PLASTICS

INTRODUCTION
 PLSATICS ARE POLYMERS OF CARBON COMPOUNDS.
 THEY ARE CALLED PLASTICS BECAUSE THEIR RESINS
ARE CAPABLE OF PLASTIC DEFORMATION WHEN
HEAT & PRESSURE ARE APPLIED ON THEM.
 MOLECULAR STRUCTURE CONSISTS OF LONG
CHAINS OF LARGE MOLECULES LOOSELY TANGLED
TOGETHER.
 A LARGE NO. OF PLASTICS CAN BE MANUFACTURED
BY CHANGING THE COMPOSITION, LENGTH AND
CHARACTER OF THEIR CHAINS.
 THE FIRST PLASTIC WAS INVENTED BY ALEXANDER
PERKES IN 1865 WAS CALLED PARKESITE.
POLYMERIZATION OF PLASTICS

 THE PROCESS OF PRODUCING RESINS OF

PLASTICS IS CALLED POLYMERIZATION.
 A SUBSTANCE CONTAINING ONE PRIMARY
CHEMICAL IS A MONOMER.
 COMBINING THOUSAND OF MONOMERS AS A
LONG CHAIN OF MOLECULES IS CALLED
POLYMERIZATION.
 THE PRODUCT FORMED IS CALLED A POLYMER.
Eg. Natural rubber.
POLYMERIZATION BY CHEMICAL METHODS
 THREE WAYS:
1.BY ADDITION POLYMERIZATION
In this process the same molecules are made to form a
bigger molecule. Eg. Polythene, PVC.
2. BY CONDENSATION POLYMERIZATION.
In this process, large no. of identical or different
molecules combine and a low molecular substance is
removed. For eg. Terylene, nylon.
3. Co-polymerization

In this process two or more different monomers are

added together to form a polymer. Phenol
formaldehyde is produced by reaction of phenol and
formaldehyde.
 CLASSIFICATION OF PLASTICS
 PLASTIC CAN BE CLASSIFIED ACCORDING TO
ITS THERMAL PROPERTY OR MECHANICAL
PROPERTY
ACCORDING TO THERMAL PROPERTY, PLASTICS
CAN BE CLASSIFIED INTO TWO FOLLOWING
GROUPS:
1. THERMOPLASTICS
 PLASTICS WHICH SOFTEN ON HEATING WITHOUT
UNDERGOING ANY CHEMICAL CHANGE.
 IT IS THUS POSSIBLE TO SHAPE AND RESHAPE
THESE PLASTICS BY HEAT & PRESSURE.
2. THERMOSETTING PLASTICS
 UNDERGO CHEMICAL CHANGE WHEN HEATED AT
ABOUT 127-177 deg. C AND A NEW MATERIAL
WHICH DOES NOT SOFTEN ON HEATING IS
FORMED.
THEMOPLASTICS
THERMOSETTING PLASTICS
FOLLOWING TWO TERMS ARE OF INTEREST
WHILE DEALING WITH PLASTICS:
(A) THERMOPLASTIC ELASTOMERS(TPE)
THESE ARE ELASTIC & RUBBERY COMPOUNDS
AT NORMAL TEMPERATURES.
(B) GEL
THESE ARE DILUTE POLYMERS WHICH FORM
INTO SOFT LIQUIDS CALLED GELS. SUCH
FLUIDS CAN BE PUMPED AND FORM IN-SITU
GELS, THOSE INJECTED INTO SOILS TO HELP
SOIL CONSOLIDATION.
THERMOPLASTIC ELASTOMERS
GELS
PLASTIC MATERIALS
CLASSIFICATION ACCORDING TO
MECHANICAL PROPERTY
PLASTICS ARE DIVIDED AS FOLLOWS:
1. RIGID PLASTICS WITH HIGH MODULUS OF
ELASTICITY.
2. SEMI-RIGID PLASTICS WITH MEDIUM
MODULUS OF ELASTICITY.
3. SOFT PLASTICS WITH LOW MODULUS OF
ELASTICITY.
4. ELASTOMERS WHICH CAN EXTEND TO AS
MUCH TEN TIMES ITS ORIGINAL LENGTH.
PROPERTIES OF PLASTICS
APPEARNACE : IT CAN BE MADE IN ATTRACTIVE
COLOURS.
CHEMICAL RESISTANCE: IT HAS GOOD RESISTANCE
AGAINST ALMOST ALL CHEMICALS.
DIMENSIONAL STABILITY: IT HAS GOOD DIMENSIONAL
STABILITY AS WITH OTHER ENGINEERING MATERIALS.
DURABILITY: MANY PLASTICS ARE QUITE DURABLE IF
PROTECTED.
ELECTRIC INSULATION: GOOD INSULATORS AND
HENCE EXTENSIVELY USED FOR PLUGS, SWITCHES,ETC.
EASINESS IN FIXING: EASY TO BE USED IN
FABRICATION.
FINISHING: CAN TAKE GOOD FINISHES.
LIGHT IN WEIGHT: PLASTICS ARE LIGHT
BECAUSE OF THEIR MOLECULAR STRUCTURE.
MAINTENANCE: EASY TO MAINTAIN.
THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY: VERY LOW LIKE
WOOD.
THERMAL STABILITY: STABLE UNDER LOW
TEMPERATURES.
UNDESIRABLE PROPERTIES OF
PLASTICS
HIGH THERMAL EXPANSION: IT IS ABOUT 10 TIMES AS
MUCH AS STEEL.
HIGH CREEP PROPERTIES: PLASTICS EXHIBIT HIGH CREEPS.
LACK OF DURABILITY: UNDER DIRECT SUNLIGHT THEY ARE
NOT DURABLE.
LACK OF FIRE RESISTANCE: CANNOT WITHSTAND HIGH
TEMPERATURESAND MAY ALSO EMIT TOXIC FUMES IN
CASE OF FIRE.
LOW MELTING POINT: THERMOPLASTICS MELT AT LOWER
TEMPERATURES.
NON SUITABILTY FOR STRUCTURAL MEMBERS: FOR
STRUCTURAL USE THEY ARE ONLY USED WITH EMBEDDED
METALS LIKE STEEL.
FABRICATION OF PLASTIC ARTICLES
PLASTIC MATERIALS ARE MADE FROM PLASTIC
RESINS.
FOR THIS PROCESS, CERTAIN MOULDING
COMPOUNDS ARE ADDED TO THE RESINS. THEN,
THEY ARE PROCESSED FOR FABRICATION INTO
DIFFERENT ARTICLES.
MOULDING COMPOUNDS
TO GIVE DESIRED PROPERTIES TO THE FINISHED
PLASTIC ARTICLES THE FOLLOWING MOULDING
COMPOUNDS ARE ADDED:
1. CATALYSTS TO ASSIST AND ACCELERATE
HARDENING OF THE RESIN.
2. FILLERS, FIBROUS, LAMINATED OR POWDER
FILLERS ARE INERT MATERIALS ADDED TO GIVE
BODY TO THE PLASTICS.
3. HARDENERS TO INCREASE HARDNESS OF THE
RESIN.
4. LUBRICANTS APPLIED TO THE SURFACE OF
MOULDS FOR EASY RELEASE OF THE ARTICLE.
5. PIGMENTS ADDED FOR COLOUR
6. PLASTICIZERS FOR IMPROVING PLASTICITY AND
IMPARTING SOFTNESS TO THE PLASTICS.
7. SOLVENTS TO DISSOLVE THE PLASTICIZER.
FABRICATION METHODS USED FOR
MAKING PLASTIC ARTICLES
FOLLOWING ARE SOME OF THE PROCESSES USED TO
FABRICATE DIFFERENT TYPES OF ARTICLES OF
PLASTICS:
1. BLOWING : IT IS USED IN GLASS INDUSTRY TO
PRODUCE MANY PRODUCTS.
2. CALENDARING: IT IS CARRIED OUT BY PASSING
THROUGH A SET OF ROLLERS FOR PRODUCING
PLASTIC FILMS AND SHEETS.
3. CASTING: IT IS USED IN METAL CASTING.
4. LAMINATING: IT IS APPLIED IN PRODUCTION OF
THERMOSETTING PLASTICS THAT ARE APPLIED ON
PAPER, GLASS, FIBRE, ETC. AND PRESSED TO GET
LAMINATES.
5. MOULDING: IT IS THE MOST COMMONLY
APPLIED METHOD. IT CAN BE DONE IN ONE OF
THE FOLLOWING WAYS:
(A) COMPRESSION MOULDING (THERMOPLASTICS)
(B) EXTRUSION MOULDING (THERMOPLASTICS)
(C) INJECTION MOULDING (THERMOPLASTICS)
(D) TRANSFER MOULDING (THERMOSETTING
PLASTICS)
(E) JET MOULDING (FOR BOTH THERMOPLASTICS
& THERMOSETTING PLASTICS)