Thermoplastics

Question 1

What is acrylic used for ?
What are acrylics pros and cons ?
What are its working properties ?

Answer 1

• Uses: car headlights (glass alternative)+ visors
• Pros: durable, water resistant, available in many colors
• Cons: easily scratched+ hard to recycle
• Properties : stiff, hard, durable, scratches easily, brittle and good electrical insulator

Question 2

What are the uses of Low density poly Ethene?
What are its pros and cons?
What are its working properties?

Answer 2

• Uses: plastic bags, toys and gas pipes
• Pros: lightweight, resistant to chemicals, cheap, translucent
• Cons: low stiffness
• Properties: tough, good chemical resistance, flexible , soft, good electrical insulator

Question 3

What are the uses of high density Polythene ?
What are the pros and cons of HDPE?
What are the working properties of HDPE?

Answer 3

• Uses: bulletproof vest inserts and containers
• Pros: very strong, easy to clean and stiff
• Cons: expensive to produce
• Properties: hard and stiff ( has ability to be sterilized)

Question 4

What are the uses of polyvinyl chloride (PVC)?
What are the pros and cons of PVC?
What are the properties of PVC ?

Answer 4

• Uses: flexible hoses and cable insulators
• Pros: flexible, can be colored, chemical resistance
• Cons: soft and there is pollution from manufacture
• Properties: flexible, fairly soft and brittle

Question 5

What are the uses of polypropylene ?
What are the pros and cons?
What are the working properties ?

Answer 5

• Uses: rope and reusable food boxes
• Pros: doesn’t absorb water and easy to color, lightweight and foo safe
• Cons: stiff and not very flexible
• Properties: light, hard but scratches, tough and good chemical resistance

Question 6

What are the uses of polycarbonate ?
What are the pros and cons of it ?
What are the properties ?

Answer 6

• Uses: used in electronic components
• Pros: strong, tough, easily worked and transparent
• Cons: low scratch resistance
• Properties: strong, hard but scratches as-well as durable

Question 7

What are the uses of styrofoam ?
What are the pros and cons of it?
What are its working properties ?

Answer 7

• Uses: building insulation
• Pros: cheap to produce, lightweight, floats and insulates sound and heat
• Cons: not very strong and only blue and white colour
• Properties: light, good insulator to heat and water

Question 8

What are the uses of high impact polystyrene ( HIPS) ?
What are the pros and cons of HIPS?
What are the working properties of HIPS ?

Answer 8

• Uses: toys, packaging and fridge lining
• Pros: many colors available, lightweight and strong
• Cons: not as durable as other polymers
• Properties: light, hard, stuff, transparent, brittle with good water resistance

Question 9

What is nylon used for ?
What are the pros and cons of nylon ?
What are the working properties ?

Answer 9

• Uses: clothing and for mechanical parts
• Pros: durable and self lubricating, chemical resistance
• Cons: not easily recycled
• Properties: Creamy colour, tough, fairly hard, resists wear, self lubricating, good resistance to chemicals and machines