Polystyrene standards are widely used in the field of polymer science and analytical chemistry for calibration and characterization purposes. They serve as reference materials to calibrate instruments like gel permeation chromatography (GPC) or size exclusion chromatography (SEC), which are used to determine the molecular weight distribution of polymers. By comparing the behavior of unknown polymer samples to these standards, researchers can accurately measure molecular weight averages, such as number-average (Mn) and weight-average (Mw) molecular weights. Polystyrene standards are also employed in the development and validation of analytical methods, ensuring consistency and accuracy in polymer analysis. Additionally, they are used in research to study polymer properties, such as viscosity and chain length, contributing to advancements in material science and industrial applications like plastic manufacturing and quality control.