Plastics

Question 1

What are the 3 classifications of plastics?

Answer 1

Natural, Semi-synthetic and synthetic

Question 2

What is a natural plastic?

Answer 2

Natural- found in nature. horn, amber, rubber, tortoise shell.

Question 3

What is a semi-synthetic plastic

Answer 3

Chemically altered natural materials. cellulose acetate, cellulose nitrate

Question 4

What is a synthetic plastic

Answer 4

created in a lab. Bakelite, PVC, Polyurethane, polyester, nylon

Question 5

Plastics can be either thermoset or thermoplastic. What is thermoset?

Answer 5

plastics that can be permanently molded when heated. (Bakelite, Casein)

Question 6

Plastics can be either thermoset or thermoplastic. What is thermoplastic?

Answer 6

plastics that can be melted and remolded (cellulose nitrate, cellulose acetate, nylon, polyester)

Question 7

What are the most vulnerable plastics?

Answer 7

PVC, Polyurethane, natural rubber, cellulose nitrate and cellulose acetate

Question 8

Plastics degrade physically and chemically. What happens when they physically degrade?

Answer 8

caused by fluctuating temperature, humidity, migrating plasticisers. Can crack, shrink, expand, lose flexibility

Question 9

What is a plastic

Answer 9

Giant molecules that create a substance that can be molded or manipulated by heat/pressure. additives are added (stabilizers, plasticizers, etc)

Question 10

What happens when Plastics chemically degrade?

Answer 10

Degrade by Light, humidity, temperature, pollutants, etc.
Causes bloom, crumbling, discoloration, cracking, tackiness, odors.