Polymers Flashcards
What is a thermoforming plastic?
Plastics that do not resist heat well, and are easily formed into different shapes by heating, melting and remoulding.
Easy to recycle - ground-down melted and reused.
Properties and uses of Acrylic (PMMA)
Hard, stiff, shiny, resists weather well, but quite brittle,
Used for motorcycle helmet visors, baths, signs.
Thermoforming plastic
Properties and uses of High Density Polyethelene (HDPE)
Stiff, strong, lightweight.
Used for washing up bowls, baskets, folding chairs, gas and water pipes.
Thermoforming plastic
Uses and properties of PET
Light, strong and tough.
Used to make see-through drink bottles and fibres for clothes.
Thermoforming plastics
Properties and Uses of High-Impact polystyrene (HIPS)
Rigid, fairly cheap.
Used for vacuum-forming boxes such as CD cases or smoke-detector casings.
Thermoforming plastic
Properties and uses of polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
Quite brittle, cheap and durable.
Used for blister packs, window frames, vinyl records and some clothing
thermoforming plastic
Properties and Uses of Polypropylene (PP)
Tough and flexible, can be made in a variety of bright colours, flexible.
Used for plastic chairs (flexibility makes it comfortable)
Thermoforming plastic
What is a thermosetting plastic?
Plastics that resist heat and fire (used for electrical fittings and pan handles).
They undergo a chemical change when heated and moulded, permanently become hard and rigid.
Non-recyclable - cannot be reshaped.
Properties and Uses of Epoxy Resin (ER)
Rigid, durable, corrosion-resistant, good electrical insulator.
Used for circuit boards, wind turbine rotor blades.
Properties and uses of Urea-formaldehyde (UF)
Hard, brittle, good electrical insulator
Used for plug sockets and cupboard handles.
Properties and uses of Melamine Formaldehyde (MF)
Hard,heat-resistant, easily-moulded.
Used for bottle-caps, snooker balls, etc.
Properties and Uses of Polysester Resin (PR)
Hard, stiff, cheap, good electrical insulator, added to glass fibres to form glass-reinforced plastic, waterproof.
Used for kayaks, shower-stalls and garden furniture.
