Discovering Plastic for Beginners

Discovering Plastic for Beginners. Plastic is the [universal, widespread, worldwide] [familiar, recognizable, well-known] word for a wide range of synthetic or semi synthetic organic amorphous solid materials appropriate for the manufacture of industrial products. Plastics are in general polymers of high molecular weight, and may include other substances to get stronger, better performance and/or reduce costs.

The word derives from the Greek πλαστικός (plastikos) suggesting fit for molding, and πλαστός (plastos) translates to mold. It referring to their malleability or plasticity during manufacture that allows them to be cast, pressed, or extruded into a mammoth variety of shapes such as films, fibers, plates, tubes, bottles, boxes, and much more.

The common word plastic ought to not be confused with the scientific adjective plastic, which is applied to any material which undergoes a permanent change of shape (plastic wrap) when strained beyond a certain point. Aluminum, for instance, is plastic in this sense, but not a plastic in the common sense; while some plastics, in their finished forms, will break before deforming and therefore are not plastic in the technical sense.

There are two types of plastics: thermoplastics and thermo sets. Thermoplastics will soften and melt if enough heat is applied; examples are polyethylene, polystyrene, and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). Thermosets do not soften or melt no matter how much heat is applied; an example is polyester.

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Posted by Vacuum Forming at Maryland Thermoform on April 3, 2011. Filed under Featured, Plastics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.