Plastic refers to a wide range of materials, both synthetic and semi-synthetic organic compounds, which are malleable and are moldable into solid objects. Typically, plastics are organic polymers consisting of high molecular mass, but often contain other substances. Some are partially natural, but most of them are synthetic derivatives of petrochemicals. Plastics manufacturing is easy and relatively cheap. In addition, these substances are versatile and impervious.
The use of plastics in the production of products is growing at an exponential rate owing to the many advantages that the materials present to manufacturers. The uses range from making spaceships to making toys for babies. Many of the materials that have traditionally dominated the manufacturing industry such as leather, glass, bone, wood, metal, paper, horn, stone, and ceramic are being replaced very fast.
In countries that are highly developed, a third of all packaging materials are made from plastics while another third is used to make building materials. Other industries in which this materials is used heavily include furniture, toys, and automobile. There is a lot of variance in the extent to which plastic is used among underdeveloped, developing, and developed nations. However, use in developing nations is rising at a steady rate to cover the gap between them and developed nations. These materials also finds heavy use in the field of medicine.
The types of plastic materials in existence are many and they are used to make various commodities. Common examples of plastics include polyethylene, polyester, polyethylene terephthalate, high-density polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinylidene chloride, polystyrene, high impact polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, polycarbonates, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polyamides, low-density polyethylene, and polyurethanes. Polyester is used to make textiles and fiber while bottles for microwavable packaging, plastic films, carbonated drinks, and peanut butter jars are made out of polyethylene terephthalate.
Polyethylene is used to make a wide range of inexpensive products. For instance, it is utilized to make plastic bottles and supermarket bags. Plumbing pipes, shower curtains, flooring, window frames, and guttering are made from polyvinyl chloride. Most food packaging materials are made from polyvinylidene chloride. Polycarbonate also abbreviated as PC is used to make riot shields, eyeglasses, traffic lights, security windows, compact discs, and lenses. Some plastics are used to make more than one class of products.
The description of the characteristics of plastic materials is based on the organic chemistry of the polymer it is made out of. Some common descriptors include oxidation, density, hardness, heat resistance, organic solvents, and ionizing radiation among many others. Even though plastic materials can be turned into electrical conductors, their level of electrical conductivity remains very low when compared to that of metals.
Pure plastics are insoluble in water and are biochemically inert, which make them to have a low level of toxicity. Biochemical inertness is caused by large molecular weights. Products made from plastic often contain different kinds of additives, some of which can be very toxic. The additives often cause toxicity by leaching out of the product.
The toxicity level in some products has forced some countries to enact laws concerning the use of additives. Plastic has a very slow rate of degradation. The slow rate of decomposition results from their chemical composition.
The use of plastics in the production of products is growing at an exponential rate owing to the many advantages that the materials present to manufacturers. The uses range from making spaceships to making toys for babies. Many of the materials that have traditionally dominated the manufacturing industry such as leather, glass, bone, wood, metal, paper, horn, stone, and ceramic are being replaced very fast.
In countries that are highly developed, a third of all packaging materials are made from plastics while another third is used to make building materials. Other industries in which this materials is used heavily include furniture, toys, and automobile. There is a lot of variance in the extent to which plastic is used among underdeveloped, developing, and developed nations. However, use in developing nations is rising at a steady rate to cover the gap between them and developed nations. These materials also finds heavy use in the field of medicine.
The types of plastic materials in existence are many and they are used to make various commodities. Common examples of plastics include polyethylene, polyester, polyethylene terephthalate, high-density polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinylidene chloride, polystyrene, high impact polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, polycarbonates, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polyamides, low-density polyethylene, and polyurethanes. Polyester is used to make textiles and fiber while bottles for microwavable packaging, plastic films, carbonated drinks, and peanut butter jars are made out of polyethylene terephthalate.
Polyethylene is used to make a wide range of inexpensive products. For instance, it is utilized to make plastic bottles and supermarket bags. Plumbing pipes, shower curtains, flooring, window frames, and guttering are made from polyvinyl chloride. Most food packaging materials are made from polyvinylidene chloride. Polycarbonate also abbreviated as PC is used to make riot shields, eyeglasses, traffic lights, security windows, compact discs, and lenses. Some plastics are used to make more than one class of products.
The description of the characteristics of plastic materials is based on the organic chemistry of the polymer it is made out of. Some common descriptors include oxidation, density, hardness, heat resistance, organic solvents, and ionizing radiation among many others. Even though plastic materials can be turned into electrical conductors, their level of electrical conductivity remains very low when compared to that of metals.
Pure plastics are insoluble in water and are biochemically inert, which make them to have a low level of toxicity. Biochemical inertness is caused by large molecular weights. Products made from plastic often contain different kinds of additives, some of which can be very toxic. The additives often cause toxicity by leaching out of the product.
The toxicity level in some products has forced some countries to enact laws concerning the use of additives. Plastic has a very slow rate of degradation. The slow rate of decomposition results from their chemical composition.
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