12.2 Plastics

Introduction

The word "plastic" is derived from the Greek word "plastikos" which means "malleable" or "moldable" and "plastos" meaning "mouldable".

Plastics are synthetic materials made from organic polymers, such as PVC (polyvinyl chloride), polyethylene, nylon, etc. These materials can be melted down and then transformed into solid or slightly flexible shapes. They are also referred to as "long carbon chain polymers".

The ability of a material to be moulded or malleable during the manufacturing process means that it can be cast, pressed, or extruded into a variety of forms, including film, fiber, sheet, tube, bottle, and box.

This section explains what plastics are, their properties, and their environmental impact.

Definition

Plastics: Plastics are synthetic materials made from organic polymers, such as PVC, polyethylene, nylon, etc.

In simple words: Plastics are synthetic materials made from polymers that can be melted and moulded into different shapes.

Main Idea

• Plastics are synthetic materials made from organic polymers.
• They can be melted down and transformed into solid or slightly flexible shapes.
• They are also referred to as "long carbon chain polymers".
• The ability of a material to be moulded or malleable during the manufacturing process means that it can be cast, pressed, or extruded into a variety of forms.
• Properties of plastics are directly derived from the characteristics of the polymers they are made from.
• Environmental impact — most plastics are highly resistant to degradation due to their strong carbon-carbon backbone. This leads to long persistence to degradation.

Core Concept

Key point: Plastics are synthetic materials made from polymers that can be melted and moulded into different shapes. They are highly resistant to degradation.

Detailed Explanation

What are Plastics?

The word "plastic" is derived from the Greek word "plastikos" which means "malleable" or "moldable" and "plastos" meaning "mouldable".

Plastics are synthetic materials made from organic polymers, such as:

• PVC (polyvinyl chloride)
• Polyethylene
• Nylon

These materials can be melted down and then transformed into solid or slightly flexible shapes. They are also referred to as "long carbon chain polymers".

The ability of a material to be moulded or malleable during the manufacturing process means that it can be cast, pressed, or extruded into a variety of forms, including:

• Film
• Fiber
• Sheet
• Tube
• Bottle
• Box

Key point: Plastics are synthetic materials made from organic polymers that can be melted and moulded into different shapes.