PLASTIC

What is plastics
Are materials which can be shaped
or moulded under appropriate
conditions of temperature and
pressure, and then hold their
shape.

Introduction

Plastic has become increasingly important in our every

day lives.

For the most part, plastics are organic high polymers,

which means they are made of large chain that contain
carbon.

These polymers are changed into a plastic state either

as they transition from a small-molecule chemical to a
solid.

Types of Plastics
Thermoplastic

Thermosetting

1st

i. Thermoplastic

Become soft when heated and harden when cool and the
process can be repeated is called thermo-softening plastic
or simply thermoplastics.

Is like wax

Thermoplastics are linear with no crosslinks between the

polymeric chains.

Can be recycling because can be melted and re-molded.

Structure of thermoplastic
Monomerlinear

Thermoplastic

Have linear structures and soften when

heated hence it can be reshaped and
recycled.

Conc thermoplastic

The bonds holding the polymer chains together

are usually the weak Van der Waals force.

When heated, the distance between the chain

increases and the polymer becomes soft.

Allow the polymer chains to slide past one

another.

On cooling, the chains come closer and the

polymer becomes hard.

Picture of thermoplastics
PE Plastics

Picture of thermoplastics
PP Plastics

Picture of thermoplastics
PVC Plastics

Picture of thermoplastics
PET Plastics

Picture of thermoplastics
Polyamides Plastics

Examples of Thermoplastic
Types
Polyethene (PE)
Polypropene (PP)

Uses
Wide range of inexpensive uses including
supermarket bags, plastic bottles.
Food containers, appliances, car fenders
(bumpers).

Nylon (Polyamide)

Synthetic fiber, substituted for silk ( in silk

stockings), tufted carpet, machine gear
wheels

Polyvinylchloride
(PVC)

Plumbing pipes and guttering, shower

curtains, window frames, flooring, erotic
clothing.

PET

Carbonated drinks bottles, jars, plastic

film, microwavable packaging.

Properties and Uses of Thermoplastics

2nd

ii. Thermosetting Plastics

Is like concrete.

Highly cross-linked chains and hence usually

are rigid and brittle.

They must be given their shape before their

final chemical structure is produced.

Structure of
thermosetting plastics
Cross-linked

Cross-linked:
1. More tougher
2. More elastic
3. More heat resistant
4. Less soluble in organic solvent

Concthermosetting plastics

They cannot be molten, but will decompose at

high temperatures.

They are entirely insoluble and will not swell

when treated with solvents.

They do not lend themselves to recycling.

( like with eggs, once hard boiled, they cannot
be softened ).

Picture of Thermosetting plastics

Picture of Thermosetting plastics

Properties and Uses of

Thermosetting Plastics

Examples of Thermosetting plastics

Types

Uses

Vulcanized rubber

Tyres, gloves and tubing

Bakelit

Electrical insulators and plastic wear

Polyester

Glass-reinforced plastics / fibreglass (GRP)

Epoxy

Adhesive and in fibre reinforced plastic

such as glass reinforced plastic and
graphite-reinforced plastic.

Acrylonitrile
butadiene styrene
(ABS)

Electronic equipment cases (e.g., computer

monitors, printers, keyboards).

Processing of plastic

Processing of thermosetting plastic

Processing of thermosetting
plastics

Thermosetting plastics are plastics that cannot

be remelted once they have hardened.
Compression molding forms thermosetting
plastic objects in a steel mold. When heat and
pressure are applied, the softened plastic
squeezes into all parts of the mold to form the
desired shape. Laminating binds layers of
materials together in a plastic matrix. The layers
are fused when heated plates melt the plastic
and squeeze the material together.

Processing of thermoplastic

Processing of Thermoplastics

Thermoplastics are plastics that can be hardened and

melted more than once. In the calendering process,
continuous plastic sheets are formed by forcing hot
plastic between successive sets of heated rollers.
Injection molding uses a screw to push plastic through a
heated tube into a mold. Extrusion is a continuous
process that heats plastic pellets in a long barrel. A screw
pushes the heated plastic through a die opening to form
objects such as garden hose and piping. In
thermoforming a hot plastic sheet is draped over a mold
and a vacuum draws the plastic down into the mold. Blow
molding forms containers from soft, hollow plastic tubes
that have a mold fitted around the outside. The tube is
heated, and air injected into the heated tube expands the
plastic against the walls of the mold.

Additives are used in both forms of

plastic
These can include:

Stabilisers to prevent degradation due to moisture or UV light.

Lubricants such as sulphides and waxes to make the polymer easier to

form and self lubricating in use.

Pigments - often referred to as 'master batch' adding colours to the plastic.

Plasticisers - added to make the plastic les hard or brittle.

Fillers - these can be added to enhance properties such as

wear/strength/toughness/durability and talc and clay may be used to bulk
out the plastic reducing costs.

Flame retardants - to prevent combustion in materials such as domestic

foams.

Blowing agents - to permit foams to be blown.

Anti-static agents - used to prevent the build up of electrical charge.

Common properties of plastics

Rigid
Solid
Hard
Transparent
Resistant to stain
Non- biodegradable
Resistant to chemicals
Resistant to oxidation agent

End