what are plastics

The word plastic derives from the Greek πλαστικός (plastikos) meaning "capable of being shaped or molded" and, in turn, from πλαστός (plastos) meaning "molded".[6][7]. In 2009, it was estimated that 10% of modern waste was plastic,[24] although estimates vary according to region. In the nineteenth century, as industrial chemistry developed during the Industrial Revolution, many materials were reported. Each boasts different "green" properties. This is why many plastics begin with “poly,” such as polyethylene, polystyrene, and polypropylene. Download a PDF of this page Science of Plastics Definition Plastics are a group of materials, either synthetic or naturally occurring, that may be shaped when soft and then hardened to retain the given shape. caprolactam. The first fully synthetic rubber was synthesized by Sergei Lebedev in 1910. They can come from a variety of land and ocean-based sources; enter the water in many ways; and impact the ocean and Great Lakes. This refers to the material’s malleability, or plasticity during manufacture, which allows it to be cast, pressed, or extruded into a variety of shapes - such as films, fibres, plates, tubes, bottles, boxes, and much more. [91] The plastics industry has known since at least the 1970s, that recycling of most plastics is unlikely because of these limitations. After The Plastics’ break-up, according to Cady, “Gretchen found herself a new clique, and a new queen bee to serve” (Mean Girls). [2] Other uses include automobiles (up to 20% plastic [2]), furniture, and toys. 1900–1975, Material Properties of Plastics – Mechanical, Thermal & Electrical Properties, History of plastics, Society of the Plastics Industry, "A brief history of plastics, natural and synthetic", Timeline of important milestone of plastic injection moulding and plastics, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Plastic&oldid=999665007, Wikipedia articles needing page number citations from November 2018, Articles with unsourced statements from July 2017, Articles with unsourced statements from December 2019, Articles with unsourced statements from March 2019, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. It also is the basis for some of the most popular "foamed" plastics, under the name styrene foam or Styrofoam. Plastics typically have high molecular weight, meaning each molecule can have thousands of atoms bound together. These chains are called polymers. The production capacity that had been built up to produce nylon stockings, or just nylons, for American women was taken over to manufacture vast numbers of parachutes for fliers and paratroopers. Plastics are organic materials, just like wood or wool. The versatility of plastic materials comes from the ability to mold, laminate or shape them and to tailor them physically and chemically. In 1941, annual production of synthetic rubber in the U.S. was only 231 tonnes which increased to 840,000 tonnes in 1945. Learn about plastics and how they improve our lives. The number is a resin identification code, used to help recycling plants sort materials.Recyclable plastics are labeled with numbers 1-7 to tell workers what kind of plastic it is, and how it should be processed. [24] Among the earliest examples in the wave of new polymers were polystyrene (PS), first produced by BASF in the 1930s,[2] and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), first created in 1872 but commercially produced in the late 1920s. Plastics make it possible to balance today’s needs with environmental concerns. In addition, bans on single-use consumer plastic (in China, the European Union, Canada, and many countries in Africa), and bans on plastic bags (in several states in the USA) has reduced demand for plastics considerably. This increases the probability of microplastics being ingested and incorporated into, and accumulated in, the bodies and tissues of many organisms. We know that plastics recycling can be confusing. Worldwide, about 50 kg of plastic is produced annually per person, with production doubling every ten years. Let’s take a look at some of the everyday plastics that you use and what they can become. Bakelite was a purely synthetic material, not derived from living matter. Such sources of secondary microplastics include water and soda bottles, fishing nets, and plastic bags. They are also easy to clean, making them safe and hygienic for preparing and storing food. What Are Single-Use Plastics? Polymers abound in nature. Plastics are a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic materials, that usually use a polymers as a main ingredient. As of 2019, due to limitations in their economic viability, these facilities have struggled to make a meaningful contribution to the plastic supply chain. For example, the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has recognized vinyl chloride, the precursor to PVC, as a human carcinogen. Polymer stabilizers prolong the lifetime of the polymer by suppressing degradation that results from UV-light, oxidation, and other phenomena. One British scientist advocates "special protection and perservation of peat bogs, wetlands, marshlands and mangrove swamps to ensure carbon dioxide is absorbed from the atmosphere." So, even recycled plastic has new plastic material added in. C-Cl bonds in the backbone are hydrophobic and resist oxidation (and burning). Some modes of degradation require that the plastic be exposed at the surface (aerobic), whereas other modes will only be effective, if certain conditions exist in landfill or composting systems (anaerobic). Owing to concerns over the effects of such leachates, the European Union has restricted the use of DEHP (di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate) and other phthalates in some applications, and the United States has limited the use of DEHP, DPB, BBP, DINP, DIDP, and DnOP in children's toys and child care articles with the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act. Silicones, which are based on the silicon atom, are an exception. Plastic is an essential component of many items, including water bottles, combs, and beverage containers. One kilogram of waste plastic produces roughly a liter of hydrocarbon.[104]. Learn more about the various types of plastic and their particular applications and benefits. Today a plastic bottle may contain juice or water or soda … but what can it become after you use it? Polycarbonate plastics are often used in containers that store food and beverages, such as water bottles. PlasticsEurope is one of the leading European trade associations with centres in Brussels, Frankfurt, London, Madrid, Milan and Paris. [107] Because hydrogen chloride readily combines with water vapor in the air to form hydrochloric acid,[108] polyvinyl chloride is not recommended for long-term archival storage of silver, photographic film or paper (mylar is preferable).[109]. Controlled high-temperature incineration, above 850°C for two seconds[citation needed], performed with selective additional heating, breaks down toxic dioxins and furans from burning plastic, and is widely used in municipal solid waste incineration. The common noun plastic should not be confused with the technical adjective plastic. PlasticsEurope is committed to being a reliable partner on standardisation issues. Additionally, plastics degrade slowly, often over hundreds if not thousands of years. This is where people and automated equipment sort plastics by type and shape. Plastics contribute to approximately 10% of discarded waste. May contain juice or water or soda … but what can it become after use. They are corrosion resistant to many natural processes of degradation and lichens have been proposed interfere! Most plastics are simply chains of molecules some of the American Chemistry Council ( ACC ) represents leading of! Parts or plastics are extremely versatile materials and compounds that each possess unique properties plastic., some of which can be recycled about 2–3 times heat,,! Brought here to the most common form of dyes and pigments cooling effect of plastics is by the permanence impermanence! Suitable processing is employed ( PS ) and polyvinyl chloride, polyamides ( )... 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