Plastics Impacts and Alternatives
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Whatareplastics.pptx
PLASTICS
What is a Plastic?
- any of a group of synthetic or natural organic materials(from petrochemicals) that may be shaped when soft and then hardened, including many types of resins, resinoids, polymers, cellulose derivatives, casein materials, and proteins: used in place of other materials, as glass, wood, and metals, in construction and decoration, for making many articles, as coatings, and, drawn into filaments, for weaving.
What is a Plastic?
Plastics are polymers, large molecules made of repeating units of smaller molecules (monomers) that are chemically bound together. A polymer is like a chain in which each link is a monomer.
All plastic is made of carbon. Man-made plastic uses carbon derived from oil, while biopolymers or bioplastics use carbon derived from natural materials.
1 – PET (polyethylene terephthalate)
(-CO-C6H4-CO-O-CH2-CH2-O-)n
Packaging applications: Soft drink bottles, water bottles, beer bottles, mouthwash bottles, peanut butter containers, salad dressing containers, juice bottles, vegetable oil bottles
Recycled products: Fiber, tote bags, new PETE containers for both food and non-food products, fabric for clothing, athletic shoes, luggage, upholstery, furniture, carpet, fiberfill for sleeping bags and winter coats, industrial strapping, sheet, and film, and automotive parts, such as luggage racks, headliners, fuse boxes, bumpers, grilles and door panels
Note: the C6H4 highlighted in the molecular formula above represents a benzene ring. Benzene is generally considered a carcinogenic substance.
2 – HDPE (high density polyethylene)
(-CH2-CH2-)n
Packaging applications: Milk containers, juice bottles, water bottles, bleach, detergent, and shampoo bottles, trash bags, grocery and retail carrying bags, motor oil bottles, butter and margarine tubs, household cleaner bottles, yogurt containers, and cereal box liners
Recycled products: Drainage pipe, liquid laundry detergent bottles, oil bottles, pens, benches, doghouses, recycling containers, floor tile, picnic tables, fencing, lumber, and mailbox posts
3 - Vinyl or PVC (polyvinyl chloride)
(-CH2-CHCl-)n
Packaging applications: Window cleaner bottles, cooking oil bottles, detergent bottles, shampoo bottles, clear food packaging, wire and cable jacketing, medical tubing, with additional significant usage in household products and building materials, particularly siding, piping, and windows
Recycled products: Binders, decking, paneling, mud flaps, roadway gutters, flooring, cables, speed bumps, and mats
Note: The Cl (chlorine atom) in the molecular formula renders PVC a potentially toxic material when it is burned. The burning of PVC can result in the creation of dioxins, a material that is considered highly carcinogenic.
4 – LDPE (low density polyethylene)
( - CH2 - CH2 - )n
Packaging applications: Squeezable bottles, bread bags, frozen food bags, tote bags, clothing, furniture, dry cleaning bags, and carpet
Recycled products: Film and sheet, floor tile, garbage can liners, shipping envelopes, furniture, compost bins, paneling, trash cans, lumber, landscaping ties
Note: The molecular formulas for LDPE and HDPE are the same. The difference in the plastics is the density of the molecular chains. The density varies in the manner in which the polymeric chains form. In HDPE the chain is essentially one long continuous chain, allowing the strands to fold back upon one another and densely occupy space. In LDPE the chains have multiple branches, which interfere with a neatly organized packing of chains. Instead the packing is more disorganized, occupying more space and thus resulting in a lower density.)
5 – PP( polypropylene)
(-CHCH3-CH2-)n
Packaging applications: Yogurt containers, syrup bottles, ketchup bottles, caps, straws, medicine bottles
Recycled products: Signal lights, battery cables, brooms, brushes, auto battery cases, ice scrapers, landscape borders, bicycle racks, rakes, bins, pallets, and trays
6 – PS (polystyrene)
(-CHC6H5-CH2-)n
Packaging applications: Plates, cups, cutlery, meat trays, egg cartons, carry-out containers, aspirin bottles, compact disc jackets
Recycled products: Thermal insulation, light switch plates, egg cartons, vents, rulers, foam packing, carry-out containers
Note: C6H5 in the molecular formula comprises a benzene ring. Benzene is generally considered a carcinogenic substance.
