Alexei Volkov
Plastic is a synthetic or semi-synthetic material that usually comes from petrochemicals or things like cellulose and starch. Plastic is a polymeric substance that can be moulded or formed, often by pressure and heat. The primary component of plastic is polymers, which are long chains of molecules. The two main categories of plastics are thermoplastics and thermosets. When heated, thermoplastic components can be repeatedly moulded and deformed, whereas thermoset materials cannot be remoulded after formation. Thermoplastics include polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polystyrene (PS). Some thermosetting plastics are polyurethane (PUR) and epoxy resins or coatings.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Composition | Synthetic or semi-synthetic material made from petrochemicals, cellulose, starch, natural gas, coal, crude oil, salt, etc. |
| Main Components | Polymers, which are long chains of molecules made from monomers obtained from petroleum, fossil fuels, or biomass. |
| Additives | Up to 80% of the total volume, improving properties like flexibility, durability, UV resistance, and colour. |
| Types | Thermoplastics (can be remoulded when heated) and thermosets (cannot be remoulded after formation). |
| Examples of Thermoplastics | PVC, nylon, polythene, polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), PET, polystyrene (PS). |
| Examples of Thermosets | Polyurethane (PUR), epoxy resins, Bakelite, melamine. |
| Properties | Lightweight, robust, flexible, non-conductive, low cost, ease of production, biocompatible, sterile, etc. |
| Production Energy Requirements | 7.9 to 13.7 kWh/lb (compared to 2.5-3.2 kWh/lb for iron, 2.3-4.4 kWh/lb for glass, etc.). |
| Production Volume | 9.2 billion tons between 1950 and 2017, with over half produced since 2004. |
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What You'll Learn
- Polymers: long chains of molecules, made from monomers, with carbon atoms as the foundation
- Thermoplastics: can be deformed and moulded when heated, unlike thermosets
- Additives: blended into plastics, they can improve flexibility and durability
- Aliphatic and heterochain polymers: plastics are divided into two categories based on their chemical composition
- Synthetic and semi-synthetic materials: plastics are derived from petrochemicals, cellulose, starch, etc
Polymers: long chains of molecules, made from monomers, with carbon atoms as the foundation
Plastic is a synthetic or semi-synthetic material that usually comes from petrochemicals or things like cellulose and starch. Plastics are a broad category of synthetic materials that contain polymers as a primary component. These polymers are long chains of molecules, made from monomers, with carbon atoms as the foundation. Millions of repeating units made up of monomers make up each polymer chain. The monomers are obtained from petroleum and fossil fuels, or from biomass in the case of bioplastics.
Plastics can be divided into two distinct categories based on their chemical composition. The first category is plastics made up of polymers having only aliphatic (linear) carbon atoms in their backbone chains. Polypropylene is an example of this, with a methyl group (CH3) attached to every other carbon atom. The second category is made up of heterochain polymers, which contain atoms such as oxygen, nitrogen, or sulfur in their backbone chains, in addition to carbon.
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is used to make plastics in group one. It is ranked first because of its excellent capacity to keep oxygen from entering and damaging the goods within, making it ideal for food and beverage packaging. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is the third most common synthetic plastic polymer globally and is classified into two types: rigid and flexible. PVC is widely used in the construction sector in its rigid form to manufacture window and door profiles and pipelines. However, it can also be made soft and versatile by combining it with other substances, making it suitable for piping, wiring, copper cabling insulation, and flooring.
Polypropylene (PP) is the second most commonly manufactured commodity plastic, known for its robustness and flexibility. It is used in a wide range of applications, from Tupperware and automobile components to disposable diapers. Polycarbonate is another important polymer, known for its strength, stability, and transparency. It is used in products such as DVDs, sunglasses, and riot gear.
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Thermoplastics: can be deformed and moulded when heated, unlike thermosets
Plastics are a broad category of synthetic and semi-synthetic materials that contain polymers as their primary constituent. They are mouldable, extrudable, or pressable from solid products of different forms due to their fluidity. The versatility and various other features, including being lightweight, robust, flexible, and economical to create, have resulted in their widespread application.
One type of plastic is thermoplastics, which can be deformed and moulded when heated, unlike thermosets. Thermoplastics are plastic polymer materials that become pliable or mouldable at certain high temperatures and solidify upon cooling. They have high molecular weights and are associated with intermolecular forces, which weaken rapidly with increased temperature, yielding a viscous liquid that can be easily reshaped. Thermoplastics are used to produce parts by various polymer processing techniques such as injection moulding, compression moulding, calendering, and extrusion.
Thermoplastics differ from thermosets, which form irreversible chemical bonds during the curing process. Thermosets do not melt when heated but typically decompose and do not reform upon cooling. Thermosets are low-viscosity polymers that are easy to work with as they exist in a liquid state at room temperature, negating the need for heat application. They also carry a lower health risk than thermoplastics as no potentially toxic fumes are released during moulding.
Thermosets have excellent "flowability", meaning they can easily fill every crevice and corner of a mould, allowing for the creation of larger parts and more complex geometric shapes than thermoplastics. Thermosets are also lightweight, flexible, strong, tough, durable, and impact-resistant.
Some examples of thermoplastics include polyether ether ketone (PEEK), nylon fibres, and polylactic acid (polylactide). Thermosets, on the other hand, include epoxy resin, melamine-formaldehyde, polyurethane, and phenolic.
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Additives: blended into plastics, they can improve flexibility and durability
Plastic is a broad category of synthetic and semi-synthetic materials that contain polymers as their primary constituent. The versatility of plastics, including their lightweight, robust, flexible, and economical nature, has resulted in their widespread application.
Additives are additional chemicals or materials blended into plastics to improve their functionality, appearance, or lifespan. They can be used to alter the properties of plastics, such as making them flame-resistant or changing their colour. Additives can also improve stability and overall quality.
One of the key benefits of additives is their ability to improve the durability of plastics. For example, antioxidants are additives that help extend the lifespan of plastics by preventing the growth of mould or bacteria. Acid scavengers are another type of additive that prevents unwanted chemical reactions, making the plastic more durable. Light and heat stabilizers are also added to plastics to make them resistant to heat and light, which are two factors that typically cause plastic to degrade over time.
Additives can also enhance the flexibility of plastics. Plasticizers, for instance, are additives that make plastic materials more elastic and mouldable.
The use of additives in plastics is widespread, with over 400 additives used in high volumes in the EU and 5,500 additives identified in a global market analysis. While additives offer numerous benefits, they also present challenges related to environmental contamination and human health. Sound recycling practices are crucial to managing these risks and ensuring the responsible use of plastics and their additives.
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Aliphatic and heterochain polymers: plastics are divided into two categories based on their chemical composition
Plastic is a broad category of synthetic and semi-synthetic materials that contain polymers as their primary constituent. The plasticity of plastics, often found in combination with other special properties such as low density, low electrical conductivity, transparency, and toughness, allows them to be moulded into a great variety of products.
Plastics can be divided into two distinct categories based on their chemical composition. The first category is made up of polymers having only aliphatic (linear) carbon atoms in their backbone chains. Polypropylene, the second most commonly manufactured commodity plastic, is an example of this category. Its structure consists of a pendant methyl group (CH3) attached to every other carbon atom. Commodity resins, such as polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, and polystyrene, also fall into this category.
The second category of plastics consists of heterochain polymers. These compounds contain atoms such as oxygen, nitrogen, or sulfur in their backbone chains, in addition to carbon. These polymers are often referred to as noncarbon-chain or nonvinyls. Many engineering plastics are composed of heterochain polymers. An example is polycarbonate, which is used to make solid and durable items such as lenses for glasses, sports goggles, safety goggles, and compact discs.
The versatility of plastics, along with their lightweight, robustness, flexibility, and economical production, has led to their widespread application. However, the fragmentation of plastics into microplastics and nanoplastics can allow chemical additives to escape into the environment, causing potential ecological harm.
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Synthetic and semi-synthetic materials: plastics are derived from petrochemicals, cellulose, starch, etc
Plastics are synthetic or semi-synthetic materials that contain polymers as their primary constituent. Synthetic plastics are derived from petrochemicals, which are extracted from natural gas, coal, or crude oil. Crude oil is a complex mixture of thousands of compounds, which must be processed before it can be used to create plastics. This process begins with the distillation of crude oil in an oil refinery, which separates the heavy crude oil into groups of lighter components called fractions. Each fraction is a mixture of hydrocarbon chains, which are then converted into simpler hydrocarbons through a process called cracking. These simpler hydrocarbons are then used to create plastics. The production of plastics from crude oil is extremely energy-intensive, requiring 7.9 to 13.7 kWh/lb of energy.
The first plastics were made from natural materials such as shellac, cellulose, natural rubber, collagen, and milk proteins. The Hyatt brothers, for example, created a type of plastic called Celluloid by improving the malleability of cellulose nitrate with the addition of camphor. This plastic was used to produce billiard balls, which were previously made from ivory. However, the development of completely synthetic plastics, such as Bakelite, epoxy, and PVC, has largely superseded the use of these natural materials. Bakelite, invented in 1906, was the first truly synthetic plastic and was made from phenol and formaldehyde resin. It revolutionized every industry due to its high resistance to electricity, heat, and chemicals, as well as its non-conducting properties.
Today, there is a growing interest in bioplastics, which are derived from renewable resources such as waste biomass, vegetable oils, and other biological substances. Bioplastics can be made from starch, cellulose, wood, sugar, and biomass, and offer improved sustainability compared to conventional plastic production. For example, polylactic acid (PLA) is a type of bioplastic produced from maize or dextrose that is similar to conventional petrochemical-based mass plastics. However, it exhibits inferior impact strength and thermal robustness compared to non-biodegradable plastics. Despite this, PLA is used in the production of films, fibers, plastic containers, cups, and bottles.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastic is a synthetic or semi-synthetic material that usually comes from petrochemicals or things like cellulose and starch. It is a polymeric substance that can be moulded or formed, often by pressure and heat.
Polymers are long chains of molecules, made up of carbon atom chains with or without the addition of nitrogen, oxygen, or sulphur atoms. These chains are composed of many repeating units composed of monomers.
Monomers are obtained from petroleum and fossil fuels, or from biomass in the case of bioplastics. They determine the basic properties, structure and size of polymers.
Some commonly used polymers include polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), and polyethylene (PE).
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