Maya Ellison
Plastic containers are an essential part of daily life and industrial storage, with uses ranging from food and pharmaceutical packaging to chemical storage and consumer goods. They are crafted from polymers derived from natural materials such as crude oil, natural gas, coal, salt, and cellulose. The production of plastics involves complex chemical processes that convert raw petroleum into thermoplastics, which can be moulded, shaped, and formed into durable and lightweight containers. While plastic containers offer convenience and low cost, they have also contributed significantly to global pollution, particularly in aquatic ecosystems. As a result, there is a growing trend towards producing plastics from renewable resources and reducing plastic waste.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Main ingredient | Crude oil and natural gas |
| Other ingredients | Coal, salt, cellulose |
| Additives | Adipates, phthalates, polymer resin |
| Polymer types | Acrylics, polyesters, silicones, polyurethanes, halogenated plastics |
| Production | Distillation, polymerisation, polycondensation |
| Uses | Food packaging, pharmaceutical containers, chemical storage, consumer goods, containers, clothes |
| Advantages | Lightweight, durable, flexible, low cost, mouldable, corrosion-resistant |
| Disadvantages | Environmental pollution, health concerns |
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What You'll Learn
- Plastic containers are crafted using polymers derived from natural gas or crude oil
- Plastic containers are used for food, pharmaceutical, chemical storage, and consumer goods
- Plastic containers are lightweight, durable, corrosion-resistant, and economical to produce
- Plastic containers replaced traditional materials like wood, metal, and glass
- Plastic containers are made from biobased plastics derived from carbohydrates, fats, and oils
Plastic containers are crafted using polymers derived from natural gas or crude oil
The next step is the refining process, which transforms crude oil into different petroleum products. This is done by heating the crude oil in a furnace and then sending it to a distillation unit, where it separates into lighter components called fractions. One of these fractions, naphtha, is a crucial compound in the production of plastic.
Naphtha is composed of many different hydrocarbons, including ethane and propene, which are essential components of synthetic plastics. The process of breaking down naphtha into these components is called steam cracking. Following this, the simple molecules of ethylene and propylene are chemically bonded into chains through a process called polymerisation.
The resulting polymer resin is then mixed with additives to give the plastic specific properties such as toughness, flexibility, elasticity, and colour. This process allows plastics to be designed with the right properties for specific applications, such as food containers or packaging.
While most plastic is still derived from crude oil and natural gas, there is a growing trend towards the use of renewable resources and biobased plastics. These bioplastics are made from renewable products such as carbohydrates, fats, oils, and polylactic acid, which can be derived from plants like corn, beets, or potatoes. However, even these bioplastics often still contain a significant percentage of fossil fuel derivatives.
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Plastic containers are used for food, pharmaceutical, chemical storage, and consumer goods
Plastic containers are used across a wide range of applications, from food and pharmaceuticals to chemical storage and consumer goods.
Plastic is a versatile, durable, and cost-effective material, which is why it is so widely used. The main ingredient in most plastic materials is a derivative of crude oil and natural gas, though it can also be made from renewable materials such as carbohydrates, fats, and oils. The first man-made bioplastic, Parkesine, was made from cellulose nitrate and created in 1856. The first truly synthetic plastic, Bakelite, was made from phenol and formaldehyde resin and invented in 1906.
Plastic containers for food can take many forms, including bottles, jars, tubs, and more. Plastic containers for pharmaceuticals are also varied and include bottles, pill bottles, dispensers, blisters, and ampoules. Closures like caps and accessories like scoops and syringes are also made from plastic for pharmaceutical use.
Plastic containers for chemical storage must be manufactured in a way that ensures the material is compliant with the chemicals it is to contain. This is done through continuous quality checks at all production stages. The production of plastic packaging for chemicals also takes place in special controlled environments, or "clean rooms," where parameters such as humidity, temperature, and pressure are supervised.
Plastic containers are also used for consumer goods, including beauty and health products.
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Plastic containers are lightweight, durable, corrosion-resistant, and economical to produce
Plastic containers are highly versatile and are used for various purposes, from storing food and chemicals to packaging and construction. Their widespread use is due to their adaptability and unique properties, such as being lightweight, durable, corrosion-resistant, and economical to produce.
Plastic containers are lightweight, making them easy to handle, transport, and stack. This is especially advantageous in industrial settings, where manual and mechanical strain during operations is minimised. Polypropylene containers, for example, are lightweight yet strong and resilient.
The durability of plastic containers is another key advantage. They are resistant to staining, scratching, and chipping, and can withstand everyday use. Plastic containers are also flexible and elastic, allowing them to snap back into their original shape. This makes them ideal for use in food storage, as they are leakproof and airtight, keeping food fresh and extending its shelf life.
Corrosion resistance is a significant benefit of plastic containers, especially when compared to metal containers. Polypropylene containers, for instance, are immune to corrosion and do not degrade, corrode, or break down when exposed to chemicals. This makes them a reliable and safe option for storing reactive substances and preventing chemical spills.
The economical production of plastic containers is driven by the low cost and ease of manufacturing. Plastic is derived from natural, organic materials such as cellulose, coal, natural gas, salt, and crude oil. The versatility of these raw materials allows for the customisation of plastic properties through the addition of additives and the formation of different polymer chains. This makes plastic production cost-effective and adaptable to specific requirements.
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Plastic containers replaced traditional materials like wood, metal, and glass
Plastic containers have become ubiquitous, with the entire packaging industry heavily dependent on them. They are used for single-use disposable containers, durable multi-use containers, and containers with some plastic content, such as a plastic coating. Food storage nowadays relies mainly on plastic food storage containers.
Before the widespread use of plastic, materials like wood, metal, glass, ceramics, and animal-derived materials like horn, bone, and leather were used for containers. These containers often had drawbacks, such as being heavy and fragile. For example, mouldable clays mixed with glass were used for storage containers, but they were heavy.
Plastic containers have largely replaced these traditional materials due to their adaptability and range of desirable properties. Plastic containers are lightweight, durable, flexible, chemically resistant, low-cost, and have low toxicity. They are also customisable, with additives providing targeted optimum properties such as toughness, flexibility, elasticity, and colour.
However, there are growing concerns about the environmental impact of plastic, with efforts being made to transition towards plastic-free containers. Alternatives to plastic containers include glass, stainless steel, and ceramic-coated glass containers. These alternatives offer advantages such as being microwave-safe, oven-safe, freezer-safe, and eco-friendly.
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Plastic containers are made from biobased plastics derived from carbohydrates, fats, and oils
Plastic is typically derived from crude oil, natural gas, or coal. However, there is a growing demand for plastic derived from renewable resources, such as biobased plastics. Biobased plastics are derived from carbohydrates, fats, and oils, as well as other biological substances.
Biobased plastics, also known as bioplastics, are produced from renewable biomass sources. They are an alternative to conventional plastics, which are typically derived from fossil fuels. Bioplastics have similar physical properties to synthetic plastics but are degradable by microbes such as fungi, bacteria, and yeast. This makes them more environmentally friendly than traditional plastics.
Bioplastics can be produced from a variety of sources, including plant and animal-derived fats and oils. Vegetable oils, in particular, have huge potential for growth in this area. For example, OleoPlast is a bioplastic made from ethyl cellulose and vegetable oils. It is both recyclable and biodegradable. Other bioplastics are derived from carbohydrates, such as corn starch or rice starch, and sugars like glucose.
Bioplastics have been around since the 19th century, with the first man-made bioplastic, Parkesine, being patented in 1856. However, they were largely superseded by fossil-fuel plastics in the following centuries. Today, there is a renewed interest in bioplastics due to concerns about the environmental impact of fossil-fuel plastics and the limited supply of oil reserves.
Bioplastics are used in a variety of applications, including disposable packaging materials, paints, and agricultural chemicals and fertilizers. They also have high-performance applications, such as automotive fuel lines, pneumatic airbrake tubing, and electrical cable sheathing.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastic containers are made of polymers derived from natural gas, crude oil, or petroleum.
Polymers are the chemical class of materials that make up all modern plastics. They are formed from chains of carbon atoms, with or without oxygen, nitrogen, or sulfur atoms.
Polymers are created through a series of complex chemical processes that convert raw petroleum into thermoplastics. These materials are then engineered to be moulded, shaped, and formed into robust, durable, and long-lasting containers.
Plastic containers are widely used due to their economical production, lightweight nature, durability, and corrosion resistance. They are also highly versatile in shaping and moulding, making them ideal for custom packaging and container manufacturing.
