PLASTIC

A.Raw material needed

The raw materials needed for making plastics are oil and natural gas. The plastics
production often begins by treating component of crude oil or natural gas in cracking oil or
natural gas in a cracking process. This process results in the conversion of these components into
hydrocarbon monomers as ethylene and propylene. These monomers are then chemically bonded
into chains called polymers.

B. Physical Properties of plastics

1. Plastics can be very resistant to chemicals.
2. Plastics can be both thermal and electrical insulators.
3. Plastics are generally very light in weight with varying degrees of strength.
4. Polymers are materials with a seemingly limitless range of characteristics.
C.Chemically properties of plastics
Plastics can be very resistant to chemicals.

Uses of plastics
Plastics are used a lot by doctors and dentists because they are hygienic and will not poison our
bodies. Dentists use acrylic to make special white fillings.

Many clothes are made from synthetic fabrics. The fabrics are made from plastic fibres that have
been spun out really fine, then made into yarns for knitting or weaving.

Plastic fibres are also used to make ropes that are very strong. Fishing lines are made of nylon.

Teflon coatings on saucepans and irons are sprayed on as dry powder then baked in a hot oven to
make the particles melt together. This is called powder coating and it is also used to put a very
tough layer of epoxy or polyester on metal articles like furniture.

Many types of glue are plastics.