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.
Plastics are increasingly being used to make various products because they have certain advantages that other materials do not have. They are used in making just about anything, both simple and sophisticated. Leather, paper, horn, stone, glass, bone, metal, ceramic, and wood among other traditional materials are being gradually replaced with plastic as new uses keep coming up.
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.
Today, different products are made from different types of plastics. Among the commonest types of plastic materials available include polyester, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinylidene chloride, polyethylene, high-density polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, high impact polystyrene, polycarbonates, low-density polyethylene, polyurethanes, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, and polyamides. The manufacture of fibers and textiles is done from polyester. Polyethylene terephthalate makes bottles for carbonated drinks, microwavable packaging, plastic films, and peanut butter jars.
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 organic chemistry of polymers making up a certain plastic is the basis for the description of its characteristics. Common characteristics include heat resistance, oxidation, hardness, organic solvents, ionizing radiation, and density among others. There are methods that can be used to make plastic electrically conductive. Even so, they only conduct electricity to a small extent compared to metals.
Pure plastics are only toxic to a very low level. This is because they are biochemically inert and they do not dissolve in water. The large molecular weights are responsible for biochemical inertness. Toxicity in products manufactured from plastic usually results from the additives added into the material. The leaching activity of the additives are responsible for toxicity.
The use of additives is currently being regulated in some countries owing to the toxicity in some products. The rate of degradation is very slow in plastic. This is as a result of their chemical composition.
Plastics are increasingly being used to make various products because they have certain advantages that other materials do not have. They are used in making just about anything, both simple and sophisticated. Leather, paper, horn, stone, glass, bone, metal, ceramic, and wood among other traditional materials are being gradually replaced with plastic as new uses keep coming up.
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.
Today, different products are made from different types of plastics. Among the commonest types of plastic materials available include polyester, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinylidene chloride, polyethylene, high-density polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, high impact polystyrene, polycarbonates, low-density polyethylene, polyurethanes, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, and polyamides. The manufacture of fibers and textiles is done from polyester. Polyethylene terephthalate makes bottles for carbonated drinks, microwavable packaging, plastic films, and peanut butter jars.
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 organic chemistry of polymers making up a certain plastic is the basis for the description of its characteristics. Common characteristics include heat resistance, oxidation, hardness, organic solvents, ionizing radiation, and density among others. There are methods that can be used to make plastic electrically conductive. Even so, they only conduct electricity to a small extent compared to metals.
Pure plastics are only toxic to a very low level. This is because they are biochemically inert and they do not dissolve in water. The large molecular weights are responsible for biochemical inertness. Toxicity in products manufactured from plastic usually results from the additives added into the material. The leaching activity of the additives are responsible for toxicity.
The use of additives is currently being regulated in some countries owing to the toxicity in some products. The rate of degradation is very slow in plastic. This is as a result of their chemical composition.
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