Generally most people don't give a great deal of thought to plastic, but this substance is useful and used in virtually every industry in the world. You might think that all plastics are the same, but there are several different kinds of plastic. One kind that is used to make many items we use every day as well as most types of plastic packaging is called thermoplastic. This type of plastic is heated and then molded into whatever shape is needed, thus the "thermo" portion of the word thermoplastic. All plastics are made using polymers, and here are a few of the polymers that are commonly used for thermoplastics.
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 so commonly used that most people can probably think of at least one item made from this synthetic polymer, which is a type of thermoplastic. Created by a chemist named Wallace Carothers at the DuPont Experimental Station in the 1930s, one of nylon's first uses occurred in World War II when silk was not readily available to make parachutes. Nylon was easy to mass-produce, durable and resistant to mold and insects. Nylon is also far less expensive to produce than silk, which is certainly a consideration. After the war, the use of nylon continued to increase, and it is used to make thousands of products including rope, women's stockings, clothing, tents, carpeting, music strings and much more.
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; however, it also is used to make gears, bearings, fuel lines, computer mice and items made out of Gore-Tex.
We all have seen PVC pipes, and this is yet another thermoplastic with a much longer scientific name - Poly(vinyl chloride). PVC is highly durable and very inexpensive, so it makes an excellent substitute for various types of metal pipes. In fact, about half of the world's pipes are made of PVC. Sometimes flooring, furniture and, strangely, clothing is made out of PVC. When it comes to clothing, PVC is cheap and can be produced to mimic leather or rubber clothing. The "v" in PVC stands for vinyl and many vinyl products are made with PVC, such as shower curtains, credit cards, tablecloths, straws, hoses, fencing, siding, plastic bags and many more items.
There are a few other types of thermoplastics, and consumers might not know the names, but they certainly are familiar with the products. When you buy liquid laundry detergent or buy a plastic gasoline container, these items are made out of polyethylene, which is strong enough to hold many abrasive chemicals. Many reusable and microwave-safe plastic containers are made with a type of plastic known as polypropylene. Styrofoam cups, plates and packing materials are made from a special type of thermoplastic called polystyrene.
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 so commonly used that most people can probably think of at least one item made from this synthetic polymer, which is a type of thermoplastic. Created by a chemist named Wallace Carothers at the DuPont Experimental Station in the 1930s, one of nylon's first uses occurred in World War II when silk was not readily available to make parachutes. Nylon was easy to mass-produce, durable and resistant to mold and insects. Nylon is also far less expensive to produce than silk, which is certainly a consideration. After the war, the use of nylon continued to increase, and it is used to make thousands of products including rope, women's stockings, clothing, tents, carpeting, music strings and much more.
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; however, it also is used to make gears, bearings, fuel lines, computer mice and items made out of Gore-Tex.
We all have seen PVC pipes, and this is yet another thermoplastic with a much longer scientific name - Poly(vinyl chloride). PVC is highly durable and very inexpensive, so it makes an excellent substitute for various types of metal pipes. In fact, about half of the world's pipes are made of PVC. Sometimes flooring, furniture and, strangely, clothing is made out of PVC. When it comes to clothing, PVC is cheap and can be produced to mimic leather or rubber clothing. The "v" in PVC stands for vinyl and many vinyl products are made with PVC, such as shower curtains, credit cards, tablecloths, straws, hoses, fencing, siding, plastic bags and many more items.
There are a few other types of thermoplastics, and consumers might not know the names, but they certainly are familiar with the products. When you buy liquid laundry detergent or buy a plastic gasoline container, these items are made out of polyethylene, which is strong enough to hold many abrasive chemicals. Many reusable and microwave-safe plastic containers are made with a type of plastic known as polypropylene. Styrofoam cups, plates and packing materials are made from a special type of thermoplastic called polystyrene.
About the Author:
Lenna Stockwell loves blogging about how stuff is made. For further info about thermoformed packaging or to know more about industrial thermoform, please visit the Indepak website today.
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