Product: Plastics

Product: Plastics

1. Polymers

   • Thermoplastics
     • ABS
       • High impact strength
       • Good toughness
       • Good strength
       • Scratch resistant
       • Lightweight and durable
       • Kitchen products
     • PET
       • Moderate chemical resistance
       • Bottles for beers/soft drinks
       • Plugs and sockets
     • Acrylic
       • Stiff
       • Hard but scratches easily
       • Food safe
       • Tough
       • Easily machined
       • Light units
     • PP
       • Lightweight
       • Food safe
       • Good impact resistance
       • Hard/Tough
       • Good chemical resistance
     • HIPS
       • Good impact resistance
       • Good strength/stiffness
       • Lightweight
       • Vacuum formed packaging
     • Expanded polystyrene
       • Floats
       • Good sound/heat insulator
       • Lightweight
       • Low strength
       • Disposable cups/packaging
     • LDPE
       • Lightweight
       • Low stiffness and rigidity
       • Good chemical resistance
       • Detergent bottles
       • Carrier bags
       • Tough
       • Flexible
     • HDPE
       • High density
       • Good stiffness
       • Good chemical resistance
       • Hard
       • Can be sterilized
       • Crates/buckets/bowls
     • uPVC
       • Stiff and hard wearing
       • Good chemical resistance
       • Tough and rigid
       • Lightweight
       • Pipes/guttering
     • Characteristics
       • No links between polymer chains
       • Chains can move
       • Can be heated and shaped many times
   • Thermosetting
     • Epoxy Resin
       • Hard
       • Brittle unless reinforced
       • Electrical insulator
       • Adhesives
       • Surface coating
     • Polyester Resin
       • Rigid
       • Brittle unless laminated
       • Good heat/chemical resistance
       • Stiff/hard
       • Casting
       • Car bodies/boats
     • Urea Formaldehyde
       • Rigid
       • Hard
       • Good strength
       • Brittle
       • Heat resistant
       • Good electrical insulator
       • Electrical fittings
       • Adhesives
     • Melamine Formaldehyde
       • Rigid/strong
       • Stiff/hard
       • Scratch resistant
       • Can be coloured
       • Tableware
       • Decorative laminates
     • Characteristics
       • Can only be heated and shaped once
       • Links between polymer chains stop movement
       • Polymer chains are interlinked