Plastics

Question 1

What are examples of Natural Plastics?

Answer 1

Including materials eg. amber and latex

Question 2

What are the two main sources plastics are created?

Answer 2

Natural and Synthetic

Question 3

What are Synthetic Plastics?

Answer 3

By far the most common and chemically manufactured from carbon based materials eg. coal, oil and gas

Question 4

How are Synthetic Plastics manufactured?

Answer 4

Polymerisation

Question 5

What is Polymerisation?

Answer 5

When monomers join together to form long chains of molecules called polymers

Question 6

What are the two different types of Plastics?

Answer 6

Thermosetting Plastics

Thermoplastics Plastics

Question 7

What are Thermosetting Plastics?

Answer 7

Heated and Moulded into shape

Can’t soften if reheated

Question 8

Why can’t Thermosetting Plastics soften if reheated?

Answer 8

Because polymer chains become interlinked during the moulding process

Question 9

What are Thermoplastics?

Answer 9

Soften when heated and can be shaped when hot

Question 10

What is Post Forming?

Answer 10

Thermoplastic will harden when it’s cooled but can be reshaped if heated up again

Question 11

What factors should you consider when choosing a plastic for a specific purpose?

Answer 11

Colour
Texture
Workability
Structural Strength
Whether it can be recycled
Thermoplastic or Thermosetting