Sofia Martinez
Plastic is everywhere, from our computers to our cars, refrigerators, and houses. However, not all plastics are created equal. Different types of plastics have different uses, environmental impacts, and recyclability. The Society of the Plastics Industry introduced the Resin Identification Code (RIC) system in 1988 to categorize plastic resins into seven groups and facilitate recycling. These groups include polyethylene, the most common plastic on Earth, and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), used in construction and pipes. Other types of plastics include thermoplastics, which can theoretically be reused, and thermosets, which are more difficult to recycle. With growing awareness of the environmental impact of plastics, it's important for consumers to understand the different types of plastics to make informed decisions and contribute to a more sustainable future.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Synthetic or semisynthetic materials composed primarily of polymers |
| Properties | Low weight, durability, flexibility, chemical resistance, low toxicity, low-cost production |
| Additives | Chemicals blended into plastics to improve performance or appearance |
| Plastic Microbeads | Plastic pieces under one millimeter in size, often used in beauty products as an exfoliating agent |
| Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) | Used for plastic bags, plastic trays, plastic drink bottles, food containers, liquid containers, clothing fibers, engineering resins, carbon nanotubes |
| Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) | The third-most produced synthetic plastic polymer, can be rigid or flexible, used in construction materials, doors, windows, bottles, non-food packaging, sanitary plumbing |
| Polypropylene | Second-most widely produced commodity plastic, hard and sturdy, used in tupperware, car parts, thermal vests, yogurt containers, disposable diapers |
| Polyethylene | Can be manufactured in varying densities, used in shopping bags, plastic bags, clear food containers, disposable packaging |
| Polycarbonate | Tough, stable, transparent, impact-resistant, used in DVDs, sunglasses, police riot gear, greenhouses, compact discs |
| Acrylic | Transparent thermoplastic used as a lightweight, shatter-resistant alternative to glass, can be made abrasion-resistant, bullet-resistant, UV-tolerant, anti-static |
| Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) | Tough, impact-resistant, used in automotive parts, enclosures, toys, consumer products requiring strong, light materials |
| Polyamide (PA) | Low density, high thermal stability, decent chemical resistance, used in injection molding to create small parts like gears and bearings |
| Polyurethane (PUR) | Low cost, ease of manufacturing, versatile, used in packaging, agriculture, construction, consumer goods, healthcare |
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What You'll Learn
Thermoplastics and thermosets
There are two major types of plastic: thermoplastics and thermosets. These two classes of plastics are used to create many everyday products.
Thermoplastics are resins that are solid at room temperature. They become soft upon heating and eventually melt or turn fluid. Thermoplastics can be heated, cooled, and reshaped repeatedly without altering their chemical structure. They do not form any chemical bonds when curing, making them mouldable and recyclable. Polypropylene, for example, is a flexible thermoplastic that is durable, heat-resistant, acid-resistant, and cheap. It is used to make laboratory equipment, automotive parts, medical devices, and food containers.
Thermosets, on the other hand, undergo a chemical reaction when heated, creating a three-dimensional network of bonded molecules. This process is irreversible, meaning that once a thermoset has been set, it cannot be melted or reshaped. Thermosets are typically hard and strong, with excellent resistance to heat and chemicals. Silicon, for example, is a thermoset with a wide range of applications, most popularly in the electrical industry. Its cross-linking bonds make it stable over a wide temperature range (up to 250 degrees Celsius).
It is important to note that some materials, like polyester, can be both thermoplastic and thermoset. The behaviour of these materials after heating differs, with thermoplastics having a lower melting point than thermosets. Thermosets are generally stronger than thermoplastics due to their three-dimensional bonding. However, this also makes them impossible to remould and recycle.
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Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)
PET is produced through the polymerization of ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid. It can be processed using common moulding methods such as injection moulding, blown moulding, and extrusion. It is a transparent, amorphous thermoplastic when rapidly cooled, but behaves as a semicrystalline plastic when cooled slowly or cold-drawn. PET is very compact and can be semi-rigid or rigid. It is a strong gas and moisture blocker and is often used as a deterrent to liquor and solvents.
The biggest application of PET is in fibres (over 60%), with bottle production accounting for about 30% of global demand. PET is widely used for carbonated beverage bottles due to its high strength, toughness, good abrasion and heat resistance, low creep at elevated temperatures, good chemical resistance, and excellent dimensional stability. It is also used to make artificial fibres for textiles, commonly found in clothes tags and referred to as polyester.
PET is steadily gaining market share as a garment fibre due to its reuse and recycling potential, as well as the significant surplus of post-consumer waste in the form of bottles and cans. Recycled PET (rPET) is a highly sought-after material as it helps reduce environmental impact. Using rPET instead of new plastic results in a 79% reduction in total energy consumption and a 67% decrease in greenhouse gas emissions.
In 3D printing, PETG (polyethylene terephthalate glycol) has become a popular material for various applications, from surgical fracture tables to automotive and aeronautical sectors. The surface properties of PETG can be modified to make it self-cleaning, which is useful for applications such as traffic signs and LED spotlights. PET is also used in the fabrication of thin-layer products like stretched film and thermoforming.
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Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
PVC is known for its strong resistance to chemicals, sunlight, and oxidation from water. It is also widely used in the building and construction industry, replacing traditional building materials such as wood, metal, concrete, rubber, and ceramics. PVC is used in these applications due to its low cost and desirable physical and mechanical properties. It is fabricated efficiently into a wide range of both rigid and flexible products.
In the medical field, PVC plays a critical role in dispensing life-saving medicine through IV bags and medical tubing. PVC blood collection bags have enhanced ambulatory medicine and are the foundation for modern blood banks. PVC pipes for delivering drinking water must be certified to conform to safety regulations.
PVC was first synthesized in 1872 by German chemist Eugen Baumann. However, early attempts to use PVC in commercial products faced difficulties due to the rigid and brittle nature of the polymer. In 1926, Waldo Semon and the B.F. Goodrich Company developed a method to plasticize PVC by blending it with additives, including dibutyl phthalate.
Despite its widespread use, PVC has come under scrutiny due to health concerns. Lead compounds were once commonly added to PVC to improve workability and stability, but they have been shown to leach into drinking water from PVC pipes. Additionally, exposure to vinyl chloride, a component of PVC, has been linked to certain types of occupational cancers in workers in the polyvinyl chloride industry. As a result, regulations strictly limit vinyl chloride levels in the workplace and emissions from manufacturing plants.
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Polypropylene (PP)
Polypropylene, also known as polypropene (PP), is a thermoplastic polymer with a wide variety of applications. It is the second-most widely produced commodity plastic, after polyethylene. It is tough, flexible, and resistant to fatigue, making it ideal for use in engineering applications.
Polypropylene is produced through the chain-growth polymerization of the monomer propylene. It belongs to the group of polyolefins and is partially crystalline and non-polar. Its properties are similar to polyethylene, but it is slightly harder, more heat-resistant, and has a higher softening point. The presence of the methyl group attached to every alternate backbone chain carbon atom can alter its properties in several ways, such as slightly stiffening the chain and increasing the crystalline melting point.
Polypropylene has a range of desirable characteristics, including good electrical and chemical resistance at higher temperatures, acid resistance, and insulation properties. It is also durable, flexible, and heat resistant. These qualities make it suitable for use in the automotive industry, such as for battery casings, trays, bumpers, and door trims. Its flexibility, strength, and resistance to mould, bacteria, and chemical corrosion are advantageous in the medical field. Polypropylene is also used in laboratory equipment, food containers, and fibres and textiles, such as tote bags, ropes, and carpets.
The versatility of polypropylene is one of its key strengths, allowing it to be processed by almost all thermoplastic-processing methods and adapted to a wide range of fabrication techniques. Its global demand is estimated at around 45 metric tons, and this figure continues to rise.
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Polycarbonate (PC)
Polycarbonate is an incredibly strong and impact-resistant plastic that is up to 250 times stronger than glass. It is also lightweight, flexible, and highly shatter-resistant. These properties make it a popular choice for security applications and the manufacturing of durable, long-lasting consumer products. Polycarbonate sheets can be easily cut, moulded, and formed on-site without the need for pre-forming or fabrication, making it a versatile material for various applications.
Polycarbonate has a wide range of uses due to its attractive processing and physical properties. It is commonly used in eye protection, such as lenses for sunglasses, sports goggles, and safety goggles. It is also used in projectile-resistant viewing applications, such as the cockpit canopy of the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor jet fighter. In the automotive industry, polycarbonate is used for headlamp lenses, decorative bezels, and optical reflectors due to its low weight and high impact resistance.
Polycarbonate is also used in the production of compact discs (CDs), DVDs, and Blu-ray discs. In the medical field, certain grades of polycarbonate are used for applications that comply with ISO 10993-1 and USP Class VI standards. Polycarbonate is further utilised in smartphone manufacturing, greenhouse panels, and energy-efficient buildings due to its ability to trap heat better than glass.
However, one controversy surrounding polycarbonate is the use of bisphenol A (BPA) in its production. At high temperatures, polycarbonate products can release BPA, which is listed as a potential environmental hazard. Additionally, BPA does not easily decompose in landfills, contributing to aquatic pollution. As a result, there has been a push to develop ""BPA-free" plastics for food containers and beverage storage.
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