Plastic is a synthetic material made from a wide range

of organic polymers such as polyethylene, PVC, nylon,

etc., that can be moulded into shape while soft, and

then set into a rigid or slightly elastic form.

 Organic
Polymers + Carbon + O 2 +

Nitrogen + Sulphur

Organic Polymers may include:

CHA LK , STA RCH, IV ORY D UST, WOOD FL
O O R , ZI N C OX I D E
There are many ways of classifying plastics. They can
be classified considering various aspects, as according
to their:

1. Behaviour with respect to heating,

2. Structure, and
3. Physical and mechanical properties.
 Physical and
Behaviour with
respect to heating Structure mechanical
properties

Rigid Plastics
Thermo-
Homogeneous
plastics Semi-rigid
Plastics

Thermo- Heterogeneou
Soft Plastics
setting s

Elastomers
Basic difference between Thermoplastics and Thermosetting
plastics

THERMOPLASTICS
Thermoplastics variety
softens by heat and hardens
when cooled down. It can be
used by remolding as many
times as required.
THERMO-SETTING
PLASTICS
Thermosetting plastics can
not be reused .This variety
requires a great pressure and
momentary heat during
molding which hardens on
cooling.
The thermo-plastic or heat non-convertible group is the general
term applied to the plastics which becomes soft when heated and
hard when cooled.
 Thermoplastic materials can be cooled and heated several times.
 They can be recycled.
 When thermoplastics are heated, they melt to a liquid. They also
freeze to a glassy state when cooled enough.
 Thermoplastic can be moulded into any shape.
 PROPERTIES

 It may melt before passing to a gaseous state.

 Allow plastic deformation when it is heated.
 They are brittle and glossy.
 They are soluble in certain solvents.
 Swell in the presence of certain solvents.
 Good resistance to creep.
 Examples and applications of thermoplastic plastic materials

Thermoplastic materials have many features. Some products made from

thermoplastic materials are used for electronic applications. They protect
against electrostatic discharge and radio frequency interference.
 High pressure polyethylene as applied to rigid material covered with
electrical machines, tubes, etc...
 Low pressure polyethylene elastic material used for insulation of electrical
cables, etc...
 Polystyrene applied for electrical insulation, handles of tools...
 Polyamide used for making ropes, belts, etc...
 P VC or polyvinyl chloride for the manufacture of insulation materials,
pipes, containers, etc...
The thermo-setting or heat convertible group is the general term
applied to the plastics which become rigid when moulded at suitable
pressure and temperature.
This type of plastic passes originally through thermo-plastic stage.
When they are heated in temperature range of 127 Cͦ to 177 ͦ C , they
set permanently and further application of heat does not alter their
form or soften them.
 But at the temperature of about 343 C, the charring occurs. This
charring is a peculiar characteristic of the organic substances.
 PROPERTIES

These are soluble in alcohol and certain organic solvents,

when they are in thermo-plastic stage. This property is utilized
for making paints and varnishes from these plastics.
 These are durable, strong and hard.
 They are available in a variety of beautiful colours.
 They are mainly used in engineering application of plastics.

*Melamine
Crockeries
 APPLICATIONS

Epoxies
Properties: good dimensional stability, excellent mechanical and
electrical properties, good resistance to heat and chemicals
Applications: electrical components requiring strength, tools and
dies, fiber reinforced epoxies are used in structural components,
tanks, pressure vessels, rocket motor casing

Phenolics
Properties: good dimensional stability, rigid, high resistance to
heat,
water, electricity, and chemicals

Applications: laminated panels, handles, knobs, electrical

components; connectors, insulators
 APPLICATIONS

Polyesters (thermosetting, reinforced with glass fibers)

Properties: good mechanical, electrical, and chemical properties, good
resistance to heat and chemicals
Applications: boats, luggage, swimming pools, automotive bodies,
chairs

Silicones
Properties: excellent electrical properties over a wide rang
of temperature and humidity, good heat and chemical properties
Applications: electrical components requiring strength at high temp.,
waterproof materials, heat seals
 General Uses

 Electronic chips
 Fibre-reinforced composites
 Polymeric coatings
 Spectacle lenses
 Dental fillings
 NATURAL POLYMERS
Thermoplastic polymer
(Chemical composition do
not change on heating)
Remouldable Polymers
These are brittle,
glossy, elasticity,
flexible
Eg: Polyethylene,
Polypropylene, Polystyrene,
PVC
SYNTHETIC POLYMER
Thermosetting polymer
(Irreversible chemical
process)
Non-remouldable Polymers
They possess matt effect,
elasticity, and are flexible
Eg: Rubber, Nylon, Glass
Fibre, Cork
Homogeneous Heterogeneous
Plastics Plastics
This variety of plastic contains carbon chain i.e. the plastics of this

group are composed only of carbon atoms and they exhibit

homogeneous structure.

Heterogeneous plastics
This variety of plastic is composed of the chain containing carbon

and oxygen, the nitrogen and other elements and they exhibit

heterogeneous structure.
 Semi-rigid
Rigid Plastics
Plastics

Soft Plastics Elastomers

These plastics have a high modulus of elasticity and they
retain their shape under exterior stresses applied at normal
or moderately increased temperatures.

Semi-Rigid
plastics
These plastics have a medium modulus of elasticity and the
elongation under pressure completely disappears, when
pressure is removed.
These plastics have a low modulus of elasticity and the
elongation under pressure disappears slowly, when
pressure is removed.
 Soft plastics are available in a large range of colours, sizes
and particularly shapes.
USES: Used in making children’s toys eg: rattles etc., fishing
baits.
 Elastomers
These plastics are soft and elastic materials with a low
modulus of elasticity. They deform considerably under load
at room temperature and return to their original shape,
when the load is released. The extensions can range upto ten
times their original dimensions.
Biodegradable plastic decomposes in the natural environment.
It is produced from biopolymers called polyhydroxyalkanoate
(PHA). This material is completely biodegradable.
Biodegradation of plastics can be achieved by enabling
microorganisms in the environment to metabolize the molecular
structure of plastic films to produce an inert humus like material
that is harmful to environment.
 The use of bio-active compounds compounded with swelling
agents ensures that, when combined with heat and moisture,
they
expand the plastic’s molecular structure and allow the bio-active
compounds to metabolise and neutralize the plastic.
 Under proper conditions biodegradable plastics can degrade to

the point where microorganisms can metabolize them.

This reduces the problems with litter and reduces harmful

effects on wildlife.

However degradation of biodegradable plastic occurs very

slowly.

Proper composting methods are required to degrade the plastic,

which may actually contribute to carbon dioxide emissions.

Some of the moulding components are:
 Catalyst
 Fillers
 Hardeners
 Lubricants
 Pigments
 Plasticizers
 Solvents
 These components are added to assist and accelerate the
hardening of resins.
 For instance, the ester acts as catalyst for urea formaldehyde.
 They are used for quick and complete polymerization.
 The fillers are inert materials and they impart strength,
hardness and other properties to the plastic.
 The choice of filler should be carefully made.
It should be confirmed that the addition of a filler does not have
detrimental effect on other properties of plastic.
 The filler may be used in the following forms-
 Fibrous fillers
 Laminated fillers
 Power fillers
 These compounds are added to increase the hardness of resin.
 For instance, the hexamethylene tetramine acts as hardeners
for phenol formaldehyde.
 The lubricants are applied on the surface of moulds so that the
articles of plastic do not stick to the moulds.
The application of lubricants on surface of moulds allows easy
removal of articles of plastic from the moulds.
 The commonly used lubricants are graphite, parafine, wax,
etc.
The addition of dyes and pigments helps in two ways, namely, they act as
fillers
an they impart desired colour to the plastic.
 They should be durable and adequately fast to light.
 The commonly used pigments are zinc oxide, barytes, etc.
The selection of pigments should be done in such a way that their addition
does
not alter or affect the other properties of plastic.
A plasticizer is a substance that is added to a material to make it softer and
more flexible, to increase its plasticity, to decrease its viscosity, and/or to
decrease friction during its handling in manufacture.

Plasticizers are commonly added to polymers such as plastics and rubber,

either to facilitate the handling of the raw material during fabrication, or to
meet the demands of the end product's application. For example, plasticizers
are commonly added to polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which otherwise is hard and
brittle, to make it soft and pliable.
 These components are added to dissolve the plasticizers.
For instance the alcohol is added in cellulose nitrate plastics to dissolve
camphor.
 Following are the process involved in the fabrication of articles
of plastics:
 Blowing
 Calendering
 Casting
 Laminating
 Moulding
 This method of lubrication of articles of plastic is more or less the
same as the one employed in the glass industry.
A lump of plastic material is taken and by blowing, it is
converted into hollow plastic articles such as jars, bottles, toys, etc.
 In this process the plastic material is allowed to pass between the
cylindrical rollers.
 The process is used to prepare plain flat sheets of plastics.
The roller may be provided with artistic designs which will
appear on the finished product.
 This process is similar in principle to that of metal casting.
 The resin is heated and when it is in plastic form, it is poured
into the mould.
The curing of articles is then done either with or without the
application of heat.
 During curing the low pressure may be applied if necessary.
This process is used to prepare plastics of beautiful colours and it
is most suitable for cellulose plastics.
In this process, the thermosetting resin are just applied on sheets
of paper, asbestos, cloth, wood, glass, fibre, etc. and they are
subjected to heavy pressure by allowing them to pass through
rollers to form plastic laminates.
 The thickness of sheets varies from 0.12 mm to 15 mm
Due to the pleasing finished surface, they are used for
ornamental and decorative purposes.
This is the most commonly adopted process for the fabrication of plastic
articles.
The general process consist in placing the raw materials in a mould and
then heating it.
 The moulding can be done by various methods:
 Compression moulding
 Extrusion moulding
 Injection moulding
 Jet moulding
 Transfer moulding
NOTE: The choice of moulding method will depend on the article to be
prepared.
MOULDING MACHINE (PROCESS)
A VARIETY OF MOULDED
ARCTICLES
APPEARANCE: Some plastics are completely transparent in appearance.
With the addition of suitable pigments, the plastics can be made to have
appearance of variety of attractive, opaque, stable and translucent colours.

CHEMICAL RESISTANCE: The plastics offer great resistance to moisture,

chemicals and solvents. The degree of chemical resistance depends on the
chemical composition of plastics. Many plastics are found to possess excellent
corrosion resistance. Hence they are used to convey chemicals.

 DIMENSIONAL STABILITY: This property of plastic favours quite

satisfactory with that of other common engineering materials.

DUCTILITY: The plastics possess excellent electric insulating property. They

are far superior to ordinary electric insulators.
 MAINTENANCE: It is easy to maintain plastic surfaces. They do not require
any protective coat of paints.
MELTING POINT: Most of the plastics have low melting point and the
melting point of some plastics is only about 50 ͦ C . They cannot therefore be
used in positions having high temperatures or to convey boiling water.
 OPTICAL PROPERTY: Several types of plastics are transparent and
translucent.
RECYCLING: The most environmentally aware people condemn the use of
plastics for the amount of pollution caused by them in disposal. The plastics
used for soft-drink bottles, milk and juice bottles, bread bags, syrup bottles,
coffee cups, plastic utensils, etc. can be conveniently recycled into carpets,
detergent bottles, drainage pipes, fencing, handrails, grocery bags, car battery
cases, pencil holders, benches, picnic tables, roadside posts, etc.
SOUND ABSORPTION: The acoustical boards are prepared by impregnating
fibre-glass with phenolic resins. This material has absorption coefficient of
about 0.67.
STRENGTH: An ideal section of plastics for structural member has yet not
been designed. The plastics are reasonably strong. The strength of plastics may
be increased by reinforcing with various fibrous materials.
Following considerations are responsible to discourage the use of
plastics as the structural material:
1. The plastics are costly.
2. The plastics are subject to creep under constant heavy loads.
3. The behaviour of plastics is very sensitive to the changes in temperature.
4. The stiffness of plastics is very poor
THERMAL PROPERTY: The thermal conductivity of plastics is low and it can
be compared with that of wood. The foamed or expanded plastics are among
the leading thermal insulators.
WEATHER RESISTANCE: Only limited varieties of plastics can be exposed
to weather. The certain plastics are seriously affected by ultraviolet light in the
presence of sunlight. The resistance to sunlight of such plastics can be
improved by incorporating fillers and pigments which absorb or reflect the
ultraviolet light at the surface. Thus the interior of plastics is protected.
 WEIGHT: The plastics, whether thermo-plastic or thermo-setting, have low
specific gravity, the average being 1.30 to 1.40. The light weight of plastics
reduces the transport costs and facilitates fixing.
There are more than 10000 different kinds of plastics available in the
market and their performance abilities span those of every other known
material from soft rubber to steel.
 The typical uses of plastics in building are summarized as follows:

 Bath and sink units  Jointless flooring

 Cistern ball floats
 Corrugated and plain sheets
Decorative laminates and
mouldings
 Electrical conduits
 Electrical Insulators
 Films for water proofing,
damp
proofing and concrete
curing
 Floor tiles
 Foams for thermal
 Lighting fixtures
 Overhead water tanks
 Paints and varnishes
 Pipes to carry cold water
 Roof lights
 Safety glass
 Wall tiles
 Water resistance adhesives