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  Thermoplastics are defined as polymers that can be melted and recast almost indefinitely. They are molten when heated and harden upon cooling. When frozen, however, a thermoplastic becomes glass-like and subject to fracture. These characteristics, which lend the material its name, are reversible, so the material can be reheated, reshaped, and frozen repeatedly. As a result, thermoplastics are mechanically recyclable. Some of the most common types of thermoplastic are polypropylene, polyethylene, polyvinylchloride, polystyrene, polyethylenetheraphthalate and polycarbonate.   Properties   Thermoplastics have a simple molecular structure comprising chemically independent macromolecules. Upon heating, they are softened or melted, then shaped, formed, welded, and solidified when cooled. Multiple cycles of heating and cooling can be repeated, allowing reprocessing and recycling.   Applications   Thermoplastics have been around for a long time and are an important co...

  Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) was one of the first plastics discovered, and is also one of the most extensively used. It is derived from salt (57%) and oil or gas (43%). It is the world's third-most widely produced synthetic plastic polymer, after polyethylene and polypropylene. PVC comes in two basic forms: rigid (sometimes abbreviated as RPVC) and flexible. Properties   PVC’s combination of properties enables it to deliver performance advantages that are hard to match. It is durable, light, strong and fire resistant, with excellent insulating properties and low permeability. By using various additives in the manufacturing process, features such as strength, rigidity, colour and transparency can be adjusted to meet specific needs.   Applications   PVC is widely used in applications such as:   Building products, including window frames and other profiles, floor and wall coverings, roofing sheets, linings for tunnels, swimming-pools and reservoirs. Piping, including...

  Polyurethane (PUR) is a resilient, flexible and durable manufactured material. There are various types of polyurethanes, which look and feel very different from each other. They are used in a very broad range of products. In fact, we are surrounded by polyurethane-containing products in every aspect of our everyday lives. While most people are not overly familiar with polyurethanes because they are generally 'hidden' behind covers or surfaces made of other materials, it would be hard to imagine life without them.   Properties   Not only are polyurethanes affordable and safe materials, they are also sustainable. Polyurethanes preserve the Earth’s natural resources by reducing the need for energy. Polyurethanes make our lives more comfortable, from the relaxation provided by foams in furniture and bedding, to the insulation that regulates temperature inside buildings.  In cars their cushioning properties help protect drivers and passengers in case of collision. The m...

  Polystyrene is a synthetic polymer made from styrene monomer, which is a liquid petrochemical. It is a thermoplastic polymer which softens when heated and can be converted via semi-finished products, such as films and sheets, into a wide range of final articles.   Properties   Polystyrene can be rigid or foamed. General purpose polystyrene  is clear, hard and brittle. Polystyrene is naturally transparent, but can be coloured with colorants. High Impact Polystyrene : Polystyrene containing a polybutadiene rubber impact modifier is opaque or translucent rather than transparent. This is often used blended with General Purpose polystyrene or on its own in a wide range of household applications and in food packaging.   Applications   Polystyrene is used in a wide range of applications, including:   Packaging. Household appliances. Consumer electronics products. Building and constructions, for example insulation foam, panels, bath and shower units, lightin...

  Polyolefins are a family of polyethylene and polypropylene thermoplastics. They are produced mainly from oil and natural gas by a process of polymerisation of ethylene and propylene respectively.  Their versatility has made them one of the most popular plastics in use today.   Properties   There are four types of polyolefins:   LDPE   (low-density polyethylene): LDPE is defined by a density range of 0.910–0.940 g/cm3. It can withstand temperatures of 80 °C continuously and 95 °C for a short time. Made in translucent or opaque variations, it is quite flexible and tough. LLDPE   (linear low-density polyethylene): is a substantially linear polyethylene, with significant numbers of short branches, commonly made by copolymerization of ethylene with longer-chain olefins. LLDPE has higher tensile strength. and higher impact and puncture resistance than LDPE. It is very flexible and elongates under stress. It can be used to make thinner films and has good re...

  Since their discovery in the 1930s with the invention of PCTFE (polychlorotrifluoroethylene), Fluoropolymers have played an essential role in many industrial applications.   Today, Fluoropolymers are renowned for their superior non-stick properties associated with their use as a coating on cookware and as a soil and stain repellent for fabrics and textile products.They also contribute to significant advancement in areas such as aerospace, , electronics, automotive, industrial processes (chemical and power sectors, including renewable energy), architecture, food and pharma and medical applications. The most well-known member of Fluoropolymers is PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) discovered in 1938.   PTFE is inert to virtually all chemicals and is considered to be the most slippery material in existence. These properties have made it one of the most valuable and versatile plastics, After the discovery of PTFE, fluoropolymers family expanded with for example ePTFE discovered...

  Expanded polystyrene, or EPS, is widely used commodity polymer. It has been a material of choice for more than 50 years because of its versatility, performance and cost effectiveness. It is widely used in many everyday applications, such as fish boxes, bicycle helmets and insulation material.   Properties   EPS is a thermoplastic foam product with a unique combination of qualities, including: light weight, strength, durability, shock absorption properties, insulating properties and excellent processability.   Applications   EPS is used in many applications, including:   Thermal insulation in buildings. Road construction. Sound insulation. Packaging. Food packaging to maintain the temperature of hot or cold food and prevent spoilage. Protection for valuable and fragile goods. Crash helmets. Windsurfing boards.

  Epoxy resins have been around for more than 50 years, and are one of the most successful of the plastics families. Their physical state can be changed from a low viscosity liquid to a high melting point solid, which means that a wide range of materials with unique properties can be made. In the home, you’ll find them in soft-drinks cans and special packaging, where they are used as a lining to protect the contents and to keep the flavour in. They are also used as a protective coating on everything from beds, garden chairs, office and hospital furniture, to supermarket trolleys and bicycles. They are also used in special paints to protect the surfaces of ships, oil rigs and wind turbines from bad weather.   Properties   The physical state of epoxy resins can range from a low viscosity liquid to a high melting point solid. They can be 'cross-linked' using a variety of curing agents or hardeners to form a range of materials with a unique combination of properties, which br...

  Engineering plastics exhibit higher performance than standard materials, making them ideal for tough engineering applications. They have gradually replaced traditional engineering materials such as wood or metal in many applications because, not only do they equal or surpass them in their weight/strength ratio and other properties, but they are also much easier to manufacture, especially in complicated shapes.   Properties   Engineering plastics have superior performance in the areas of heat resistance, chemical resistance, impact resistance, fire retardancy and mechanical strength.   Applications   Engineering plastics are used in applications including:   Automotive. Electrical and electronics. Building and construction. Consumer goods and appliances. Industrial applications such as abrasion-resistant and corrosion-resistant liners.

  Biodegradable plastics are plastics degraded by microorganisms into water, carbon dioxide (or methane) and biomass under specified conditions. To guide consumers in their decision-making and give them confidence in a plastic’s biodegradability, universal standards have been implemented, new materials have been developed, and a compostable logo has been introduced.   Properties   Biodegradable plastics can be applied in a range of useful ways. They can be foamed into packing materials, extruded, and injection-moulded in modified conventional machines. Different types of fillers can be used with the system, such as wood flour, lime, clay, or waste paper. The fillers can be coloured and also used in various granulation sizes to change the material´s external appearance. The material can be co-injected with other plastic materials such as LDPE, PP, and HDPE. The co-injection process deposits a thin film of plastic material over the top of the biodegradable plastic. This yie...

  Bio-based plastics are made in whole or partially from renewable biological resources. For example, sugar cane is processed to produce ethylene, which can then be used to manufacture for example polyethylene. Starch can be processed to produce lactic acid and subsequently polylactic acid (PLA).   Properties   The properties of bio-based plastics can vary considerably from material to material. Bio-based or partly bio-based durable plastics, so called "drop-in bioplastics”, such as bio-based or partly bio-based PE, PET or PVC, possess identical properties to their conventional versions. These bio-based plastics cannot be distinguished from conventional plastics other than by scientific analyses.   Applications   Bio-based plastics, such as starch blends, PLA, bio-PET and bio-PE, are mostly used in packaging applications. They are also used in fibres in the textiles sector. Bio-based succinic acid is suitable for several applications in sports and footwear, auto...

  Since the dawn of history, humankind has endeavoured to develop materials offering benefits not found in natural materials. The development of plastics started with the use of natural materials that had intrinsic plastic properties, such as shellac and chewing gum. The next step in the evolution of plastics involved the chemical modification of natural materials such as rubber, nitrocellulose, collagen and galalite. Finally, the wide range of completely synthetic materials that we would recognise as modern plastics started to be developed around 100 years ago:   One of the earliest examples was invented by Alexander Parkes in 1855, who named his invention Parkesine. We know it today as celluloid. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) was first polymerised between 1838-1872. A key breakthrough came in 1907, when Belgian-American chemist Leo Baekeland created Bakelite, the first real synthetic, mass-produced plastic. Since Baekeland’s creation, many new plastics have been realised and deve...

  Plastics comprise a large family of materials which can be classified into various types. In this section, you can learn more about the various types of plastic and their particular applications and benefits.     Bio-based plastics Bio-based plastics are made in whole or partially from renewable biological resources. For example, sugar cane is processed to produce ethylene, which can then be used to manufacture for example polyethylene. Starch can be processed to produce lactic acid and subsequently polylactic acid (PLA). Biodegradable plastics Biodegradable plastics are plastics degraded by microorganisms into water, carbon dioxide (or methane) and biomass under specified conditions. To guide consumers in their decision-making and give them confidence in a plastic’s biodegradability, universal standards have been implemented, new materials have been developed, and a compostable logo has been introduced. Engineering plastics Engineering plastics exhibit higher performan...

Plastics are derived from natural, organic materials such as cellulose, coal, natural gas, salt and, of course, crude oil. Crude oil is a complex mixture of thousands of compounds and needs to be processed before it can be used. The production of plastics begins with the distillation of crude oil in an oil refinery. This separates the heavy crude oil into groups of lighter components, called fractions. Each fraction is a mixture of hydrocarbon chains (chemical compounds made up of carbon and hydrogen), which differ in terms of the size and structure of their molecules. One of these fractions, naphtha, is the crucial compound for the production of plastics. Plastics are made from natural materials such as cellulose, coal, natural gas, salt and crude oil through a polymerisation or polycondensation process. Two main processes are used to produce plastics - polymerisation and polycondensation - and they both require specific catalysts. In a polymerisation reactor, monomers such as ethylen...