Omar Khalid
High-performance plastics are polymers that have superior properties to standard plastics and are used in a variety of industries, including aerospace, medicine, and food processing. These plastics are more expensive and used in smaller amounts, with higher temperature stability, chemical resistance, and mechanical properties. Poly(p-phenylene), for example, is extremely stable, even at temperatures above 500 °C. High-performance plastics also include polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polyesters. The improvement of mechanical properties and thermal stability has been a key focus in the development of high-performance plastics since the 1960s, driven by the needs of the aerospace and nuclear technology industries.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Types | Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), Polypropylene (PP), Polycarbonate (PC), Polyethylene (PE), Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE), High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE), Polybutylene Terephthalate (PBT), Polyether Ether Ketone (PEEK), Poly(p-phenylene) |
| Uses | Food and drink packaging, grocery bags, milk jugs, shampoo bottles, pipes, CDs, lenses, mobile phones, clothing fibres, containers, automotive parts, laboratory equipment, medical devices, construction materials, electrical insulation, playground equipment, military body armour, artificial ice skating rinks |
| Properties | Strength, flexibility, durability, shatterproof, chemical resistance, heat resistance, electrical resistance, impact resistance, glossiness, recyclable |
| Improvements | Addition of stabilizers, reinforcing materials (e.g. glass, carbon fibres), increasing degree of polymerization, substituting aliphatic with aromatic units |
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What You'll Learn
Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)
PET has a wide range of applications due to its excellent combination of properties, including mechanical, thermal, and chemical resistance, as well as dimensional stability. It is used in the production of fibres for clothing, containers for liquids and foods, and engineering resins. PET is also widely used in packaging, particularly for food and beverages, due to its strong ability to prevent oxygen from entering and spoiling the product inside. It is the most widely recycled plastic in the world and is picked up by most curbside recycling programs.
In terms of its physical properties, PET is transparent, amorphous, and behaves as a semicrystalline plastic when cooled slowly or cold-drawn. It can be easily processed by injection moulding, blown moulding, and extrusion. PET is also used in 3D printing, particularly in the form of PETG (polyethylene terephthalate glycol), which is a clear amorphous thermoplastic that can be injection-moulded, sheet-extruded, or extruded as a filament for 3D printing. PETG has found applications in various industrial sectors, including automotive, aeronautical, and surgical applications.
The use of PET in disposable carbonated beverage bottles has received attention due to its short useful life, large production volume, and non-biodegradability. Researchers have conducted life cycle assessment analyses to investigate and assess the environmental impact of PET packaging. However, PET is gaining market share as a garment fibre due to its reuse, recycling, and the significant surplus of post-consumer waste in the form of bottles and cans. Overall, PET has become an integral part of our daily lives, contributing to various products and applications.
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Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
In the building and construction industry, PVC is used for pipes (both drinking water and wastewater), plumbing, wiring, electrical cable insulation, and flooring. It has largely replaced traditional building materials such as wood, metal, and concrete due to its lightweight, durable, and easy-to-process nature. PVC is also used in the production of windows, roofing, fencing, decking, wall coverings, and siding or weatherboarding.
In healthcare, PVC is used for blood bags, tubing, and intravenous (IV) medical bags, playing a critical role in dispensing life-saving medicine. It is also used in food-contact applications, such as tamper-resistant over-the-counter medications and packaging for consumer products.
In the electronics industry, PVC is utilized for wire and cable insulation, while in the automobile sector, it is used for windshield system components.
Despite its versatility and widespread use, PVC has come under scrutiny due to health and environmental concerns. Lead compounds, previously added to PVC to improve workability and stability, have been found to leach into drinking water from PVC pipes. Additionally, the carcinogenicity of vinyl chloride has been linked to cancers in workers in the PVC industry. Efforts have been made to address these issues, such as the VinylPlus commitment, which saw the replacement of lead-based stabilizers in Europe.
PVC is known for its strong resistance to chemicals, sunlight, and oxidation from water. It is produced by the polymerization of vinyl chloride, which is derived from abundant and inexpensive resources like salt and natural gas. While PVC has its advantages, it is challenging to recycle, and alternative bio-based formulations are being explored to address this issue.
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Polypropylene (PP)
The versatility of PP has sustained its growth rates, enabling it to challenge the market share of alternative materials in a plethora of applications. Oriented polypropylene (OPP), for example, has seen considerable growth, replacing cellophane in almost all applications. The different variations in polypropylene have led the material to be known as the ‘steel’ of the plastic industry.
PP can be processed by almost all thermoplastic-processing methods, with the most typical products being manufactured by extrusion blow moulding, injection moulding, and general-purpose extrusion. The choice of grade for any application depends on factors such as ease of flow vs toughness, and glass reinforced fibre content.
PP's waterproof properties make it effective in the marine sector and desirable in the medical world. Its highly flexible properties, lighter density, and ability to adapt to a range of fabrication techniques make it popular in the automotive industry, where it is used for battery casings, trays and drink holders, bumpers, interior details, instrumental panels, and door trims.
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Polycarbonate (PC)
In safety equipment, PC is used for safety goggles, face shields, and helmets. In optics, it is used for eyeglass lenses, camera lenses, and compact discs due to its optical clarity. In the automotive industry, PC is used for headlight lenses, interior components, sunroofs, and exterior parts because of its impact resistance and lightweight properties. Additionally, polycarbonate mirror plastic sheeting is ideal for applications requiring a mirrored surface with high heat resistance and impact strength.
PC is also used in signage and displays for outdoor signs, display screens, and advertising materials because of its durability and UV resistance. It is similar to acrylic (PMMA) in terms of transparency and optical clarity but is stronger and more impact-resistant. However, PC is more expensive than some other plastics and may not be suitable for direct food contact due to concerns about the potential leaching of bisphenol A (BPA).
Some grades of PC are optically transparent, and they are used in medical applications, complying with ISO 10993-1 and USP Class VI standards. These grades can be sterilized using steam, gamma radiation, or the ethylene oxide (EtO) method. Aliphatic polycarbonates have been developed with improved biocompatibility and degradability for nanomedicine applications. PC is also used in smartphone manufacturing, with companies like Nokia and Samsung incorporating it into their phone designs.
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Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS)
ABS has excellent mechanical properties, including toughness, rigidity, and impact resistance, making it suitable for a wide range of applications. It is commonly used in the automotive industry for plastic alloys, decorative interior car parts, and automotive components. In the construction industry, ABS is used for plastic tubing, corrugated plastic structures, and protective headgear such as hard hats and helmets.
The versatility of ABS extends beyond the automotive and construction industries. It is also used in the manufacturing of printers, vacuum cleaners, kitchen utensils, musical instruments, and plastic toys. ABS is often used for products designed to be used outdoors due to its ability to withstand rain, storms, and winds, although protection from UV rays and extreme weather conditions is necessary.
One of the key advantages of ABS is its low manufacturing cost, making it a popular choice for many applications. It is easily moulded, sanded, and shaped, and its glossy surface finish is compatible with a wide range of paints and glues. ABS can be found in everyday items such as computer keyboard keys, LEGO bricks, and protective housing for power tools.
While ABS offers numerous benefits, there are some concerns about its decomposition and potential health impacts. If exposed to temperatures of 400 °C (750 °F), ABS can decompose into its constituents, including acrylonitrile and styrene, which are considered carcinogenic to humans. Additionally, the generation of ultrafine particles (UFPs) during processes like 3D printing has raised concerns due to their potential adverse health effects.
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Frequently asked questions
High-performance plastics are polymers that have superior properties to standard plastics. They are more expensive and used in smaller amounts. Some examples of high-performance plastics include PEEK, PES, PSU, PPS, PTFE, PEK, PEI, and PPS.
High-performance plastics are used in many industries, including aerospace, medical, aircraft, and food processing. They are used in applications that require high heat and shock resistance, such as in the aerospace and glass industries, as well as in medical devices that need to be sterilized.
High-performance plastics offer superior mechanical attributes, higher chemical and heat stability, and electrical and chemical resistance. They can withstand extreme environments, such as high or low temperatures, high pressure, or high velocity. They are also more flexible and impact-resistant than standard plastics.
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