What plastic is made of
Monomers are the building blocks of the structure of plastics (e.g. ethylene). They are simple molecules (carbon and hydrogen). The union of many monomers constitutes a polymer (e.g. polyethylene).
It is produced through terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol by polycondensation. There are two types: textile grade and bottle grade; for bottle grade it must be post-condensed, and there are different colors for these uses.
It is a thermoplastic manufactured from ethylene (made from ethane, one of the components of natural gas). It is very versatile and can be transformed in different ways: injection, blow molding, extrusion or rotational molding.
It is produced from natural gas. Like HDPE, it is highly versatile and can be processed in different ways: injection, extrusion, blow molding and rotational molding. Its transparency, flexibility and economy make it present in a variety of containers, alone or in conjunction with other materials and in a variety of applications. Advantages
Current use of plastics
The term plastic in its most general meaning is applied to substances of various structures and natures that lack a fixed boiling point and possess over a range of temperatures properties of elasticity and flexibility that allow them to be molded and adapted to different shapes and applications. However, in a restricted sense, it denotes certain types of synthetic materials obtained by phenomena of polymerization or artificial multiplication of carbon atoms in the long molecular chains of organic compounds derived from petroleum and other natural substances.
Today in the world, plastic has been manufactured in order to meet the needs of man in everyday life that in previous centuries could not be realized. The word plastic was originally used as an adjective to denote a certain degree of mobility and ease of acquiring a certain shape.
Plastics are substances that contain as an essential ingredient an organic macromolecule called a polymer. These polymers are large groupings of monomers joined together by a chemical process called polymerization.
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Plastic is easy to mold when exposed to high temperatures, although if the temperature is too high it can decompose. For this reason, plastic is said to possess properties of flexibility and elasticity as it adapts to certain shapes.
Once it reaches its final form, plastic is quite resistant and difficult to degrade. Its uses are varied, it is used for the construction of bottles, tables, vases, among others.
In 1860, in a contest whose reward was 10,000 dollars, John Wesley Hyatt proposed dissolving cellulose in a solution of ethanol and camphor, and obtained celluloid (considered the first thermoplastic) with this simple process. At the time, the search was on for a substitute for natural ivory (which was used to make, for example, billiard balls).
Plastic is resistant to deterioration. However, it is important to mention that resistance is often not synonymous with sanitation. A plastic bottle may or may not be reusable, depending on the type of plastic from which the bottle is made. Each plastic object should have a label that specifies whether it is reusable or not.
Physical properties of plastic
Injection molding is a manufacturing technique that uses plastic to make parts and articles and allows for a wide range of different plastic materials and finishes. It is a process that was invented as far back as the 19th century, but it is still one of the best ways to produce complex parts at low cost, which is why it is considered one of the most popular methods on the planet.
The manufacture of parts by injection molding uses plastic, usually in the form of granules, to be melted inside the machine and then injected into a mold under high pressure. The material is then cooled, solidified and released by opening the two halves of the mold.
Plastic molded parts are made from thermoplastics, which are composed of polymers capable of melting at high temperatures and solidifying at low temperatures. Unlike thermosetting plastic material, which burns if overheated, thermoplastics can be heated and cooled several times before they degrade beyond their intended use.