Alexandria University

Specialised Scientific Programs

Gas and Petrochemical Engineering Program

GPE 201/CHE 146 Principles of Material Science and Engineering

Plastic

Submitted to : ENG-Soha

Name :Aya Allah Mahmoud

ID:5632

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Table of Contents
Introduction ............................................................................................................. 3
Types of plastics ...................................................................................................... 3
Recycling of plastic .................................................................................................. 7
Properties of plastic ................................................................................................. 8
References…………………………………………………………………………9

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Introduction
Plastics, materials made up of large, organic (carbon-containing) molecules that can be formed
into a variety of products. The molecules that compose plastics are long carbon chains that give
plastics many of their useful properties. In general, materials that are made up of long, chainlike
molecules are called polymers. The word plastic is derived from the words plasticus (Latin for
“capable of molding”) and plastikos (Greek “to mold,” or “fit for molding”). Plastics can be
made hard as stone, strong as steel, transparent as glass, light as wood, and elastic as rubber.
Plastics are also lightweight, waterproof, chemical resistant, and produced in almost any color.
More than 50 families of plastics have been produced, and new types are currently under
development Like metals, plastics come in a variety of grades. For instance, nylons are plastics
that are separated by different properties, costs, and the manufacturing processes used to produce
them. Also, like metals, some plastics can be alloyed, or blended, to combine the advantages
possessed by several different plastics. For example, some types of impact-resistant
(shatterproof) plastics and heat-resistant plastics are made by blending different plastics together.
Plastics are moldable, synthetic (chemically fabricated) materials derived mostly from fossil
fuels, such as oil, coal, or natural gas. The raw forms of other materials, such as glass, metals,
and clay, are also moldable. The key difference between these materials and plastics is that
plastics consist of long molecules that give plastics many of their unique properties, while glass,
metals, and clay consist of short molecules.

[1]

Types of plastics

Depending on physical properties, plastics are divided into two types: Thermoplastic and
thermosetting.

1. thermoplastic: Plastics that can be deformed easily upon heating

and can be bent easily. Linear polymers and a combination of
linear and cross-linked polymers come under thermoplastics.
Example: PVC, nylon, polythene, etc.

2. Thermosetting: Plastics that cannot be softened again by heating

once they are moulded. Heavily cross-linked polymers come under

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 the category of thermosetting plastics. Example: Bakelite,
melamine, etc. Bakelite is used for making electrical switches
whereas melamine is used for floor tiles.

[2]

The first step is to simply know the core basics for the types of plastic that we most encounter,
numbered according to their recycling codes. Here’s a short guide:

1) Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET or PETE)

This is one of the most commonly used plastics. It’s lightweight, strong, typically transparent
and is often used in food packaging and fabrics (polyester).

Examples: Beverage bottles, Food bottles/jars (salad dressing, peanut butter, honey, etc.) and
polyester clothing or rope.

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Beverage bottles are among the most common PET products.

2) High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE)

Collectively, Polyethylene is the most common plastics in the world, but it’s classified into three
types: High-Density, Low-Density and Linear Low-Density. High-Density Polyethylene is
strong and resistant to moisture and chemicals, which makes it ideal for cartons, containers,
pipes and other building materials.

Examples: Milk cartons, detergent bottles, cereal box liners, toys, buckets, park benches and
rigid pipes.

3) Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC or Vinyl)

This hard and rigid plastic is resistant to chemicals and weathering, making it desired for
building and construction applications; while the fact that it doesn’t conduct electricity makes it
common for high-tech applications, such as wires and cable. It’s also widely used in medical
applications because it’s impermeable to germs, is easily disinfected and provides single-use
applications that reduce infections in healthcare. On the flip side, we must note that PVC is the
most dangerous plastic to human health, known to leach dangerous toxins throughout its entire
lifecycle (eg: lead, dioxins, vinyl chloride).

Examples: Plumbing pipes, credit cards, human and pet toys, rain gutters, teething rings, IV
fluid bags and medical tubing and oxygen masks.

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Medical bags and tubing are a common Polyvinyl Chloride product

4) Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE)

A softer, clearer, and more flexible version of HDPE. It’s often used as a liner inside beverage
cartons, and in corrosion-resistant work surfaces and other products.

Examples: Plastic/cling wrap, sandwich and bread bags, bubble wrap, garbage bags, grocery
bags and beverage cups.

5) Polypropylene (PP)

This is one of the most durable types of plastic. It is more heat resistant than some others, which
makes it ideal for such things as food packaging and food storage that’s made to hold hot items
or be heated itself. It’s flexible enough to allow for mild bending, but it retains its shape and
strength for a long time.

Examples: Straws, bottle caps, prescription bottles, hot food containers, packaging tape,
disposable diapers and DVD/CD boxes

6) Polystyrene (PS or Styrofoam)

Better known as Styrofoam, this rigid plastic is low-cost and insulates very well, which has made
it a staple in the food, packaging and construction industries. Like PVC, polystyrene is

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considered to be a dangerous plastic. It can easily leach harmful toxins such as styrene (a
neurotoxin), which can easily then be absorbed by food and thus ingested by humans.

Examples: Cups, takeout food containers, shipping and product packaging, egg cartons, cutlery
and building insulation.

Polystyrene, more commonly known as styrofoam

7) Other

Ah yes, the infamous “other” option! This category is a catch-all for other types of plastic that
don’t belong in any of the other six categories or are combinations of multiple types. We include
it because you might occasionally come across the #7 recycling code, so it’s important to know
what it means. The most important thing here is that these plastics aren’t typically recyclable.

Examples: Eyeglasses, baby and sports bottles, electronics, CD/DVDs, lighting fixtures and
clear plastic cutlery.

[3]

Recycling of Plastic

• Recycling of plastic is very important. If they are not recycled at

the proper time, then they get mixed with other chemicals or
materials and hence become more difficult to recycle and become a
source of pollution.

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 • They are non-biodegradable, and they do not get decomposed by
the microbial action.

• To avoid this, it is important to use biopolymers or biodegradable

polymers.

[4]

Properties of Plastics
• They are light in weight and are chemically stable.

• Easily moulded into different shapes and sizes.

• Good insulation and low thermal conductivity.

• Good impact resistance and they do not rust.

• Good transparency and wear resistance.

• Poor dimensional stability and can be easily deformed.

• Low processing cost.

[5]

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References

• https://www.academia.edu/29067197/Plastic_pdf [1]
• https://byjus.com/chemistry/plastics/ [2]
• https://plasticoceans.org/7-types-of-plastic/ [3]
• https://byjus.com/chemistry/plastics/ [4]
• https://www.vedantu.com/chemistry/properties-of-plastics [5]

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