2. Strength/weight ratio. Plastic materials vary considerably in strength.

All plastics are much less dense than metals, resulting in a favourable strength/weight ratio. The high strength plastics and reinforced plastics compare favourably with the aluminium alloys and are often used for stressed components in aircraft construction. 3. Degradation. Plastics do not corrode like metals. They are all inert to most inorganic chemicals. They can be used in environments that are chemically hostile to even the most corrosion resistant metals. They are superior to natural rubber in their resistance to attack by oils and greases. However, all plastics degrade at high temperatures and many are degraded by the ultraviolet content of sunlight. Plastics that are exposed to sunlight (window frames and roof guttering) usually contain a pigment that fi lters out the ultraviolet rays. Some thermoplastics can be dissolved by suitable solvents. 4. SAFETY. Solvents used in the processing of plastics are often highly toxic and should not be inhaled but used in well-ventilated surroundings. Make sure you know the likely dangers before starting work on plastic materials and always follow the safe working practices laid down by the safety management. Plastic materials can be grouped into two distinct fam ilies. These are the thermosetting plastics and the thermo plastics. Typical examples of each of these families will now be considered. Thermosetting plastics are often referred to simply as thermosets . 3.11.1 Thermosetting plastics These undergo a chemical change called curing during hot moulding process. Once this chemical change has taken place, the plastic material from which the moulding is made can never again be softened and reduced to a plastic condition by re-heating. Thermosetting resins are usually mixed with other substances (additives) to improve their mechanical properties, improve their moulding properties, make them more economical to use, and provide the required colour for the fi nished product. A typical moulding material could consist of: Resin 38% by weight Filler 58% by weight Pigment 3% by weight Mould release agent 0.5% by weight Catalyst 0.3% by weight Accelerator 0.2% by weight The pigment gives colour to the fi nished product. The mould release agent stops the moulding sticking to the mould. It also acts as an internal lubricant and helps the plasticized material to fl ow to the shape of the mould. The catalyst promotes the curing process and the accelerator speeds up the curing process and reduces the time the moulds have to be kept closed, thus improving productivity. Fillers are much cheaper than the resin itself and this is important in keeping down the cost of the moulding. Fillers also have a considerable infl uence on the properties of the mouldings produced from a given thermosetting resin. They

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