Sofia Martinez
Plastic is a polymeric material that is almost always derived from petrochemicals. It is made by linking monomers, which are the basic building blocks of polymers, into long molecular chains. These monomers are typically obtained through the distillation of crude oil, a complex mixture of thousands of compounds, in an oil refinery. The resulting fractions, or types of hydrocarbons, are then used to create plastics. While most plastics are derived from crude oil, natural gas, or coal, some are also made from renewable sources such as carbohydrates, fats, and oils. The additives included in the final product, such as stabilizers, plasticizers, and dyes, determine the unique properties of each plastic.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Composition | Polymers, monomers, additives, stabilizers, plasticizers, dyes |
| Production method | Polymerisation, polycondensation |
| Starting materials | Petrochemicals, naphtha, crude oil, natural gas, coal, cellulose, salt |
| Properties | Plasticity, low density, low electrical conductivity, transparency, toughness |
| Types | Polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate, polymethyl methacrylate, polycarbonates, epoxy resin, polyimide, Bakelite |
| Uses | Packaging, food containers, household products, construction, pipes, beverage bottles, garden hoses, insulating food containers, shatterproof windows, CDs, eye protection, mobile phones |
| Recycling | Difficult due to additives, inconsistent properties, discolouration |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic is a mixture of hydrocarbons
Plastic is a polymeric material that is composed primarily of polymers. Polymers are derived from monomers, which are the basic building blocks of polymers. These monomers are almost always petrochemical in nature, meaning they are derived from fossil gas or petroleum. Thus, plastics are often made from crude oil, natural gas, or coal. Crude oil is a complex mixture of thousands of compounds, including hydrocarbons, that must be processed before it can be used to create plastic.
The production of plastics begins with the distillation of crude oil in an oil refinery. This separates the heavy crude oil into groups of lighter components, called fractions. Each fraction is a mixture of hydrocarbon chains (chemical compounds made up of carbon and hydrogen), which differ in terms of the size and structure of their molecules. One of these fractions, naphtha, is a crucial compound for the production of plastics. Naphtha is a volatile mixture of liquid hydrocarbons, specifically C5 to C10 hydrocarbons.
Naphtha is decomposed thermally at high temperatures of around 800°C in a steam cracker in the presence of water vapour. This process breaks down the complex hydrocarbons into simpler molecules through a process called cracking. These smaller molecules, including ethylene, propylene, butane, and butadiene, are then linked together to form long molecular chains called polymers. These polymers are still not in the form of plastic but rather exist as granules, powders, or liquids.
Further processing is required to transform these polymers into plastic. This typically involves melting and blending the polymers with various additives such as stabilizers, plasticizers, and dyes to improve the lifespan, workability, or appearance of the final product. The blended mixture is then pelletized and transformed into a finished or semi-finished product through extrusion or moulding processes.
It is important to note that not all plastics are created from petroleum-based sources. A growing minority of plastics are produced from renewable resources like polylactic acid, carbohydrates, fats, and oils. Additionally, plastics can be recycled by remelting and fabricating used plastic into new items. However, the presence of additives in recycled plastics can create materials with inconsistent properties, which may be undesirable for certain industries.
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Crude oil is a key ingredient
One of the most crucial fractions derived from crude oil is naphtha, a volatile mixture of liquid hydrocarbons (C5 to C10). Naphtha is heated to a high temperature of around 800°C in a steam cracker, causing it to split into lighter hydrocarbons called olefins (ethylene and propylene) and aromatics (benzene, toluene, and xylene). These small molecules are then linked together through polymerisation to form long molecular chains called polymers, which are the basis of plastics.
The polymerisation process involves joining monomers, which are the basic building blocks of polymers. Monomers can be derived from the refining process of crude oil, where the oil is heated in a furnace and sent to a distillation unit to separate into fractions. While not all polymers are plastics, all plastics are polymers. The long polymer chains formed during polymerisation give plastic its characteristic properties, such as its ability to be moulded or shaped using heat and pressure.
The plastic created from these processes is then mixed with various chemicals and materials, known as additives, to improve its lifespan, workability, or appearance. This process, known as compounding, can involve melt-blending different blends of materials and may include mixing different types of plastics together to form polymer blends. The final product can take on unique designs, various sizes and shapes, and different colours, depending on the predetermined conditions set in the processing machine.
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Polymers and monomers
Plastic is a polymeric material that is often created from naphtha, which is derived from crude oil. Crude oil is heated in a furnace and sent to a distillation unit, where it separates into lighter components called fractions. One of these fractions, naphtha, is the crucial compound used to make a large amount of plastic.
The term 'polymer' comes from the Greek word 'poly', meaning 'many', and 'mer', meaning 'repeating unit'. Polymers are large molecules that consist of many identical small particles called monomers, which are strung together like a chain. The length of these polymer chains determines the properties of the plastic. For example, the length of the polymer chain for polyethylene (PE) determines the hardness of this type of plastic.
Monomers are the basic building blocks of polymers. In the context of plastic production, monomers are the small hydrocarbons that are created when oil is cracked in an oil refinery. These monomers are then sent to a petrochemical plant, where they are reacted to become polymers.
The process of joining a long chain of molecules is known as polymerisation. During polymerisation, monomers are added together in a repeating pattern to form polymers. These polymers, in the form of a resin (a mass of polymer chains), are then sent to a plastics factory, where additives are added to give the plastic its desired properties.
There are two main groups of plastics: thermoplastics and thermosets. Thermoplastics become soft upon heating and can be melted and reshaped, making them recyclable. Thermosets, on the other hand, cannot be melted down once they have been produced and remain hard even after heating.
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Additives improve plastic
Plastic is a polymeric material that can be moulded or shaped, usually by applying heat and pressure. It is derived from crude oil, natural gas or coal, and sometimes renewable sources such as carbohydrates, fats and oils.
Plastics are not sold as pure substances, but are mixed with various chemicals and materials, known as additives. These are added during the compounding stage, where different blends of materials are melt-blended to make formulations for plastics. Additives are used to improve the functionality, appearance, or lifespan of plastic materials.
Additives can improve the workability of plastics, increasing flowability and lowering viscosity and heat dissipation. They can also inhibit undesirable chemical degradation from UV light exposure. Additives can also make plastics more flexible, and improve tensile strength and stiffness.
Some additives are used to make plastics flame-resistant, while others improve stability and overall quality. Anti-static additives are used to prevent the accumulation of static electricity on plastic surfaces, which can lead to product damage and safety hazards. Plasticizers are used to lower the glass transition temperature of a polymer, making it softer and more elastic.
Other additives include:
- Fillers, usually chalk, to make plastics cheaper
- Light and heat stabilizers, which make plastics resistant to heat and light, preventing wear and tear
- Lubricants, which reduce friction and make parts smoother and easier to mould
- Pigments, which change the colour of plastics
- Foaming additives, which create pores inside plastic products to reduce volume and the amount of plastic used, while maintaining quality
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Plastic recycling is challenging
Plastic is a polymeric material, derived from crude oil, natural gas, or coal. It is inexpensive, lightweight, and durable, making it a popular choice for a wide range of applications. However, plastic recycling is challenging, and the problem is becoming increasingly difficult.
Firstly, plastic is not sold as a pure substance but is mixed with various chemicals and additives to improve its lifespan, workability, or appearance. These additives make recycling challenging as they can be difficult to remove, resulting in inconsistent properties in the recycled material. For example, mixing different coloured plastics can produce a discoloured material. Therefore, plastic must be sorted by both polymer type and colour before recycling, which can be a complex and time-consuming process.
Secondly, the majority of plastic is not actually recycled, even when placed in recycling bins. A Greenpeace report found that only around 5% of plastic is turned into new products, with the rest often ending up in landfills. This is due to the challenges of recycling plastic, the low demand for recycled plastic, and the high cost of recycling compared to disposing of plastic as garbage. Additionally, the production of new plastic is cheap and easy, making it more economically attractive than recycled plastic.
Furthermore, plastic is often used for disposable items and short-lived products, contributing to the vast amounts of plastic waste generated each year. The durability of plastic polymers means that discarded plastic accumulates as debris in landfills and natural habitats worldwide, causing significant environmental problems. Recycling plastic is crucial to reducing these environmental impacts, but the challenges of plastic recycling have led to low recycling rates.
While recycling technology has advanced, the fundamental issues with plastic recycling remain. The public has also been misled about the recyclability of plastic, with industry insiders aware of the challenges as early as the 1970s. Despite increasing awareness and efforts to improve recycling rates, the production and use of plastic continue to outpace recycling capabilities, highlighting the urgent need for drastic changes in the industry.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastic is a polymeric material that can be moulded or shaped, usually by applying heat and pressure.
Plastic is made from natural materials such as cellulose, coal, natural gas, salt and crude oil. Synthetic plastics are derived from crude oil, natural gas or coal. Biobased plastics come from renewable products such as carbohydrates, fats and oils.
The production of plastics begins with the distillation of crude oil in an oil refinery. This separates the heavy crude oil into groups of lighter components, called fractions. Each fraction is a mixture of hydrocarbon chains. One of these fractions, naphtha, is the crucial compound for the production of plastics.
There are dozens of different types of plastics, including polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polystyrene, and polycarbonates (PC).
