While you might be under the impression that plastic is just plastic, there are many different types of plastics created from many different types of polymers. Thermoplastic, for example, is a polymer that is easy to mold when it is heated to a specific temperature. This type of plastic is used for virtually all of the plastic packaging we see on store shelves, from the clamshells that hold strawberries to the blister packs that hold individual tablets of cold medicine to packages of batteries. But many more items are created using different thermoplastic polymers.
Poly(methyl methacrylate) or PMMA is one type of transparent thermoplastic, which is often simply called acrylic glass. Brand names such as Plexiglas and Lucite also are forms of PMMA. This polymer is very strong and because it is clear, it often is used to make items that we need to see through, such as a diving mask or aquarium and airplane windows. Surprisingly, this plastic also has medical uses as well, being used in the production of hard contact lenses and for dentures and dental fillings as well as being a primary ingredient in bone cement.
Nylon is a word with which most people are familiar, but most of us probably don't realize that nylon is a type of thermoplastic. Nylon is a synthetic polymer, or man-made, substance created from a class of aliphatic polyamides. Nylon is durable and versatile, and because of its many positive characteristics, it has become one of the world's most used polymers. Nylon production began in 1935 and quickly became useful during World War II. Silk from Asia was in very short supply, so nylon was used to build the many parachutes that would be needed to fight the war. After the war, silk was still in short supply, so clothes were sometimes made using nylon. Products made from nylon are generally resistant to mildew and mold and the substance also is resistant to insects. Nylon is used to make a huge variety of products, including all kinds of ropes and camping and military tents. Instrument strings now contain nylon and so do women's hosiery, which often are just known as "nylons."
Teflon is yet another type of thermoplastic and certainly one that is commonly known as the substance that keeps food from sticking to our cooking pots and pans. This synthetic polymer also goes by the scientific name of Polytetrafluroethylene or PTFE. Like nylon, this fluoropolymer was invented at DuPont albeit accidentally. Scientist Roy Plunkett discovered Teflon while trying to make a new type of refrigerant. This was in 1938, but it wasn't actually used in cookware until the 1950s. It's used for more than cooking, it also is used to make gears, bearings, fuel lines, computer mice and items made out of Gore-Tex.
When you think of PVC, you probably think about those white pipes, and it's true that nearly half of the world's pipes are made from this thermoplastic, Poly(vinyl chloride). Cheap to make and fairly durable, PVC is used in the production of hundreds of plastic items. In addition to pipes, consider the portion of the scientific name that also is quite familiar - vinyl. Many products are made from vinyl, specifically vinyl chloride or PVC. This includes everything from food storage containers to kiddie pools to stickers. PVC is water resistant and durable, so it is a handy material to you for vinyl house siding, mattress covers and shower curtains, as well.
In addition to the aforementioned thermoplastics, there are also polystyrene (PS), polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP). Polystyrene is what is used to make Styrofoam for containers and packing materials. Polyethylene is used to make bottles and containers to hold different kinds of toxic chemicals as well as gasoline. So your gas "can" typically is made out of this plastic, as well as bottles that hold bleach, laundry detergent, drain cleaner and more. Finally, there is polypropylene, which is used to make heat-resistant plastic containers that can be placed both in the dishwasher as well as the microwave.
Poly(methyl methacrylate) or PMMA is one type of transparent thermoplastic, which is often simply called acrylic glass. Brand names such as Plexiglas and Lucite also are forms of PMMA. This polymer is very strong and because it is clear, it often is used to make items that we need to see through, such as a diving mask or aquarium and airplane windows. Surprisingly, this plastic also has medical uses as well, being used in the production of hard contact lenses and for dentures and dental fillings as well as being a primary ingredient in bone cement.
Nylon is a word with which most people are familiar, but most of us probably don't realize that nylon is a type of thermoplastic. Nylon is a synthetic polymer, or man-made, substance created from a class of aliphatic polyamides. Nylon is durable and versatile, and because of its many positive characteristics, it has become one of the world's most used polymers. Nylon production began in 1935 and quickly became useful during World War II. Silk from Asia was in very short supply, so nylon was used to build the many parachutes that would be needed to fight the war. After the war, silk was still in short supply, so clothes were sometimes made using nylon. Products made from nylon are generally resistant to mildew and mold and the substance also is resistant to insects. Nylon is used to make a huge variety of products, including all kinds of ropes and camping and military tents. Instrument strings now contain nylon and so do women's hosiery, which often are just known as "nylons."
Teflon is yet another type of thermoplastic and certainly one that is commonly known as the substance that keeps food from sticking to our cooking pots and pans. This synthetic polymer also goes by the scientific name of Polytetrafluroethylene or PTFE. Like nylon, this fluoropolymer was invented at DuPont albeit accidentally. Scientist Roy Plunkett discovered Teflon while trying to make a new type of refrigerant. This was in 1938, but it wasn't actually used in cookware until the 1950s. It's used for more than cooking, it also is used to make gears, bearings, fuel lines, computer mice and items made out of Gore-Tex.
When you think of PVC, you probably think about those white pipes, and it's true that nearly half of the world's pipes are made from this thermoplastic, Poly(vinyl chloride). Cheap to make and fairly durable, PVC is used in the production of hundreds of plastic items. In addition to pipes, consider the portion of the scientific name that also is quite familiar - vinyl. Many products are made from vinyl, specifically vinyl chloride or PVC. This includes everything from food storage containers to kiddie pools to stickers. PVC is water resistant and durable, so it is a handy material to you for vinyl house siding, mattress covers and shower curtains, as well.
In addition to the aforementioned thermoplastics, there are also polystyrene (PS), polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP). Polystyrene is what is used to make Styrofoam for containers and packing materials. Polyethylene is used to make bottles and containers to hold different kinds of toxic chemicals as well as gasoline. So your gas "can" typically is made out of this plastic, as well as bottles that hold bleach, laundry detergent, drain cleaner and more. Finally, there is polypropylene, which is used to make heat-resistant plastic containers that can be placed both in the dishwasher as well as the microwave.
About the Author:
Lenna Stockwell enjoys writing about how stuff is made. For further details about plastic thermoforming or to find out more about industrial thermoform packaging, please go to the Indepak site now.
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