Types of plastics

Types of plastics

1. Thermoplastic

   • Structure
     • They are made of polymers linked by intermolecular interactions forming linear or branched structures.
   • Materials
     • Polyethylene
       • Is a lightweight, durable thermoplastic with variable crystalline structure.
     • Polystyrene
       • Is a synthetic aromatic hydrocarbon polymer made from the monomer styrene, it can be solid or foamed.
     • Polyvinyl chlorine
       • Is the world's third-most widely produced synthetic plastic polymer, it can be rigid or flexible.
     • Polypropylene
       • It is used in a wide variety of applications and it is prodecud via chain-growth polymerization.
     • Polyethylene terephthalate
       • It is the most common thermoplastic polymer resin of the polyester family and is used in fibers for clothing, containers...
     • Teflon
       • Is best known for its use in coating non-stick frying pans and other cookware.
     • Polycarbonate
       • It is a group of thermoplastic polymers containing carbonate groups in their chemical sructures.

2. Thermoset

   • Structure
     • They are made up of lines of molecules which are heavily cross-linked.
   • Materials
     • Melamine
       • It is an organic compound.
     • Bakelite
       • It was the first plastic made of synthetic components.
     • Polyester resins
       • It is formed of a dibasic organic acids and polyhydric alcohols.

3. Elastomers

   • Structure
     • They are loosely cross-linked polymers
   • Materials
     • Rubber
       • It is a natural polymer of Isoprene.
     • Neoprene
       • It is a synthtic rubber produced by the polymerization of chloroprene.
     • Silicone
       • It is a hard, brittle crystalline solid with a blue metallic lustre.

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