3

Synthetic Fibres and Plastics

Expected Learning Outcomes

Knowledge to be gained: •Polymers and monomers •Synthetic bres •Advantages and

disadvantages of synthetic bres •Plastics •ermoplastics and thermosetting plastics
•Plastics and the environment
Skill to be developed: •Selection of the right synthetic fabric based on their characteristics.
Attitude to be inculcated: •Plastics should be used judiciously.
You would recall that we have already read about bres like wool and silk are obtained from
fabrics and bres in Classes VI and VII. Let us animals. In Classes VI and VII, we studied about
revise what we studied then. natural bres.
We know that the clothes which we wear are
made of fabrics. e fabrics, in turn, are made of FIBRES
bres.
Fibres are the thin thread-like strands from Natural bres Synthetic bres
which fabrics (clothes) are made. Fibres can be
obtained from natural as well as arti cial sources.
Plant bres Animal bres
us, all bres can be divided into two groups:
u Natural bres (obtained from natural In this Class, we are going to study about
sources) and synthetic bres. Synthetic bres are used to make
u Synthetic bres (man-made bres). synthetic fabrics like polyester and nylon.
FIBRES POLYMERS AND MONOMERS
Natural bres can be obtained from plant as Before we learn about synthetic bres, we should
well as animal sources. Fibres like cotton, jute understand the meaning of ‘polymers’ and
and coir are all obtained from plants, whereas ‘monomers’.
Synthetic Fibres and Plastics 45
 A polymer is a long-chain molecule formed by
the combination of a large number of small
molecules. e small molecules which are
joined together to form a polymer are called
monomers.
e word ‘polymer’ is made up of two Greek
words—‘poly’ meaning ‘many’, and ‘mer’
meaning ‘units’. erefore, a polymer is a big
molecule made up of small, repeating units (of
chemical substances) called monomers.
e process of formation of a polymer from
monomers is termed polymerisation.
Let us understand this by examining the uniform
pattern found in a necklace of beads joined
together with the help of a thread.
read
Necklace represents
represents bonds
the structure
of the polymer
Beads
represent
monomers
Fig.1 Necklace made of beads
e beads joining together to form the necklace
can either be of the same type, or of different
types. e structure of a polymer is similar to
that of a chain of beads joining together. If each
bead represents a small chemical compound
(monomer), the necklace, as a whole, represents
a polymer made up of the monomers. e thread
joining the beads (monomers) would represent
the bonds formed between monomers to create a
polymer.
Polymers can be of two types—Natural Polymers
and Synthetic Polymers.
Polymers that are naturally found are called
natural polymers. Cotton bre, for example, is
made up of a polymer called cellulose. Cellulose
is a polymer which is made up of a large number
of small glucose molecules.
46
Synthetic polymers are man-made polymers.
ey are synthesised by combining a single or a
few different types of chemical substances
(monomers) in a pattern to form a long-chain
molecule (polymer).
SYNTHETIC FIBRES
Synthetic bres are man-made bres that are
made up of synthetic polymers. ese
polymers are synthesised using chemical
compounds in industries through
polymerisation. Synthetic bres are, therefore,
also called arti cial bres.
Types of Synthetic Fibres
Depending upon the type of polymer used to
manufacture the bre, there are many different
synthetic bres. Let us study about a few of them.
Rayon
Rayon is the rst synthetic bre produced
arti cially. It is obtained from cellulose, which is
extracted from wood pulp. Even though rayon
is obtained from a natural polymer, it is
considered as a synthetic bre because
cellulose needs extensive chemical treatment
to form rayon.
Rayon is used as a cheaper alternative to silk. It is
also known as arti cial silk.
Silk, as we have studied in Class VII, is a natural
bre obtained from silk moths. It was rst
discovered in China and was kept as a closely
guarded secret. As the popularity of silk
increased around the world for its beautiful
shine and texture, the demand for silk increased
drastically.
Attempts were made to make silk arti cially,
which would be cheaper than natural silk.
Towards the end of the 19th century, scientists
were successful in obtaining an arti cial bre,
Exploring Science-8
having similar physical properties to that of
natural silk.
France has been producing rayon since the
1880s. It was developed as a cheap alternative to
silk, for its arti cial silk-like appearance.
Properties of rayon
u Rayon is so and comfortable.
u It is a biodegradable bre.
u It can be easily dyed in a variety of colours.
u It resembles silk in look and comfort.
Advantages and uses of rayon
u Rayon is cheaper to produce, as compared to
natural bres.
u It can be easily mixed with other bres, like
cotton or wool.
u It is widely used in the textile and carpet
industries. Rayon is mixed with cotton to
make bedsheets or mixed with wool to make
carpets.
u It is also used in making bandages.
Nylon
Nylon was the world’s rst fully synthetic bre.
It was developed by the US scientist Wallace H.
Carothers and his associates, in the 1930s. It was
produced from coal, air, water and agricultural
by-products.
Nylon is one of the strongest and the most
Fig.2 ings made of rayon
Synthetic Fibres and Plastics
durable bres. A thread of nylon is, in fact,
stronger than a steel wire of same thickness.
Properties of nylon
u Nylon is very strong and elastic.
u It is lightweight but has a high tensile
strength, i.e., it has a great capacity to bear
weight.
u It absorbs less water and dries quickly.
u It has wash-and-wear properties, i.e., it does
not require ironing.
u It is so and smooth.
Uses of nylon
u Nylon is used in clothing to make dresses,
tracksuits, socks, swimwear, raincoats,
stockings, shorts, etc.
u It is used in making curtains, bed sheets, etc.
u It is used in making ropes, parachutes,
shing nets, toothbrushes, car seat-belts,
sleeping bags, racket strings, tyres,
umbrellas, etc. Nylon is used in making these
products because of its high capacity to bear
weight.
Knowledge Booster
• Nylon was formed almost at the same me in New
York and London. Therefore, it was named as
NYLON.
• It was first used in a nylon bristled toothbrush.
Fig.3 ings made of nylon
47
 e word ‘polyester’ actually means ‘polymers
Activity-1 made of esters’. Ester is a sweet-smelling
chemical compound, which is used in making
Take an iron stand with a clamp. Tie a cotton fragrances.
thread of about 60 cm length to the clamp so Esters are combined with petroleum products to
that it hangs freely, as shown in Fig.4. At the make the chemical compounds (monomers)
free end, suspend a pan so that weights could be that are used to make polyester polymers.
placed in it.
e fabrics made from polyester bres have
Add weights one by one, till the thread breaks.
properties similar to those of nylon. However,
Note down the total weight required to break
polyester bres are stronger than nylon bres.
the thread. is weight indicates the strength of
ey are also soer than nylon. Fabrics made of
the bre (cotton
polyester do not get wrinkled easily. ey are
thread).
Iron lightweight and easy to wash and maintain.
Repeat the same Cotton stand
thread Terylene is a popular polyester bre.
activity with
threads of wool, silk Polyester bres are commonly blended with
Weight natural bres while making clothes. You must
and nylon. Fill in
the table below. have seen clothes made of polycot or polywool
Pan
Arrange the fabrics. ese are examples of blended fabrics.
threads in order of Fig.4 An iron stand with e common varieties of polyester blended
their increasing a thread hanging fabrics are:
from the clamp
strength. It is made by blending
1. Polycot
Observation Table polyester and cotton.
Type of Total Weight Required Polywool or It is made by blending
Sl. No. read/Fibre to Break the read 2.
Terrywool polyester and wool.
1.
2.
It is made by blending
3. Terrysilk
3. polyester and silk.
4.
PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) is a form of
You may use a hook or a nail on the wall for polyester. It is generally used for making lms,
hanging the bres and a polythene bag at the wires, bottles and other useful products.
other end. In place of weights, you may use
Uses of polyester
marbles (or pebbles) of similar size.
u It is used to make trousers, suits, bed sheets,
(Precaution: Note that all threads should be of
curtains and sofa covers.
the same length and almost of the same
u It is used to make water hoses.
thickness.)
u It is used to make jackets and quilted
Polyester garments.
Polyester is another synthetic bre. It is actually u It is used to make sailboats.
a general name for all synthetic bres made u It is used in making PET bottles and PET
using a chemical compound called ‘ester’. jars.
48 Exploring Science-8
 u ey cannot be damaged by moths and
Knowledge Booster insects.
Hot air balloons are made up of polyester films called
u ey are extremely ne and have a very
Mylar.
smooth texture.
Acrylic
Disadvantages of synthetic bres
It is a synthetic bre which is used to make
The main disadvantages of synthetic bres are as
sweaters, shawls, blankets, jackets, socks and
follows:
lining for boots and gloves. Acrylic fabrics are
so and warm, with a wool-like feel. u Synthetic bres are non-biodegradable, i.e.,
they cannot be decomposed by bacteria and
Advantages of acrylic
fungi by natural processes.
u It is so and warm.
u ey catch re easily and also produce
u It resists shrinkage and wrinkles.
poisonous gases and fumes on burning.
u It can be dyed into different colours.
u Synthetic bres melt on heating. On melting,
u It retains its shape. they stick to the body and cause severe
Advantages of synthetic bres burns. at is why, synthetic fabric clothes
Synthetic bres have some ver y useful should not be worn while working in the
properties. kitchen.
u ey are very strong and durable. u Synthetic bres do not absorb water or sweat.
u ey can be dyed into various colours. erefore, it is advised not to wear synthetic
u ey are inexpensive. clothes during summer and in humid
weather conditions.
u ey do not get wrinkled.
u A lot of petrochemicals are used for
u ey absorb less water and are quick to dry.
manufacturing synthetic bres, which is not
u ey are used to make swimming costumes
good for the environment.
and beach wear.

Activity-2
Take two cloth pieces of the same size, roughly half a metre square each. One of these should be
from natural bre. e other could be a synthetic bre. You can take the help of your parents in
selecting these pieces. Soak the pieces in different mugs, each containing the same amount of
water. Take the pieces out of the containers aer ve minutes, and spread them in the sun for a few
minutes. Compare the volume of the water remaining in each container.
Do synthetic fabrics soak less or more water than natural fabrics? Do they take less or more time to
dry?
What does this activity tell you about the characteristics of the synthetic fabrics? Find out from
your parents about the durability, cost and maintenance of these fabrics, compared to natural
fabrics.

Synthetic Fibres and Plastics 49

 Table: Synthetic bres vs. Natural bres
Synthetic Fibres
ey are produced from chemical substances.
ey are much stronger.
ey do not absorb water and dry up quickly.
ey are durable, moth-resistant and easy to maintain.
ey are easily washable and wrinkle-free.
ey are inexpensive.
Checkpoint-1
Write True or False
1. Clothes are made up of fabrics.
2. Polyester is a general name for all synthetic bres made using esters.
3. Polycot is a blend of polyester and wool.
4. Rayon is also called arti cial wool.
5. Acrylic is also called arti cial silk.
PLASTICS
Today, it is difficult to imagine our life without
plastic. Toys, combs, toothbrushes, bottles, pens,
bags, buckets, containers, water pipes, water
tanks, etc., are all made of plastic. Even some
parts of cars, buses, radios, televisions, scooters
and refrigerators are also made of plastic. Plastic
has replaced the use of metals to a large extent,
and this has proved to be a great boon to us, as it
is way less expensive. In today’s world, we are
surrounded by and dependent on plastics.
Almost everything we use is now made of plastic,
or has some parts made of plastic. is proves the
versatility of plastics.
Like synthetic bres, plastics are also
polymers. e term ‘plastic’ actually means
‘easy to mould’. erefore, plastics are synthetic
materials made of polymers which can be
moulded into any desired shape, and then
hardened to produce the desired article.
Plastic was rst mass-produced in the 1940s.
50 Exploring Science-8
Natural Fibres
ey are produced from natural substances.
ey are not as strong as synthetic bres.
ey absorb water and take time to dry up.
ey are not so durable, affected by moth and are
difficult to maintain.
ey are neither easily washable, nor wrinkle-free.
ey are expensive.
______________
______________
______________
______________
______________
Almost all of the plastic ever made still exists.
All plastics are made of petroleum products
called ‘petrochemicals’. Some of the examples
of plastics are:
Polythene (Poly + ethene) is an example of
plastic. It is used for making commonly used
polythene bags.
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is an example of a
strong and hard plastic. It is commonly used in
making pipes.
Bakelite is another example of plastic. It is a poor
conductor of heat and electricity. Since it is a
poor conductor of heat and does not melt on
heating, hence bakelite is used in making the
handles of cooking utensils. Bakelite is also used
in making electric switches and sockets because
it does not conduct electricity and does not melt
under high heat.
Te on is a kind of plastic on which oil and water
do not stick. It is therefore used in making non-
stick cooking utensils.
Melamine is a versatile plastic. It resists re and
can tolerate heat better than other plastics. It is
used in making oor tiles, kitchenware and
fabrics which resist re.
Structure of Plastics
Since plastics are polymers, they are made up
of smaller repetitive units (monomers). All
plastics do not have the same type of
arrangement of the monomers. In some
plastics, the monomers are arranged in a linear
manner, whereas in others, they are arranged
in a cross-linked manner.
Linear polymer chains, having no cross-links
Cross-links
Cross-linked polymer chains
Fig.5 Arrangement of polymer chains
in different types of plastics
TYPES OF PLASTICS
Based on the effect that heat has on a certain
plastic, plastics are categorised into two broad
groups:
u ermoplastics, and
u ermosetting plastics.
ermoplastics
You would have noticed that some plastic items
can bend easily without breaking and can
become so on adding hot substances. For
example, plastic water bottles can be crushed
easily. ey also become so and start to melt if
we add hot water to them. ermoplastics are
those plastics which can be soened repeatedly
on heating, and can be easily moulded into
different shapes. ese plastics can be soened
and moulded repeatedly into another shape just
by heating. ey become harder on cooling.
Synthetic Fibres and Plastics
Polythene and Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) are
examples of thermoplastics. ey are used to
make articles which need to be exible and
do not need to be heat-resistant. ey are
commonly used in making containers, bottles,
toys, handbags, shoes, etc.
Fig.6 Some of the objects made of thermoplastic
ermosetting Plastics
ere are some plastics which do not get so
once they are moulded into plastic objects. ese
plastics are heated once and moulded into
articles of any desired shape. Once moulded into
a shape and cooled, they become hard and
brittle. ey lose their exibility and can break if
we try to remould them. If these plastic articles
are heated again, they do not become so.
ermosetting plastics are those plastics
which cannot be soened repeatedly on
heating, and cannot be easily moulded into
different shapes. ese plastics once moulded,
retain their shape permanently, even on heating.
Bakelite and Melamine are examples of
thermosetting plastics. ey are used to make
articles which need to be heat-resistant and hard.
ey are commonly used in making electric
switches, handles of cooking utensils, plates,
cups, ballpoint pens, telephone instruments, etc.
51

Fig.7 Some of the objects made of
thermosetting plastic
PROPERTIES OF PLASTICS
e general properties of all plastics are as
follows:
1. Plastics are chemically unreactive. Plastics
do not react easily with air or water.
erefore, unlike metals, they do not suffer
from corrosion. ey also do not react with
other substances like acids, bases and other
chemical compounds. erefore, plastic
containers are used to store various kinds of
materials. Plastic containers are also
favoured for storing food.
2. Plastics are lightweight, strong and
durable. Plastics have low density and are
generally lighter than metal. Since they are
unreactive, they are also long-lasting
(durable). ey are widely used in making
household and industrial products like-
water bottles, containers, mugs, and jars.
Table: Time taken by materials to degenerate
Type of Wastes
Peels of vegetables and fruits, leover foodstuff, etc.
Paper
Cotton cloth
Wood
Woollen clothes
Tin, aluminium and other metal cans
Plastic bags
52 Exploring Science-8
is property also makes them useful to be
used in aeroplanes and spaceships.
3. Plastics are poor conductors of heat and
electricity. Plastics do not get heated up
like metals. Plastics also do not conduct
electricity. erefore, they are used as
insulators. ey are used to make handles for
kitchen utensils, heating pans, etc. Plastics
are also used as electrical insulators. ey are
used in making electric wires, switches,
plugs and sockets. e handle of the
screwdrivers used by an electrician is also
made of plastic and protects the electrician
from electric shock.
4. Plastics are cheap and are easily made.
Plastics are cheaper than metals and other
materials. ey are easy to synthesise.
5. Plastics can be moulded into different
shapes. ey can easily be moulded into a
large variety of objects.
6. Plastics are non-biodegradable. Plastics do
not get decomposed by microorganisms.
is quality makes them insect and microbe-
resistant and they last long. Almost all the
plastic ever made still exists. It is estimated
by scientists that it takes up to 1000 years for
the plastic to decompose.
Approximate Time
Nature of Material
Taken to Degenerate
1 to 2 weeks Biodegradable
10 to 30 days Biodegradable
2 to 5 months Biodegradable
10 to 15 years Biodegradable
About a year Biodegradable
100 to 500 years Non-biodegradable
More than 500 years Non-biodegradable
 Knowledge Booster
Ÿ Extensive use of plas c is found in the healthcare industry, like the packaging of tablets, threads used for s tching
wounds, syringes, doctors’ gloves and several medical instruments.
Ÿ Special plas c cookware is used in microwave ovens for cooking food. In microwave ovens, the heat cooks the food
but does not affect the plas c vessel.
Ÿ Teflon is a special plas c on which oil and water do not s ck. It is used for non-s ck coa ng on cookwares.
Ÿ Fire-proof plas cs: Although synthe c fibre catches fire easily, it is interes ng to know that the uniforms of
firemen have a coa ng of melamine plas c to make them flame-resistant.

PLASTICS AND THE ENVIRONMENT
We now know the various advantages of using
plastics. ey have proven to be a huge boon to
the society. e use of plastics has saved a lot of
natural resources and at the same time made
almost everything cheaper. However, besides
being a boon, plastic is also proving to be a curse
because of its non-biodegradable nature. Most of
the substances which we use and dispose of, like
paper, cloth, wood, organic wastes, etc., get
destroyed in a period of time by the action of air,
water, heat and microorganisms.
Harmful Effects of Excessive Plastic Use
u Excessive and unwise use of plastic has led to
the accumulation of plastic everywhere. As a
result, all land lls and open dumps are lled
with plastic waste.
u e burning of plastic leads to the generation
of toxic fumes, which are injurious to health,
and also causes air pollution.
u Waste is thrown in plastic bags everywhere. It
is highly advised not to do so. Grazing animals
swallow these plastic bags and get harmed.
Polythene bags in the garbage are responsible
for the death of stray animals especially, cattle.
e polythene bags accumulate in their
stomach causing death by choking their
alimentary canal.
u Plastic dumped in water bodies causes the
death of many sh, turtles and other aquatic
animals.
u Polythene, plastic bottles and containers are
thrown everywhere. They degrade the
natural beauty of a place.
u Polythene bags clog the soil and affect its
fertility. Polythene bags thrown carelessly on
the roads get into drains and accumulate
there. ey choke the drains and damage the
sewage system.
u Many health problems arise because of the
storage of cooked food items in recycled
polythene bags. Food items can get
contaminated with poisonous dyes used in
making polythene.
u Manufacturing of plastics involves the
c onsu mpt i on of a l arge amou nt of
petroleum, which is an exhaustible natural
resource.
How to Minimise Overuse of Plastic
Some of the steps that can be taken to save the
environment from the menace of plastic are:
u We should reduce the use of plastic wherever
possible by minimising the use of polythene
bags. We should carry our own jute or cloth
bags when we go shopping.
u Plastic bottles and containers should be
reused.
u The burning of plastic items should be
avoided.
u Plastic wastes should be recycled or
segregated and sent to plastic-making

Synthetic Fibres and Plastics 53

 factories where they can be melted and
re-moulded into other items.
u e government should take strict measures
to ban or restrict the usage of single-use
plastic bags. At the same time, the use of
other alternatives, like paper and jute bags,
glass bottles, steel lunch boxes, etc., should
also be promoted.
u As a responsible citizen, always remember
the 5R principle—Reduce, Reuse, Recycle,
Recover and Refuse. Develop habits which
are environment friendly.

Table: Advantages and disadvantages of some properties of plastics

Properties Advantages Disadvantages
Remain in the environment undecomposed for
Durability Long life
a long time.
Resistant to
Useful for making different containers. Remain unchanged in garbage.
chemicals
Recycling of plastics is very costly and is
Can be melted to form various kinds of
Can be recycled associated with respiratory problems due to
products, like toys, containers, bottles, etc.
inhalation of toxic fumes.

Checkpoint-2
Fill in the blanks
1. All plastics are made of petroleum products called ______________.
2. ______________ is a kind of plastic on which oil and water do not stick.
3. Use paper or cloth bags instead of ______________ bags.
4. Plastics can be ______________ into different shapes.
5. Plastics are ______________ conductors of heat and electricity.

Keywords
Polymers : A long chain molecule made up of small repeating units.
Monomers : Single repeating units of a polymer.
Polymerisation : e process of making polymers by linking monomers together.
Synthetic bres : Man-made bres that are made up of synthetic polymers.
Rayon : A synthetic bre, also known as arti cial silk.
Acrylic : A synthetic bre, also known as arti cial wool.
PET : Polyethylene Terephthalate; a form of polyester.
Plastic : A synthetic polymer which can be moulded into any desired shape.
ermoplastic : Plastic that can be re-moulded.
ermosetting plastic : Plastic that cannot be re-moulded.

54 Exploring Science-8
 Points to Remember
u e clothes that we wear are made of fabrics. Fabrics could be made of natural or synthetic bres.
u Synthetic bres are man-made bres that are made up of synthetic polymers.
u Polymers are long-chain molecules made up of small repeating units.
u Rayon, nylon, polyester and acrylic are commonly used synthetic bres.
u Nylon was the world’s rst fully synthetic bre.
u Polyester is a general name for all synthetic bres made using esters.
u Rayon is also known as arti cial silk, and acrylic is also known as arti cial wool.
u e different types of bres vary from one another in their strength, water-absorbing capacity,
nature of burning, cost, durability, etc.
u Plastics are a type of synthetic material made of polymers which can be moulded into any
desired shape and converted into useful articles.
u All plastics are made of petroleum products called petrochemicals.
u e monomers in a plastic can be arranged in a linear manner or a cross-linked manner.
u Based on the effect of heat, plastics are categorised into thermoplastics and thermosetting plastics.
u Plastics which can be re-moulded are called thermoplastics. For example, polythene and PVC.
u Plastics which cannot be re-moulded are called thermosetting plastics. For example, bakelite
and melamine.
u Plastics are lightweight, corrosion-free, durable and poor conductors of heat and electricity.
u Plastics are a hazard to the environment. Upon burning, plastic releases toxic gases. On
dumping in the ground, they may take years to decompose. is is because of their non-
biodegradable nature.
u We need to use plastic sensibly, so as to minimise the environmental hazard it causes for the
living communities.

Exercise
A. Tick (3) the Correct Option
1. Natural bres are obtained from:
(a) plants (b) animals
(c) both plants and animals (d) plastics
2. Which of the following is an example of synthetic bre?
(a) Cotton (b) Jute
(c) Rayon (d) Silk

Synthetic Fibres and Plastics 55

 3. ______________ was the world’s rst fully synthetic bre.
(a) Rayon (b) Nylon
(c) Acrylic (d) Polyester
4. Plastics are:
(a) good conductor of heat (b) good conductor of electricity
(c) mouldable and strong (d) corrosive
5. ______________ is used for non-stick coating on cooking utensils.
(a) Te on (b) Bakelite
(c) Melamine (d) Polyvinyl chloride
B. Fill in the Blanks with Suitable Words
1. e clothes which we wear are made of ______________.
2. e word ‘polymer’ comes from two Greek words ______________ and ______________.
3. ______________ is the rst synthetic bre produced arti cially.
4. ______________ absorbs less water and dries quickly.
5. ______________ is a mixture of polyester and wool.
C. Very Short-Answer-Type Questions
1. What are bres?
2. What does the word ‘poly’ in polymer mean?
3. Name three synthetic bres.
4. What are polymers?
5. What are synthetic bres?
6. Which bre is also known as arti cial silk?
7. Which chemical compound is used to make all polyester bres?
8. Give two examples of blended fabrics.
9. Natural bres are more expensive than synthetic bres. True or false?
10. What are plastics?
11. We can tell whether a plastic is a thermoplastic or a thermosetting plastic from the way it
behaves on heating. True or false?
12. Name two items that can be used as an alternative to polythene bags.
D. Short-Answer-Type Questions
1. What are bres? Show the types of bres with the help of a ow chart. Give an example of
each type.
2. With the help of a diagram, show how monomers are linked to form polymers.
3. How was rayon invented?
4. What are the uses of nylon?
5. Mention some uses of polyester.
56 Exploring Science-8
 6. Differentiate between synthetic and natural bres.
7. Name four different plastics and their usages.
8. Write a short note on the structure of plastic.
9. Why are plastic containers favoured for storing food?
10. How is the use of plastic bags harmful to the health of terrestrial as well as aquatic animals?
E. Long-Answer-Type Questions
1. Mention four advantages and four disadvantages of using synthetic bre.
2. Differentiate between thermoplastics and thermosetting plastics, with the help of an
example.
3. Write a brief note on the general properties of plastics.
4. What are the harmful effects of excessive use of plastics?
5. What steps can be taken to minimise the overuse of plastics?

HOTS
1. Priyam wants to buy a shirt for summer. Should he buy a cotton shirt or a shirt made from
synthetic material? Advise Priyam by giving your reasons.
2. e handle and the bristles of a toothbrush are made of different kinds of plastics. Why do
you think different kinds of plastics are required in making the handle and the bristles of a
toothbrush? What would happen if we made the bristles of a toothbrush from the same kind
of plastic which is used to make its handle?

Activity Zone
Project Work

A. Organise a debate in your class on the topic: Plastic—A boon or a bane.

B. Nowadays, biodegradable plastics are being developed. With the help of the internet, nd out
more about biodegradable plastics. Find out what materials are used to make them. Make a
report on your ndings and share your observations on how feasible it is to make them and what
are the challenges of producing them at a large scale.
C. In Classes VI and VII, we studied about the manufacturing process of different kinds of natural
fabrics, like cotton, wool and silk. Find out how synthetic clothes are manufactured.

Science Excursion

D. Visit a local tailor. Try to enquire about the type of synthetic and blended fabrics he/she stores in
his/her shop. Try to nd out the advantages and disadvantages of each type of fabric. Touch and
feel all the clothing fabrics and mention your observations in your notebook along with the
various uses of different kinds of fabrics.

Synthetic Fibres and Plastics 57

 Memory Map 1

Much More Inexpensive Smooth

stronger durable texture Wrinkle-free

properties

SYNTHETIC
FIBRES
types

Rayon Nylon Polyester Acrylic

Memory Map 2

Strong Chemically Poor conductor

Light-weight & durable unreactive of heat & electricity Non-biodegradable

properties

PLASTICS

types

ermoplastic ermosetting plastic

Easily remoldable Non-remoldable

e-Resources
Please visit the link given below or scan the QR code for more resources
on this chapter:
https://www.megamindpublication.com/s-5-science/b-4-exploring-science-8/c-47/synthetic- bres-
and-plastics.html

58 Exploring Science-8