Plastic definition: Plastics are made from natural materials such as natural gas, oil, coal, minerals, and plants. They have simply linked chains of similar molecules. Polymers are the name given to these chains. This is why many plastics, such as polyethylene, polystyrene, and polypropylene, begin with “poly.”
Polymer definition: A polymer is any of a family of natural or manmade compounds made up of very big molecules known as macromolecules that are multiples of smaller chemical units known as monomers. Polymers include many of the components found in living beings and serve as a basis for many minerals and man-made compounds. Some examples of Polymers include polyethylene cups, fibreglass, plastic bags, paints, epoxy, polyurethane foam, silicone heart valves, and Teflon-coated cookware.
Table of Contents
Examples of Plastics
- Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) is used in cooking oil bottles, packaging trays, meal trays, First-aid blankets, and polar fleece.
- High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) is used in soap containers, shopping bags, freezer bags, pipes, insulation, bottle caps, vehicle fuel tanks, protective helmets, and recycled wood-plastic composites.
- Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) is used in furniture, clothing, medical containers, tubing, water, flooring, cladding, vinyl records, cables, cleaning solution containers, and water bottles.
- Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) is used in Trays, containers, work surfaces, machine parts, lids, drink cartons, protective shells, computer hardware casings, playground fixtures, bin bags, and laundry bags.
- Polypropylene (PP) is used in surgery tools, and supplies, hobbyist models, bottle caps, food containers, straws, kettles, lunch boxes, and packing tape.
Thermoplastic Polymer
A thermoplastic polymer (plastic) has several qualities, including the ability to soften (or melt) when heated and stiffen (or freeze) when cooled. This heating and cooling procedure can be repeated multiple times indefinitely.
Examples of thermoplastics include polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polybenzimidazole, acrylic, nylon, and Teflon.
Thermosets Polymer
Thermoset polymers are materials that are permanently solid once cured. During the curing process, polymers within the material crosslink, forming an unbreakable, irreversible bond. Even at extremely high temperatures, thermosets do not melt. Typical examples of thermosetting plastics are Phenolic resins, amino resins, and epoxy resins.