1.6 Plastic Flashcards
What can plastic be made of?
- Natural plastics
- Synthetic plastics
What are Natural plastics?
Natural plastics include Amber, white is fossilised tree resin, and Latex, which is a form of rubber.
What are Synthetic plastics?
Synthetic plastics are chemically manufactured from carbon-based materials such as crude oil, coal and gas
How are plastics produced?
Polymerisation
What’s polymerisation?
Polymerisation occurs when monomers join together to form long chains of molecules called polymers.
What two groups are plastics classified into?
- Thermoplastics
- Thermosetting plastics
What are thermoplastics?
- Plastic that can be heated and reshaped many times.
- They will soften when heated and can be shaped when hot.
- The plastic will harden when cooled, but can be reshaped because there are no links between the polymer chains.
What are thermosetting plastics?
- Plastics that can be heated and shaped once
- If reheated they cannot soften as polymer chains are interlinked
- Separate polymers are joined in order to form a huge polymer
What is ABS (acrylonitrile butadienestyrene)?
- A strong, tough thermoplastic that scratches easily
- Available in a wide range of colours
What can ABS (acrylontrile butadienestyrene) be used in?
Used to make mechanical parts including links, cams and wheels
What is Nylon (Polyamide)?
- A hard, tough, rigid thermoplastic
- Chemical, wear and friction resistant
What can Nylon (Polyamide) be used in?
Used to make mechanical parts including gear wheels and bearings.
What is Acrylic (Polymethyl methacrylate)?
- A glass-clear or opaque thermoplastic
- Available in a wide range of colours
- Food safe, impact resistant and a good electrical insulator
What can Acrylic (Polymethyl methacrylate) be used in?
Used to make illuminated signs, watch and clock glasses, and furniture.
What is PVC (Polyvinyl chloride)?
- A soft and flexible thermoplastic
- Available in a wide range of colours
- A good electrical insulator
What can PVC (polyvinyl chloride) be used in?
Used to make table top coverings, electrical wiring insulation, vinyl wall and floor coverings.
What is Polystyrene (high impact polystyrene)?
- A hard and inexpensive thermoplastic
- Available in a wide range of colours
What can Polystyrene (high impact polystyrene) be used in?
- Good for vacuum forming
- Used to make model cars and airplanes
- In the form of foam it’s used for packaging and insulation
What are the five types of thermoplastics?
- ABS
- Nylon
- Acrylic
- PVC
- Polystyrene
What’s the mneumonic for the types of thermoplastics?
Pretentious Annoying Newborns Always Poop.
What are the four types of thermosetting plastics?
- Epoxy Resin
- Melamine Formaldehyde
- Polyester Resin
- Urea Formaldehyde
How do you remember the four types of thermosetting plastics?
- Mr Resin and Mrs Formaldehyde were married
- Mr Resin cheated and had two sons: Epoxy and Polyester
- Mrs Formaldehyde remarried and had two daughters: Melamine and Urea
What is epoxy resin?
A thermosetting plastic that cures when mixed with a catalyst/hardener.
What can epoxy resin be used in?
Used to make coatings, adhesives and composite materials such as fibre glass.
