Plastics

(Polymers)
The word plastics is from the Greek word Plastikos,
meaning able to be shaped and molded.
Aplasticmaterial is any of a wide range ofor semisyntheticorganicsolids that aremalleable .
Plastics are typically organic polymersof
highmolecular mass, but they often contain other
substances.
They are usually synthetic, most commonly derived
frompetrochemicals, but many are partially natural.

Polymerisation
Polymers

are formed when small molecules

known as monomers join together
All the monomers in this kind of
polymerisation must contain C = C
Each small monomer becomes a part of the
polymer
There are two main groups of plastics:
thermosetting
plastics
thermoplastic
The wordplastics.
plastic means easily
shaped or moulded.

Thermoplastic plastics:

Formed by
heat
Made of long
polymer chains
with few cross
links
Mostly recyclable

Soften when
heated
Can be
reheated and
reshaped

Thermoplastic materials soften on heating

so can be moulded into new shapes

Thermosetting plastics:
Initially set by heat
Strong and
durable

Cannot be
reshaped once
set

Consist of
polymer
chains with
strong
Common in
bonds
powder or resin
between
forms
each
chain
Thermosetting
plastics that do not soften
when heated, so cannot be remoulded.

Elastomer:
Anelastomeris

apolymerwithviscoelasticity ( having
bothviscosityandelasticity) and very weak
inter-molecularforces, generally having
lowYoung's modulusand high failure
straincompared with other materials.
The term, which is derived fromelastic
polymer, is often used interchangeably with
the termrubber, although the latter is
preferred when referring tovulcanisates.
Each of themonomerswhich link to form
the polymer is usually made
ofcarbon,hydrogen,oxygenand orsilicon.

 Elastomers

areamorphouspolymers existing
above theirglass transition temperature, so
that considerable segmental motion is
possible.
Atambient temperatures, rubbers are thus
relatively soft (E~3MPa) and deformable.
Their primary uses are
forseals,adhesivesand molded flexible
Examples
of elastomers:
parts.
Unsaturated rubbersthat can be cured by
sulfurvulcanization:
Natural polyisoprene: cis-1,4polyisoprenenatural rubber(NR) and trans1,4-polyisoprenegutta-percha

 Synthetic

polyisoprene (IR
forIsopreneRubber)
Polybutadiene(BR forButadiene Rubber)
Chloropenerubber
(CR),polychloroprene,Neoprene,
Saturated
rubbersthat cannot beBaypren
cured by
etc. vulcanization:
sulfur
EPM (ethylene propylene rubber, a
copolymer ofethyleneandpropylene)
andEPDM rubber(ethylene propylene diene
rubber, a terpolymer of ethylene, propylene
and adiene-component)
Epichlorohydrinrubber (ECO)
Polyacrylic rubber (ACM, ABR)
Silicone rubber(SI, Q, VMQ)

Various other types of elastomers:

Thermoplastic

elastomers(TPE)
Theproteinsresilinandelastin
Polysulfiderubber
Elastolefin, elastic fiber used in fabric
production

Properties of Plastics
Flexible

you can squeeze the shampoo out of the bottle

Watertight

the shampoo will not leak

Shatterproof
Light

easy and cheap to transport

Easily
Heat

the bottle wont break if dropped.

moulded can make plastic into complicated shapes

insulators plastic vending machine cups.

Durable,

non biodegradable

Electrical

insulators plugs and sockets are made of

plastic

The majority of common plastics are

thermoplastics.
Thermoplastics can be heated and reshaped
because of the ways in which the molecules
are joined together.
This can be repeated many times (as long as
no damage
Hea is caused by overheating).
t
Harden
Cool

Softe
n
individual monomer molecule

Thermoplastic plastics are made of long

chains of polymers which dont cross over
very often. When heated, the molecules slip

 Thermosetting

plastics also have lots of

long chain molecules, but there are links
between them. These cross links prevent the
molecules from moving over one another.

individual monomer molecule

THERMOSETTING

 The earliest synthetic polymer was developed in

1906, called Bakelite.
Polymers are long-chain molecules and are
formed by polymerization process, linking and
cross linking a particular building block
(monomer, a unit cell).
The term polymer means many units
repeated many times in a chainlike
structure.

Popular Plastics
Polyethylene (LDPE (low density) and HDPE (high
density)

Properties: good chemical and electrical

properties, strength depends on
composition
Applications: bottles, garbage cans, housewares,
bumpers, toys, luggage
Acetal (Delrin)
Properties: good strength, good stiffness,
good resistance
to heat, moisture, abrasion
and chemicals
Applications: mechanical components; gears,
bearings, valves, rollers, bushings, housings

ABS

Properties:

dimensionally stable, good

strength, impact and toughness properties,
good resistance to abrasion and chemicals

Applications:

automotive components,
helmets, tool handles, appliances, boat hulls,
luggage, decorative panels

USES OF PLASTICS

A chair made with a polypropylene sea

Polyester(PES) Fibers,textiles
Polyethylene terephthalate(PET)
Carbonated
drinks bottles, peanut butter jars, plastic
film,
microwavable packaging.
High-density polyethylene(HDPE)
Detergent


High

impact polystyrene(HIPS) -: Refrigerator liners,

food packaging, vending cups.

Polyamides(PA)

(Nylons) Fibers, toothbrush bristles,

tubing,fishing line, low strength machine parts:
under-the-hood car engine parts or gun frames.

Acrylonitrile

butadiene styrne (ABS) Electronic

equipment cases (e.g., computer monitors, printers,
keyboards), drainage pipe.

Polyethylene/Acrylonitrile

Butadiene Styrene
(PE/ABS) A slippery blend of PE and ABS used in
low-duty dry bearings.

Polycarbonate(PC)

Compact discs,eyeglassesriot
shields, security windows, traffic lights, lenses.

 Polycarbonate/Acrylonitrile

Butadiene Styrene
(PC/ABS) A blend of PC and ABS that creates
a stronger plastic. Used in car interior and
exterior parts, and mobile phone bodies.
Polyurethanes(PU) Cushioning foams,
thermal insulation foams, surface coatings,
printing rollers (Currently 6th or 7th most
commonly used plastic material, for instance
the most commonly used plastic in cars).

Low-density polyethylene(LDPE)
Outdoor
furniture, siding, floor tiles, shower
curtains,
clamshell packaging.

Polypropylene(PP) Bottle caps,

drinking straws,

Molding (process)
Moldingormouldin(seespelling

differences) is the
process ofmanufacturingby shaping liquid or pliable raw
material using a rigid frame called a mold or matrix. This
itself may have been made using a pattern or model of
the final object.
Amoldormouldis a hollowed-out block that is filled
with a liquid or pliable material likeplastic,glass,metl,
orceramic raw materials. The liquid hardens or sets
inside the mold, adopting its shape. A mold is the
counterpart to acast. The very common bi-valve molding
process uses two molds, one for each half of the object.
Piece-moldinguses a number of different molds, each
creating a section of a complicated object. This is
generally only used for larger and more valuable objects.

Types of molding include:

Blow

molding
Powder metallurgyplussintering
Compression molding
Extrusion molding
Injection molding
Laminating
Matrix molding
Rotational molding(or Rotomolding)
Spin casting
Transfer molding
Thermoforming ,Vacuum forming, a simplified
version of thermoforming

Rotational Molding
A

predetermined amount of plastic, powder

or liquid form, is deposited in one half of a
mold.
The mold is closed.
The mold is rotated biaxially inside an oven.
The plastics melts and forms a coating over
the inside surface of the mold.
The mold is removed from the oven and
cooled.
The part is removed from the mold.

Advantages
Molds are relatively inexpensive.
Rotational molding machines are much less
expensive than other type of plastic processing
equipment.

Different parts can be molded at the same time.

Very large hollow parts can be made.
Parts are stress free.
Very little scrap is produced

Vertical wheel machine

Shuttle machine

Turret machine

Rock and roll machine