Training Programme on “Plastics”

What do we think when we hear -plastic products??

Plastics is indispensable for our

life and industries.
Things used on a
*Routine basis-daily necessities,
packaging, materials,various
parts of household appliances,
construction materials.
* Automotive parts, exteriors,
and interiors, to those that are
used in hidden places Morning face wash- we s ee the
plastic cabinet of wash stand.
The tooth brush, tooth paste
tube, shaver body hairbrush,
and dryer are mostly made of
plas tic.
We live in a house which can be
called a “house of plastics”.
Incidentally, the ala rm clock is
also made of plas tic.

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 Plastics????
• Definition: Plastics may be defined as the organic polymer being materials of high
molecular weight that can be easily molded or shaped by mechanical and chemical
action.
• These molecules are made up of long chain molecules are based on Carbon and
Hydrogen
• Plastics are Macromolecular structured Polymer.
• Polymer is made up of many repeating simple chemical units, known as Monomer.
• All Plastics are Polymers-----But All Polymers are not Plastics, they may be Fibres,
Elastomers (rubbers) or adhesives.
• In simple words plastic is one of the family member of polymers.

Jaw A

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Structure :
•Monomer - Single unit, The building block for polymer molecules.

•Polymer- Many monomer units strung together to make long molecules.

•Polymerization- The process of combining short molecules to make long molecules.

Types of polymerization:
1) Addition Polymerization : The polymerization method that adds short molecules ( monomers)
together to make long molecules ( Polymer ).
Examples: Polyethylene, Polypropylene.etc.

2) Condensation Polymerization: another method of polymerization that produces a polymer and

a by product , often water.
Examples: Polyesters, Nylons, Polycarbonate, etc..

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 ADVANTAGES OF USING PLASTICS

• Light in weight
• Higher strength to weight ratio
• Wider design freedom
• Easy Processability
• Low Energy Required for Manufacturing
• Minimum post finishing required
• Corrosion Resistant.
• Good electrical & Thermal resistance
• Better aesthetics
• Wide color range & Transparent
• Reusability

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 Thermoplastic & Thermoset
• Thermoplastics are materials that can be repeatedly heated, melted and converted into a
product.
Ex: Nylon, Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS), Poly Phenylene Oxide (PPO), PBT

Thermosets undergo a chemical reaction during conversion into a product. The product cannot
be re-melted and converted into another product again.
Ex: Epoxy, Phenol Formaldehyde (PF), Urea Formaldehyde (UF),

Commercial classification

Commodity polymers such as Polyethylene (PE), Low

Polypropylene (PP), Polystyrene (PS), Polyvinyl Chloride Performance
(PVC)
Intermediate polymers – Polymethyl Methacrylate
(PMMA), Acrlyonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene(ABS)
Engineering polymers – Polycarbonate, Nylons,
Polyphenylene Sulphide(PPS)
Advanced/High performance polymers – Liquid-Crystal
Polymer (LCP), Polyetheretherketone(PEEK), High
Polyethersulfone(PES) Performance

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 Commodity Plastics
Packaging:
Bags for grocery, garbage, shopping, milk pouches,
liners for woven sacks, garment packing, cellular foams
for packaging.

Medical:
Bottles for packing fluids, Saline.
Bottle caps and inner seals.
Tubes for saline sets, gases, fluids, etc.
Disposable syringes, Kidney Trays, Sterilizable Medical
wares

Agriculture:
Irrigation Pipes, film for green houses, nursery bags,
canal liners, mulching films etc.

Electrical:
Wire coating, electrical and telephone cable sheathing.

Automotive:
Fuel tanks,decorative covers on car wheels, car door
interiors, petrol cans & caps.

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 Engineering Plastics

Characteristics of Engineering Plastics

• Excellent Dimension Stability
• High Mechanical strength
• Retention of Mechanical Properties at low & high temp
• High Impact Strength at low & high temperature
• Low Co-efficient of friction
• High Heat Distortion Temperature
• High abrasion resistance
• Low Shrinkage & warpage

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 Thermoset Plastics
Applications
• Appliances: Handles of Iron, Pressure cooker, Ovens, heat proof buttons, bottle closures,

• Household: Particle boards, bathroom fixtures, toilet seat covers,

• Automotive: Auto coil tops, disk brake pistons, disconnect boxes, propellers, brake linings, gears, clutch disks,
lamp sockets,

• Electrical/Electronics: Fuse boxes, lamp sockets, fan regulator covers, telephone handsets,

• Industrial/Mechanical: grinding wheels, bobbins and sleeves, Tool handles, industrial items, textile components,
textile drums, welding torches.

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 Characteristics of Thermoset Plastics

•Hard, stiff & brittle

•Does not melt or soften on exposure to heat

•Excellent creep resistance

•Good ageing properties

•Excellent flexural fatigue resistance

•Heat resistant

•Good dimensional stability

•Very good shear strength

•Good chemical resistance, insulation properties

•Easy to mould

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 Plastic Behavior

A) In the machine & Mold

The internal structure of the product is determined by the four plastics processing
variables ( Temp, Pressure, Flow rate & cooling rate).
1) Temperature: Moves the molecules further apart, Increase the ability to flow
2) Pressure: increase in pressure forces molecules closer together
3) Flow rate: causes the polymer molecules to orient in the direction of flow.
4) Cooling rate : move molecules closer together, reduces flow rate, reduce non oriented

B) Post molding shrinkage:

• The stress that are molded in the parts caused continued shrinkage after molding.

• Shrinkage may continues for hours, days or even weeks after molding.

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 Additives used in plastics
1) Heat Stabilizers : Added to protect the plastic from degradation by heat.
2) Anti-Oxidants : Chemicals put in plastics to reduce the effects of Oxygen attack on
the polymer.
3) Ultra- Violet light Stabilizers : UV Stabilizers help to reduce the damaging effects of
Sunlight on plastics.
4) Other additives are:
* Colorants ( Master batch )
* Foaming agents
* Lubricants
* Plasticizers
* Flame retardant
5) Reinforcements: Glass fibers and minerals that increase the physical properties of the
plastics.
6) Fillers :Low cost materials like Mica, Chalk and Wood powder are used to reduce the
cost and may improve some physical properties of the plastics.

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