PLASTICS 101 “What You Should Know” - PowerPoint Presentation

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PLASTICS 101

“What You Should Know”

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Plastics defined

Plastics are any one of a large number of synthetic usually organic materials that have a polymeric structure and can be molded when soft

Thermoplastic

Thermoset

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Fun Facts

8% oil production becomes plastics

5 – 10% oil production used in other chemicals/materials

Medicines

Cosmetics

Fertilizers

Pesticides

Plastics use

33% packaging

33% construction

33% automotive, toys, furniture, appliance housings

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Most important plastics by world production

Polyethylene

Polypropylene

Polyvinyl chloride

Polyester

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Polyethylene (PE)

Ultra High Molecular Weight PE

High Density PE

Medium Density PE

Low Density PE

Linear Low Density PE

Ethane cracked to ethylene polymerized to PE

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PE End Users

Ultra High Molecular Weight – braided strand cable, sails, parachutes, in composite body armor plates

High Density – furniture, storage sheds, medical devices, milk bottles, geomembranes, food storage containers, bags, toys

Low Density – primarily bags, tubing, flexible containers/bottles, siding, floor tiles, outdoor furniture

Linear Low Density – bags, wrap/film, stretch wrap

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Polypropylene (Polypro)

Propane cracked to propylene polymerized to Polypropylene

Polypro End Uses

indoor/outdoor carpeting, bottles, nonwoven such as diapers, toys, pipe, bags, food containers, medical devices – sutures, oil spill booms, auto parts/components

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“Raw” Polymer”

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Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)

Ethane is cracked to produce ethylene which is reacted with hydrochloric acid and oxygen to give dichloroethane which is cracked to give chloroethylene (vinyl chloride) which is polymerized to give PVC

End Uses

Pipes, siding, flooring, furniture, bank cards, soft closed cell foam - insulation/weather stripping

Plasticized PVC - bags, medical devices (blood bags), wire insulation, inflatable products, leathers, shower curtains

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Polyethylene terephthalate (PET, PETE)

Ethylene glycol and dimethyl terephthalate are polymerized/reacted together

Ethylene is reacted with oxygen to give ethylene oxide which is reacted water to give ethylene glycol

p-Xylene (BTEX fraction of oil) is reacted with oxygen to give terephthalic acid which is reacted with methanol to give dimethyl terephthalate.

End Uses – fiber/fabrics, food packaging (soft drink bottles), films, blister packs, freezer to oven trays, boats/canoes, wood finishes

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PET

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Polymer Identification Code – “Chasing Arrows”

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Polystyrene (PS)

Ethylene is reacted with benzene to give ethylbenzene which is cracked to styrene which is polymerized to PS

[Styrene occurs naturally in coffee beans, peanuts and cinnamon]

Sheet/molded PS – dinnerware, cutlery, CD “jewel” cases, appliance housings, labware, toys, medical devices

Foam – cups, “clam shells”, packaging materials, insulation,

High Impact Polystyrene (HIPS) – polymerize styrene in the presence of polybutadiene – not as brittle as PS, end uses as sheet/molded PS

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Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS)

Acrylonitrile and styrene are polymerized in the presence of polybutadiene – ammonia and propylene react to give acrylonitrile – butadiene is produced by the cracking of butane

End Uses – toys (LEGO), pipes, appliance housings, electronics cases, medical devices, automotive parts, helmets, canoes, hard carrying cases, filaments used as feed material for 3D printers, sheeting, refrigerators,

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Styrene Acrylonitrile (SAN)

Styrene is polymerized with acrylonitrile to give SAN

End Uses – appliance housings, food containers, water bottles, battery cases, optical fibers,

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Elastomers/Rubber

Natural rubber (India Rubber, Caoutchouc, Gutta Percha) is polyisoprene

Synthetic Rubber

Styrene is reacted with butadiene to give SBR

Isoprene (2-methylbutadiene) is polymerized to give synthetic polyisoprene

Chloroprene (2-chlorobutadiene) is polymerized to give polychloroprene

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Elastomers/Rubber

Chlorine is reacted with butadiene to give dichlorobutylenes which are converted to 3,4-dichlorobut-1-ene which is reacted with dilute alkaline (basic) to give chloroprene

Isoprene is one of the products from the thermal cracking of the naphtha fraction of oil

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Polyamides, Nylon

Nylon 66 – adipic aid is polymerized with hexamethylenediamine

adipic acid is made from benzene

hexamethylenediamine is made from butadiene

Nylon 6 – caprolactam is self polymerized

caprolactam is made from benzene

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Polyamide End Uses

Fiber – apparel, carpets, tires, hosiery, ropes, parachutes, tubing,

Filament – fishing lines, brushes, string trimmers, 3D printers

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Other Materials

Polyurethane – diisocyanate reacted with a diol

foam insulation, auto seats, boats, tubing, textiles (spandex)

Polycarbonate – bisphenol A reacted with phosgene

beverage glasses, data storage (CD, DVD), bullet-proof glass, thermoformed glazing, eye wear, medical devices,

Poly(methyl methacrylate) – polymerization of methyl methacrylate

glass (“Lucite”, “Plexiglass”), medical devices, eye wear,

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Bioplastics Plastics

Cellophane, rayon – cellulose treated with sodium hydroxide and carbon disulfide and then extruded into sulfuric acid.

current uses – base/backing for tapes, dialysis tubing, textiles, insulation

Polylactic acid – fermentation of carbohydrates to give lactic acid which is polymerized to polylactic acid

End uses – degradable medical devices, food packaging, cups, table wear, disposable garments

Plastarch – modified corn starch

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Biodegradable Plastics

Polylactic acid – composting, biological decomposition to lactic acid,

Cellophane – “100% biodegradable” but carbon disulfide inhibits degradation

Starch used to promote degradation of plastics in general

Degradation enhanced by sunlight, air (oxygen), moisture, bacteria, enzymes, rodents, insects, other “pests”, bioengineered bacteria

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Points To Consider