Chloe Zhang
Plastic is everywhere, and it's easy to assume that all plastic is the same. However, there are many different types of plastic, each with unique properties. Some plastics are tough, some are flexible, and others are clear and strong. Some are easily recyclable, while others are not. So, which grade of plastic is the strongest? Polycarbonate is widely regarded as the strongest plastic, being twenty times stronger than acrylic and two hundred and fifty times stronger than glass.
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What You'll Learn
- Polycarbonate: 250x stronger than acrylic, 200x stronger than glass
- Polyethylene: varying densities for unique physical properties
- Polypropylene: hard, sturdy, and very resistant to fatigue
- Polyvinyl chloride: rigid and flexible forms
- Polyethylene terephthalate (PET): strong oxygen barrier, widely recycled
Polycarbonate: 250x stronger than acrylic, 200x stronger than glass
Polycarbonate is an incredibly tough plastic that is 250 times stronger than acrylic and 200 times stronger than glass. It is a clear, tough, stable, and impact-resistant plastic with excellent engineering properties. It is also a thermoplastic, meaning it can be reheated and remoulded into new shapes. Polycarbonate is used in a wide variety of products, including DVDs, sunglasses, police riot gear, greenhouses, and architectural glazing.
Polycarbonate is an excellent alternative to glass when high-impact resistance is required. It has great clarity, so it is frequently used in plastic equipment that requires see-through applications. It also has a great balance of engineering properties, allowing it to operate in a broad range of temperatures, resist impact, and maintain dimensional stability.
Polycarbonate is also easy to work with and can be cut or cold-formed on-site without pre-forming and fabrication, making it a versatile choice for many applications. It can be machined using various methods, including cutting, riveting, milling, drilling, and laser cutting.
While polycarbonate is an extremely strong and versatile plastic, it is important to note that other plastics, such as PAI and UHMWPE, also offer exceptional strength and durability and are used in a range of applications. The choice of plastic depends on the specific requirements and characteristics needed for a particular application.
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Polyethylene: varying densities for unique physical properties
Polyethylene, also known as PE, is the most common plastic in the world. It is a versatile polymer with a wide range of applications, from plastic bags to hip implants. The key to its versatility lies in its variable crystalline structure, which can be modified to create different densities with unique physical properties.
The different types of polyethylene are classified by their density and branching. The basic polyethylene composition can be modified by including other elements or chemical groups, such as chlorinated and chlorosulfonated polyethylene. The resulting variants are known as copolymers.
Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) is the branched form of polyethylene. It is softer and more flexible than its high-density counterpart, with the simplest structure of all the plastics, making it easy and cheap to produce. LDPE is commonly used in plastic bags, six-pack rings, containers, dispensing bottles, and plastic wraps.
Linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) is a copolymer of polyethylene produced by a low-pressure polymerisation process. It offers advantages such as reduced energy consumption during polymerization and the ability to alter the polymer's properties by varying the type and amount of its chemical ingredients.
High-density polyethylene (HDPE) is the linear form of polyethylene. It is a dense and highly crystalline material with high strength and moderate stiffness. HDPE has a higher melting point than LDPE and can withstand repeated exposure to temperatures of up to 120°C (250°F). It is commonly used in blow-molded bottles, grocery bags, construction film, agricultural mulch, and plastic pipes.
Ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) is a type of polyethylene with an extremely high molecular weight, resulting in a very tough material. UHMWPE has excellent abrasion resistance due to the extreme length of its polymer chains. It is used in a diverse range of applications, including military body armor, hydraulic seals, and bearings, as well as biomaterial implants for hips, knees, and spines.
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Polypropylene: hard, sturdy, and very resistant to fatigue
Polypropylene, also known as PP, is a strong and sturdy plastic that can withstand high temperatures. It is the second most widely produced commodity plastic, with a market that is expected to grow in the coming years. Its strength and resilience make it ideal for products such as Tupperware, car parts, thermal vests, yogurt containers, and even disposable diapers.
One of the most notable qualities of polypropylene is its resistance to fatigue. Fatigue refers to the gradual weakening or failure of a material due to repeated stress or strain. In the case of polypropylene, its resistance to fatigue means that it can withstand repeated bending or folding without breaking. This makes it particularly well-suited for living hinges, which are the thin pieces of plastic that allow a product to fold or bend.
Polypropylene is also considered a safer plastic option for food and drink use. It is often used in baby bottles, as long as it is made of food-grade plastic and is identified as "BPA-free." However, it is important to note that polypropylene is not entirely recyclable and has been linked to asthma and hormone disruption in humans.
While polypropylene is a strong and versatile plastic, it is not the only type of plastic that exhibits excellent strength and durability. Other plastics, such as polycarbonate and high-density polyethylene (HDPE), are also known for their toughness and impact resistance. Polycarbonate, for example, is more than 20 times stronger than acrylic and 200 times stronger than glass, making it a popular choice for products that require high impact resistance, such as helmets and protective gear.
In summary, polypropylene is a hard and sturdy plastic that is very resistant to fatigue, making it ideal for a variety of applications, particularly those that require repeated bending or folding. While it has some advantages over other plastics, it is important to consider its potential health and environmental impacts, as well as the strengths of alternative materials.
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Polyvinyl chloride: rigid and flexible forms
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is one of the most extensively used plastics globally. It is the third-most widely produced synthetic plastic polymer, derived from salt (57%) and oil or gas (43%). PVC is available in two basic forms: rigid and flexible.
Rigid PVC
Rigid PVC, also known as unplasticized PVC, is a stiff and cost-effective plastic. It is commonly used in the building and construction industry, particularly for door and window profiles, pipes (for drinking water and wastewater), and construction materials. It is also found in applications such as flooring, wall coverings, roofing sheets, and linings for tunnels, swimming pools, and reservoirs. Rigid PVC has excellent insulating properties and low permeability, making it a durable and lightweight alternative to traditional building materials like wood, metal, concrete, rubber, and ceramics.
Flexible PVC
Flexible PVC, also known as plasticized PVC, is formed by adding compatible plasticizers to PVC, reducing crystallinity and increasing clarity and flexibility. This type of PVC is often used in films, cable sheathing, plumbing, wiring, electrical cable insulation, and flooring. Flexible PVC can consist of over 85% plasticizer by mass and is glued using special adhesives (solvent cement). It is also used to produce thin, coloured, or clear adhesive-backed films known as "vinyl", which are used for commercial signage, vehicle wraps, and general-purpose stickers.
History of PVC
PVC was first synthesized in 1872 by German chemist Eugen Baumann. However, early attempts to use PVC in commercial products faced challenges due to its rigid and brittle nature. In 1926, Waldo Semon and the B.F. Goodrich Company developed a method to plasticize PVC by blending it with additives, including dibutyl phthalate. Today, PVC is widely used in various industries, from construction to medical devices, thanks to its strength, durability, and versatility.
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Polyethylene terephthalate (PET): strong oxygen barrier, widely recycled
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a widely used polymer in various industries due to its excellent physical and chemical properties. It is strong, shatter-resistant, and impact-resistant, making it ideal for creating strong, flexible, lightweight, tear-resistant materials. PET is also known as a wrinkle-free fibre and is commonly used in textiles. It is probably the most widely used polyester, as well as being the most recycled plastic globally. PET is well-known for its high oxygen barrier properties, preventing oxygen from getting in and spoiling the product inside, and keeping carbon dioxide in carbonated drinks from escaping. This makes it ideal for food and drink packaging purposes, as well as for containers for foods and liquids. It is also used in the creation of glitter, acting as a plastic core coated with aluminium and topped with plastic to create a light-reflecting surface.
PET is easily recyclable and has a positive track record in this regard. It can be chemically recycled into its original raw materials (PTA, DMT, and EG), destroying the polymer structure completely, or mechanically recycled into a different form without destroying the polymer. It is also approved by safety agencies worldwide, including the FDA. PET is composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, with only trace amounts of catalyst elements (and no sulphur), making it an excellent candidate for thermal disposal (incineration).
The versatility of PET extends to its ability to be manufactured into both semi-rigid and rigid forms, with a wide temperature use range (-60 to 130°C). It is also lightweight and colourless, contributing to its widespread utility. PET is used in electrical and electronics industries, encapsulation, solenoids, smart meters, photovoltaics, and some junction boxes. Furthermore, PET is the fourth-most produced synthetic plastic and has excellent chemical resistance to organic materials and water.
However, it is important to note that PET products have contributed to a global crisis in waste management, as their improper disposal has caused significant environmental damage. Additionally, PET bottles contain antimony trioxide, a carcinogen that can be released into liquids stored in PET containers, especially under warm temperatures. Nevertheless, PET's recyclability and physical properties make it a popular and widely used material.
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Frequently asked questions
Polycarbonate is the strongest grade of plastic, at more than 20 times stronger than acrylic and 200 times stronger than glass.
Polycarbonate plastic is used in a wide variety of products, including DVDs, sunglasses, police riot gear, greenhouses, indoor and outdoor signs, helmets, protective goggles, and face shields.
Other strong plastics include High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE), Polyamide-Imide (PAI), and Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS).
HDPE is used in a wide range of applications, including chemical tanks, marine construction, outdoor equipment such as playgrounds, prosthetics, grocery bags, milk jugs, and recycling bins.
Due to its toughness, strength, stiffness, and chemical resistance, PAI is used in a variety of applications, including bearings and bushings, pump and valve parts, semiconductor machinery, and electrical connectors.
