When you talk about plastics, it is important to understand that there is not just one kind of plastic, but many kinds. Plastic, in general, is a material that is formed by using synthetic or semi-synthetic polymers. There are many different kinds of polymers and other substances that are used to create these types of plastic. Here are some interesting facts about plastic in general.
In ancient times, people made items out of natural plastics formed from rubber mixed with items such as blood protein or egg. As the centuries passed, scientists experimented with different polymers and compounds, and eventually man-made forms of plastic were created. The first to earn a patent was Alexander Parkes, who invented Parkesine in 1856, although this cellulose-based plastic did not enjoy widespread use. In fact today, ping pong balls and guitar picks are about the only items produced with this plastic. Bakelite, the first plastic created from a synthetic polymer, came along a few years later and was widely used for the first half of the 20th century.
When you hear the words vulcanization, you might believe these words refer to something having to do with Star Trek, but actually this is a process where rubber is converted into a highly durable material. Many products are made using this process, most notably perhaps are tires. The Goodyear Tire Company, which was founded in 1898, was named after one of the pioneers of vulcanization, Charles Goodyear. But vulcanization is also used to create products such as bowling balls, although these days, the balls are usually made out of polyester.
In addition to being made of various polymers, plastics are often divided in these two categories: thermoset plastic and thermoplastic. Thermoset plastics are quite resistant to heat and are less expensive than thermoplastic, which is easy to melt and mold. Thermoset plastic cannot be recycled, but it's quite strong and is used in automobiles as well as computers and appliances.
Water bottles, soda bottles, food storage containers, pill bottles, laundry detergent and thousands of other products are made with thermoplastic or placed in thermoplastic packaging. The cost of thermoplastics is higher than thermoset plastics, but thermoplastics are impact resistant and chemical resistant. This means they don't break when you drop them, and they don't leach out harmful chemicals that are stored in thermoplastic bottles.
Obviously, recyclability is one of the biggest advantages thermoplastic has over thermoset. Most thermoplastics can be recycled many times, which in theory reduces the burden on our landfills. It also can reduce energy use in general because recycling plastic does not require as much energy as creating a plastic product from scratch.
In ancient times, people made items out of natural plastics formed from rubber mixed with items such as blood protein or egg. As the centuries passed, scientists experimented with different polymers and compounds, and eventually man-made forms of plastic were created. The first to earn a patent was Alexander Parkes, who invented Parkesine in 1856, although this cellulose-based plastic did not enjoy widespread use. In fact today, ping pong balls and guitar picks are about the only items produced with this plastic. Bakelite, the first plastic created from a synthetic polymer, came along a few years later and was widely used for the first half of the 20th century.
When you hear the words vulcanization, you might believe these words refer to something having to do with Star Trek, but actually this is a process where rubber is converted into a highly durable material. Many products are made using this process, most notably perhaps are tires. The Goodyear Tire Company, which was founded in 1898, was named after one of the pioneers of vulcanization, Charles Goodyear. But vulcanization is also used to create products such as bowling balls, although these days, the balls are usually made out of polyester.
In addition to being made of various polymers, plastics are often divided in these two categories: thermoset plastic and thermoplastic. Thermoset plastics are quite resistant to heat and are less expensive than thermoplastic, which is easy to melt and mold. Thermoset plastic cannot be recycled, but it's quite strong and is used in automobiles as well as computers and appliances.
Water bottles, soda bottles, food storage containers, pill bottles, laundry detergent and thousands of other products are made with thermoplastic or placed in thermoplastic packaging. The cost of thermoplastics is higher than thermoset plastics, but thermoplastics are impact resistant and chemical resistant. This means they don't break when you drop them, and they don't leach out harmful chemicals that are stored in thermoplastic bottles.
Obviously, recyclability is one of the biggest advantages thermoplastic has over thermoset. Most thermoplastics can be recycled many times, which in theory reduces the burden on our landfills. It also can reduce energy use in general because recycling plastic does not require as much energy as creating a plastic product from scratch.
About the Author:
Lenna Stockwell enjoys blogging about how stuff is made. To get further information about custom plastic packaging solutions or to find out more about thermoform plastics, please check out the Indepak.com site today.
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