation material, in road and construction sites or as an underground for floors (vibration absorbtion). Of course, it is also used in modelling and art classes.

It is however not biodegradable, it has to be recycled or burnt.

It is an ideal modelling material.
> Because of it's weight it is easy to use as a core of your workpiece (round forms).
> Because it shrinks while baking you can make beautiful hollow forms.
Even packaging material can be used, please click here.

It is easy to cut (styropor cutter or knife) or to smoothen (sand paper).

Styropor can be bought in many forms and dimensions; i.e. balls, eggs, animals.