Maya Ellison
Plastics are a group of materials that can be produced from natural resources or synthetically created resources. They are large organic molecules called polymers, formed by the chemical bonding of smaller molecules called monomers. Plastics are used in a wide range of products, from toys to phones, vehicles, and homes, and medical applications. They are known for their versatility, durability, and lightweight properties. However, the production of plastics has also raised concerns about their environmental impact, particularly regarding greenhouse gas emissions. The distinction between carbon-chain and heterochain polymers is important when discussing plastics, and they are primarily defined by their engineering behaviour rather than chemical composition.
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What You'll Learn
Plastics are large organic molecules called polymers
Polymers are substances composed of macromolecules, which are molecules of high relative molecular mass. They are made from a number of smaller molecules known as monomers. The word 'polymer' comes from the Greek words 'poly', meaning 'many', and 'mer', meaning 'part'. Thus, a polymer means 'many parts', while a monomer means 'one part'.
The polymerization process involves combining many small molecules, or monomers, into a covalently bonded chain or network. During this process, some chemical groups may be lost from each monomer. The continuously linked backbone of a polymer used for the preparation of plastics usually consists mainly of carbon atoms. However, elements such as oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur atoms may also be present in the polymer backbone.
The properties of a polymer depend on the length and arrangement of its molecules. Longer polymer chains result in stronger polymers due to the increased binding forces between the molecules. Additionally, polymers with side branches have lower density, while those without side branches can form a regular, crystalline structure, resulting in higher density and strength.
Plastics, as polymers, exhibit unique characteristics such as low density, low electrical conductivity, transparency, and toughness. These properties allow plastics to be molded into a wide range of products, including beverage bottles, garden hoses, food containers, and shatterproof windows.
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Plastics are formed from natural or synthetic resources
The term 'plastic' comes from the Greek word 'plastikos' and the Latin 'plasticus', meaning 'fit for moulding' or 'capable of being moulded'. Plastics are formed from natural or synthetic resources, with synthetic plastics derived from crude oil, natural gas, or coal. Synthetic plastics are the most common type due to the ease of manufacturing methods when processing crude oil. However, the limited availability of oil reserves is driving the development of newer plastics from renewable resources, such as waste biomass or animal waste products. Synthetic plastics were invented over 100 years ago, but the use of plastic-like materials dates back much further. For instance, Mesoamericans used natural rubber for balls, bands, and figurines around 1600 BCE, and in the Middle Ages, treated cattle horns were employed as lantern windows.
The first man-made bioplastic, Parkesine, was patented in 1856 by Alexander Parkes in the UK. It was crafted from cellulose nitrate and exhibited hardness, flexibility, and transparency. John Wesley Hyatt, an American, later improved upon this invention in the 1860s by adding camphor, resulting in a plastic called Celluloid. Bakelite, invented by Leo Baekeland in Belgium in 1906, was the first completely synthetic plastic. It was created from phenol and formaldehyde resin and earned recognition as a 'National Historic Chemical Landmark' due to its transformative impact on modern industries.
Plastics are large organic molecules known as polymers, formed by the chemical bonding of smaller molecules called monomers. This process, known as polymerization, results in the creation of long chains of monomers that repeat in a specific pattern. The polymers that make up plastics are composed of various elements, including carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, sulphur, and chlorine. Additionally, plastics can be produced from silicon atoms, as seen in silicone breast implants or silicone hydrogel for optical lenses.
The versatility of plastics stems from their defining characteristic, plasticity, which allows them to be moulded, extruded, or pressed into various solid forms. This adaptability, combined with their low weight, durability, flexibility, chemical resistance, low toxicity, and low-cost production, has led to their widespread use worldwide. They are used in a diverse range of products, from beverage bottles and garden hoses to solar panels and windmill blades.
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Plastics are lightweight, tough and versatile
Plastic is a synthetic or semisynthetic polymeric material that can be moulded or shaped using heat and pressure. Its defining characteristic, plasticity, allows it to be formed into a variety of solid shapes, including films, fibres, plates, tubes, bottles, and boxes.
Plastics are lightweight, tough, and versatile. Their low weight makes them ideal for use in beverage bottles, which can be made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET). This type of plastic is also shatterproof, has a high strength-to-weight ratio, and is easily recyclable. Polyethylene terephthalate is also used in fibres for clothing, containers for food and liquids, carbon nanotubes, and engineering resins.
The toughness of plastics is another desirable trait. Acrylic, for example, is a transparent thermoplastic that serves as a lightweight, shatter-resistant alternative to glass. It is used in mirrors, plexiglass, and vehicle rear light covers. Polycarbonate is another tough plastic that is stronger than acrylic and is used in mirrors, windows, and aircraft matrices.
The versatility of plastics is evident in their wide range of applications. For instance, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is used in construction materials, doors, windows, bottles, and non-food packaging. Its ability to be made rigid or flexible means it can be used in expanded sheets for kiosks, store displays, and exhibits. In the healthcare industry, high-density polyethylene (HDPE) is used in hip, knee, and spine implants, while polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is used in medical implant applications.
Plastics also have excellent mechanical and electrical properties, making them suitable for use in automobiles, electrical insulation, and military applications. Their durability, flexibility, chemical resistance, and low toxicity further contribute to their versatility.
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Plastics are used in everyday products
Plastics are used in a wide range of everyday products, from toys to phones, vehicles to homes, and even in medical applications. They are also used in food packaging, helping to keep food fresh and safe for consumption. For example, insulating food containers are made of foamed polystyrene.
Plastics are lightweight, strong, and durable, making them ideal for use in automotive parts, where they can increase fuel efficiency and reduce emissions. They are also used in bicycle helmets, child safety seats, and airbags, helping to protect us in the event of an accident.
In addition to their use in transportation, plastics are also found in many household items. Plastic insulation and sealants help to make our homes more energy-efficient, while reducing costs for heating and cooling. Plastic pipes and plumbing parts are also common, due to the ease of moulding plastic into various shapes.
Plastics are also used in healthcare and medical applications. For example, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) is used in contact lenses and medical implant applications. Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is another plastic used in medical implants and aerospace mouldings due to its biocompatibility.
While plastics have numerous applications and benefits, their production and disposal can contribute to environmental concerns, such as greenhouse gas emissions and waste accumulation. However, initiatives such as the Circular Plastics Alliance aim to promote a circular economy for plastics, where they are reused, recycled, and returned to base materials to reduce waste.
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Plastics can be recycled and reused
Plastic recycling is critical to improving the environment and bettering waste management solutions. Recycling any material, where possible, is fundamental to the environment, and recycling plastic has specific benefits. Recycling can reduce dependence on landfills, conserve resources, and protect the environment from plastic pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
Although recycling rates have increased in almost every country in recent years, plastic recycling still has a long way to go to reach the levels of reuse of materials such as aluminium and glass. Nonetheless, recycling will hopefully become the preferred solution for plastic disposal with a little contribution from everybody.
There are several types of plastic that can be recycled. HDPE, for example, is accepted at most recycling centres worldwide and is one of the easiest plastic polymers to recycle. The recycling rate for HDPE bottles in the US is around 30%. HDPE can be transparent or pigmented (coloured). The primary markets for post-consumer recycled natural HDPE include non-food application bottles, such as detergent, motor oil, and household cleaners. On the other hand, pigmented HDPE post-consumer recycled resin is used for pipe, lawn products, and non-food application bottles. Oftentimes, HDPE is also downcycled into plastic lumber, tables, roadside curbs, benches, and other durable plastic products.
The last plastic type that can be recycled is PP, also called polypropylene. While PP is one of the most popular plastic packaging materials in the world, only around 1-3% is recycled in the US, with most of it being sent to landfills. Polypropylene recycling is difficult and expensive, and in many cases, it is hard to get rid of the smell of the product this plastic contained in its first life. Recycled PP usually ends up being black or grey, making it unsuitable for packaging use. For this reason, rPP is usually included in plastic lumbers, park benches, auto parts, speed bumps, and other industrial applications.
In feedstock recycling, waste plastic is converted into its starting chemicals, which can then become fresh plastic. This process involves higher energy and capital costs. Alternatively, plastic can be burned in place of fossil fuels in energy recovery facilities or biochemically converted into other useful chemicals for industry. Burning is the dominant form of plastic waste disposal in some countries, particularly where landfill diversion policies are in place.
In 2018, Japan had one of the highest plastic recycling rates in the world at ~4%, compared to 23% mechanical recycling. In the same period, Germany reported a feedstock recycling rate of 0.2%. Certain polymers like PTFE, polystyrene, nylon 6, and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) undergo thermal depolymerisation when heated to sufficiently high temperatures. The reactions are sensitive to impurities and require clean and well-sorted waste to produce a good product. Even then, not all depolymerisation reactions are completely efficient, and some competitive pyrolysis is often observed.
Despite the challenges, recycling is still possible, and incredible products come out of this process. The majority of recycled plastic comes from post-consumer sources. This means that milk jugs, bottles, and packaging films thrown into the recycling bin will become post-consumer recycled material.
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Frequently asked questions
A. Plastics are large organic molecules called polymers.
Polymers are plastics' technical names. They are large macromolecules produced by the aggregation of small molecules called monomers.
Examples of polymers include polyethylene, commonly used in plastic bags, and polystyrene, used in packaging materials. Other examples include polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polymethyl methacrylate (Plexiglas, or Perspex).
Plastics are used in a wide range of consumer and industrial applications due to their versatility. They are found in items such as toys, phones, vehicles, and homes. Plastics are also used in healthcare applications, such as medical implants, and in renewable energy technologies, such as solar panels and windmill blades.
