Plastics and its types, properties and uses

Table Contents
– Definition
– Introduction
– Types of Plastic
– Recycling of Plastic
– Properties of Plastic
– Classification of Plastic
– Conclusion
2

Definition
Plastic is defined as a material that contains an
essential ingredient an organic substance of large
molecular weight. It is also defined as polymers of
long carbon chains.
3

Introduction
• Plastic was discovered by famous German chemist
Christian Schonbein in 1846.
• The word, plastic, was derived from the word ‘Plastikos’
meaning ‘to mould’ in Greek.
• Fossil fuels have compounds containing hydrogen and
carbon (hydrocarbon) which act as building blocks for long
polymer molecules.
• These building blocks are known as monomers, they link
together to form long carbon chains called polymers.
4

Types of Plastic
Thermoplastic:
• Plastics that can be deformed easily upon
heating and can be bent easily.
• Linear polymers and a combination of
linear and cross-linked polymers come
under thermoplastics. Example: PVC, nylon,
polythene, etc.
●●●
7

Types of Plastic
Commodity plastics
• Around 70% of global production is
concentrated in six major polymer types,
the so-called commodity plastics.
• Unlike most other plastics these can often
be identified by their resin identification
code
●●●
8

Types of Plastic
Engineering plastics
• Engineering plastics are more robust and are
used to make products such as vehicle parts,
building and construction materials, and some
machine parts.
• Engineering plastics can replace metals in
vehicles, reducing their weight, with a 10%
reduction improving fuel efficiency by 6-8%.
●●●
9

Types of Plastic
High-performance plastics
• High-performance plastics are usually
expensive, with their use limited to
specialised applications which make use of
their superior properties.
●●●
10

Types of Plastic
Thermosetting:
• Plastics that cannot be softened again by
heating once they are moulded. Heavily
cross-linked polymers come under the
category of thermosetting plastics.
• Example: Bakelite, melamine, etc. Bakelite
is used for making electrical switches
whereas melamine is used for floor tiles.
11

Recycling of Plastic
• Recycling of plastic is very important. If
they are not recycled at the proper time,
then they get mixed with other chemicals
or materials and hence become more
difficult to recycle and become a source of
pollution.
●●●
12

Recycling of Plastic
• They are non-biodegradable, and they do
not get decomposed by the microbial
action.
• To avoid this, it is important to use
biopolymers or biodegradable polymers.
13

Properties of Plastic
• Strong and ductile.
• Poor conductors of heat and electricity.
• Easily moulded into different shapes and
size.
• Resist corrosion and are resistant to
many chemicals.
●●●
14

Classification of Plastic
Biodegradable plastics
• Biodegradable plastics are plastics that degrade
(break down) upon exposure to sunlight or ultra-
violet radiation; water or dampness; bacteria;
enzymes; or wind abrasion.
• Attack by insects, such as waxworms and
mealworms, can also be considered as forms of
biodegradation.
●●●
15

Classification of Plastic
Bioplastics
• While most plastics are produced from
petrochemicals, bioplastics are made substantially
from renewable plant materials like cellulose and
starch.
• Due both to the finite limits of fossil fuel reserves
and to rising levels of greenhouse gases caused
primarily by the burning of those fuels, the
development of bioplastics is a growing field.
16

Conclusion
 Plastic pollution is caused by the accumulation of
contaminated plastic material in the environment.
 Plastic is a non-bio-degradable substance.
18

Plastics and its types, properties and uses

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