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Plastic is a broad term referring to a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic materials primarily made of polymers that can be molded into solid objects.
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These materials are characterized by their plasticity, which allows them to be shaped and formed through processes like molding, extrusion, or pressing.
Here's a more detailed look:
Key Characteristics:
Polymers:
Plastics are composed of long chains of repeating molecular units called monomers.
Malleability:
The defining feature is their ability to be molded and shaped, often under the influence of heat and pressure.
Variety of Properties:
Plastics exhibit diverse properties, including flexibility, strength, transparency, and varying degrees of insulation, making them suitable for a wide range of applications.
Types of Plastics:
- Synthetic Plastics: Derived from fossil fuels like crude oil, natural gas, or coal.
- Biobased Plastics: Derived from renewable resources like plants (e.g., corn starch, cellulose).
- Thermoplastics: Can be repeatedly softened by heating and solidified by cooling.
- Thermosets: Undergo irreversible chemical changes when heated, becoming permanently hard.
Common Plastics and their Uses:
- Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET): Used in beverage bottles, food containers, and textiles.
- High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE): Used in milk jugs, detergent bottles, and some food containers.
- Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC): Used in pipes, window frames, and medical devices.
- Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE): Used in plastic bags, wraps, and some containers.
- Polypropylene (PP): Used in food containers, packaging, and textiles.
- Polystyrene (PS): Used in foam packaging, disposable cups, and food containers.
Environmental Impact:
- Plastic production and disposal can have significant environmental impacts, including pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and harm to wildlife.
- Some plastics can leach harmful chemicals into food and the environment.
- Recycling efforts are crucial for mitigating the environmental consequences of plastic waste.
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Plastics are a wide range of synthetic or semisynthetic materials composed primarily of polymers. Their defining characteristic, plasticity, allows them to be ...
Plastic
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Plastics are a wide range of synthetic or semisynthetic materials composed primarily of polymers. Their defining characteristic, plasticity, allows them to be molded, extruded, or pressed into a diverse range of solid forms. Wikipedia
Child material class: Bakelite, polyvinyl chloride, bioplastics
People also ask
What is the original meaning of the word plastic?
The word plastic derives from the Ancient Greek πλαστικός (plastikos), meaning "capable of being shaped or molded," which itself comes from πλαστός (plastos), meaning "molded" or "formed." In modern usage, the word plastic most commonly refers to the solid synthetic products of petrochemical-derived manufacturing.
What is the definition of plastic?
What is Plastic? Plastic is defined as a material that contains an essential ingredient an organic substance of large molecular weight. It is also defined as polymers of long carbon chains. Carbon atoms are linked in chains and are produced in long-chain molecules.
Learn what plastics are, where they come from, their environmental impact, and how they are essential to modern life.
Plastics help us protect the environment by reducing waste, lowering greenhouse gas emissions, and saving energy at home, at work, and on the road.
May 28, 2025 · Plastic, polymeric material that has the capability of being molded or shaped, usually by the application of heat and pressure.
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