Plastics
Plastics are materials made from chemicals obtained from crude oil. Different types of plastics are produced by mixing these chemicals in various ways.
Plastics can be divided into 2 main groups: Thermoplastics and Thermosets.
Thermoplastics become soft and melt when heated. They can then be formed into the desired shape. The plastics harden when cooled. This heating and cooling process can be repeated multiple times. Examples of thermoplastics include nylon, polyethylene, and polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
Thermosets, also known as thermosetting plastics, include examples such as phenol formaldehyde, polyester resin, epoxy resin, and bakelite.
Properties of plastics
- Plastics are resistant to corrosion
- Plastics are elastic
- Plastics are flexible
- Plastics are light
- Plastics are transparent
- Plastics are attractive and easy to clean
- Plastics are resistant to electricity
- Plastics can take complex shapes
Applications of plastics
- Kitchen utensils
- Basins
- Screw tops of bottles
- Insulation
- Plumbing
- Packaging materials
- Carrier bags
- Engineers also use plastics to manufacture some car parts such as:
- Switches
- Wire coatings
- Carpets
- Bumpers
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