HIGH DENSITY POLYETHYLENE (HDPE):

HDPE refers to a plastic used to make bottles for milk, juice, water and laundry products.
Unpigmented HDPE bottles are translucent and have good barrier properties and stiffness. They are
well suited to packaging products with short shelf lives such as milk. Pigmented HDPE bottles
generally have better stress crack and chemical resistance than bottles made with unpigmented HDPE.
These properties are needed for packaging such items as household chemicals and detergents, which
have a longer shelf life.

Made via a low-pressure process at 1 atm and 170 degrees.

Relative density: 0.941 to 0.965 grams/cubic centimetres.
HDPE does not become pliable until temperatures over water’s boiling point, i.e. 100 degrees.
HDPE remains stable down to -45 degrees.
Good welding properties, weldable at 130 to 170 degrees.

LOW DENSITY POLYETHYLENE (LDPE):

A plastic used predominantly in film applications due to its toughness, flexibility and relative
transparency. LDPE has a low melting point, making it popular for use in applications where heat
sealing is necessary. Typically, LDPE is used to manufacture flexible films such as those used for
plastic retail bags and garment dry cleaning and grocery bags. LDPE is also used to manufacture some
flexible lids and bottles, and it is widely used in wire and cable applications for its stable electrical
properties and processing characteristics

Made via a high pressure process at 3000 atm and 300 degrees.
Low relative density: 0.91 to 0.925 grams/cubic centimetres.
LDPE is a tough, semi-transparent material.
LDPE becomes pliable at around 60 to 80 degrees.
LDPE remains stable down to -60 degrees.
Good welding properties, weldable at 110 to 140 degrees.
Low permeability to aqueous vapour (steam).
High permeability to gases like oxygen.

LINEAR LOW DENSITY POLYETHYLENE (LLDPE):

A plastic that is used predominantly in film applications due to its toughness, flexibility and relative
transparency. LLDPE is the preferred resin for mixing with LDPE, because of its superior toughness
and is used in items such as grocery bags, garbage bags and landfill liners.

Made via a low-pressure process at 1 atm and 170 degrees.

Low relative density: 0.91 to 0.925 grams/cubic centimetre.
The production method reduces the tension in the material. This enables the production of thinner foils wit
Typically used as an additive since pure LLDPE is difficult to process.

POLYPROPYLENE (PP):
Polypropylene has excellent chemical resistance, is strong and has the lowest density of the plastics
used in packaging. It has a high melting point, making it ideal for hot-fill liquids. In film form it may or
may not be oriented (stretched). PP is found in everything from flexible and rigid packaging to fibres
and large molded parts for automotive and consumer products.

POLYSTYRENE (PS):
Polystyrene is a very versatile plastic that can be rigid or foamed. General purpose polystyrene is
clear, hard and brittle. It has a relatively low melting point. Typical applications include protective
packaging, containers, lids, cups, bottles, trays and tumblers.

COMMON TYPES OF PLASTICS

Symbol Type of Plastic Properties Common Uses Recycled In

PET Clear, tough solvent Soft drink and water Pillow and sleeping

resistant, barrier to gas bottles, salad domes, bag filling, clothing,

Polyethylene
and moisture, softens biscuit trays, salad soft drink bottles
Terephthalate
at around 80°C dressing and peanut carpet

butter containers

PE-HD Hard to semi-flexible, Crinkly shopping bags, Recycling bins,

resistant to chemicals freezer bags, milk compost bins,

High Density Polyethylene
and moisture, waxy bottles, ice cream buckets, detergent

surface, opaque, containers, juice bottles, containers, posts,

(HDPE)

softens at around 75°C, shampoo, chemical and fencing, pipes

easily colored, detergent bottles,

processed and formed buckets, rigid agricultural

pipe, milk crates

PVC Strong, tough, can be Cosmetic containers, Flooring, film and

clear, can be solvent electrical conduit, sheets, cables,

Unplasticised Polyvinyl
welded, softens at plumbing pipes and speed bumps,

around 80°C fittings, blister packs, packaging, binders,

Chloride PVC-U

wall cladding, roof mud flaps and mats

sheeting, bottles

Flexible, clear, elastic,

Plasticised Polyvinyl
garden hose, shoe soles,
can be solvent welded
Chloride PCV-P
cable sheathing, blood

bags and tubing, watch

 straps

PE-LD Soft, flexible, waxy Plastic Food wrap, Rubbish bin liners,

surface, translucent, garbage bags, squeeze pallet sheets

Low density
softens at 70°C, bottles, black irrigation
Polyethylene (LDPE)
scratches easily tube, garbage bins

PP Hard but still flexible, Dip bottles and ice cream Pegs, bins, pipes,

waxy surface, softens tubs, potato chip bags, pallet sheets, oil
Polypropylene
at around 140°C, straws, microwave funnels, car battery

translucent, withstands dishes, kettles, garden cases, trays

solvents, versatile furniture, lunch boxes,

blue packing tape

PS Clear, glassy, rigid, CD cases, plastic cutlery, Coat hangers,

brittle, opaque, semi- imitation 'crystal coasters, white ware

Polystyrene
tough, softens at 95°C. glassware', low cost components,

Affected by fats and brittle toys, video cases stationery trays and

solvents accessories

PS-E

Foamed polystyrene hot

Expanded Polystyrene

Foamed, light weight, drink cups, hamburger

energy absorbing, heat takeaway clamshells,

insulating foamed meat trays,

protective packaging for

fragile items

OTHER Includes all other resins Car parts, appliance Car parts, concrete

and multi materials parts, electronics, water aggregate, plastic

Letters below indicate ISO
 (e.g. laminates). cooler bottles, packaging timber
code for plastic type e.g.
Properties depend on
SAN, ABS, PC, Nylon
plastic or combination

of plastics
 Types of Plastics

Recycling Resources
Recycling Facts
Recycling Pictures

In an attempt to bring order to plastics classification for

recycling purposes, the Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI)
devised some voluntary codes in 1988.

They are commonly called SPI codes, and the numbers within
the recycling arrows refer to different types of plastic resins.

There is no federal regulation governing the types of symbols

you see stamped to plastic, so you can not be certain of
consistency from state to state.

However, with SPI codes, it is generally safe to assume some

consistency.
 •PET (polyethylene terephthalate): plastic soft drink
bottles, water bottles, beer bottles, mouthwash bottles
and many more
•HDPE (high density polyethylene): milk bottles,
detergent bottles, oil bottles, toys, plastic bags
•PVC (polyvinyl chloride): food wrap, vegetable oil
bottles, blister packaging
• LDPE (low density polyethylene): bread bags, frozen
food bags, squeezable bottles, fiber, tote bags, bottles,
clothing, furniture, carpet, shrink-wrap, garment bags
•PP (polypropylene): margarine and yogurt containers,
caps for containers, wrapping to replace cellophane
• PS (polystyrene): egg cartons, fast food trays,
disposable plastic silverware
• Other: This code indicates that the item is made with a
resin other than the six listed above, or a combination of
different resins.
© 2002. Patricia A. Michaels.
Material Properties Recommended application

Noryl Extremely good mechanical, thermal and electrical properties. Good

ageing stability and weathering resistance. High stability against

chemicals.

Dimensionally stable, heat-resistant, self-extinguishing parts, mainly

when exchanged with metal. Component parts and cases for

entertainment industry and data processing units.

Polyamide Thermoplastic with high temperature stability, extremely solid and

tenacious. Good sliding properties and high capacity of resistance to

wear. Contact with humidity may result in a change of properties.

Ideally suited for technical application, especially for machine elements

with complicated geometry.

Polycarbonate Thermoplastic with high temperature stability with excellent

resistance

to all kinds of temperature. On the whole, good resistance against

chemicals and UV-light.

Recommended for cases housing instruments and general indoor and

outdoor application. Not recommended for use with strong alkalis or

for direct exposure to sunlight.

PC-ABS Blend Good stability in case of high temperature combined with enormous
impact strength as well as toughness at subzero temperature. On the whole,

good resistance against chemicals. UV-light may have a negative effect.

Ideally suited for indoor use with moderate corrosive conditions.

Limited outdoor suitablility. Special materials comply with ball-thrust

hardness test according to VDE 700 at 125°C.

ABS Good resistance against medium temperature combined with good

impact strength (only certain types) and antistatic adjustment.

On the whole, good resistance against chemicals. UV-light may have

a negative effect.

Cases and operating elements of all kinds. Indoor use, also suitable

for low temperature. Limited outdoor application. Suitable for galvanic

coating.

Polystyrene Normally brittle and resistant to fairly low temperature. SB-types are

impact resistant and less sensitive to tearing under pressure. Glossy

surface. Metal-cutting is possible.

For cases and operating elements with working temperature of less

than 65°C. Suitable for indoor use. Exposure to UV-light should be

avoided.

PMMA (plexiglass®

) Good mechanical properties, slightly brittle. Superior from optical point

of view. Permeable to light up to 92% for certain types.

Cases and front panels for infrared transmitters and receivers as well

as transparent parts.

COMBUSTIBILITY TEST FOR PLASTICS ACCORDING TO U

L SUBJECT 94
Types
This section may require cleanup to
meet Wikipedia's quality
standards. Please improve this
section if you can. The talk page may
contain suggestions. (June 2009)

[edit]Cellulose-based plastics
Parkes developed a synthetic replacement
for ivory which he marketed under the trade
name Parkesine, and which won a bronze
medal at the 1862 World's fair in London.
Parkesine was made from cellulose (the
major component of plant cell walls) treated
with nitric acid and a solvent. The output of
the process (commonly known as cellulose
nitrate or pyroxilin) could be dissolved
in alcohol and hardened into a transparent
and elastic material that could be molded
when heated.[14] By incorporating pigments
into the product, it could be made to
resemble ivory.
Bois Durci is a plastic molding material
based on cellulose. It was patented in Paris
by Lepage in 1855. It is made from finely
ground wood flour mixed with a binder,
either egg or blood albumen, or gelatine.
The wood is probably either ebony or rose
wood, which gives a black or brown resin.
The mixture is dried and ground into a fine
powder. The powder is placed in a steel
mold and compressed in a
powerful hydraulic press while being heated
by steam. The final product has a highly
polished finish imparted by the surface of the
steel mold.
[edit]Bakelite
Main article: Bakelite
The first so called plastic based on a
synthetic polymer was made
from phenol and formaldehyde, with the first
viable and cheap synthesis methods
invented in 1907, by Leo Hendrik Baekeland,
a Belgian-born American living in New York
state. Baekeland was searching for an
insulating shellac to coat wires in electric
motors and generators. He found that
mixtures of phenol (C6H5OH) and
formaldehyde (HCOH) formed a sticky mass
when mixed together and heated, and the
mass became extremely hard if allowed to
cool. He continued his investigations and
found that the material could be mixed with
wood flour, asbestos, or slate dust to create
"composite" materials with different
properties. Most of these compositions were
strong and fire resistant. The only problem
was that the material tended to foam during
synthesis, and the resulting product was of
unacceptable quality.
Baekeland built pressure vessels to force out
the bubbles and provide a smooth, uniform
product. He publicly announced his
discovery in 1912, naming it bakelite. It was
originally used for electrical and mechanical
parts, finally coming into widespread use in
consumer goods in the 1920s. When the
Bakelite patent expired in 1930, the Catalin
Corporation acquired the patent and began
manufacturing Catalin plastic using a
different process that allowed a wider range
of coloring.
Bakelite was the first true plastic. It was a
purely synthetic material, not based on any
material or even molecule found in nature. It
was also the first thermosetting plastic.
Conventional thermoplastics can be molded
and then melted again, but thermoset
plastics form bonds between polymers
strands when cured, creating a tangled
matrix that cannot be undone without
destroying the plastic. Thermoset plastics
are tough and temperature resistant.
Bakelite was cheap, strong, and durable. It
was molded into thousands of forms, such
as cases for radios, telephones and clocks,
andbilliard balls.
Phenol-based ("Phenolic") plastics have
been largely replaced by cheaper and less
brittle plastics, but they are still used in
applications requiring their insulating and
heat-resistant properties. For example, some
electronic circuit boards are made of sheets
of paper or cloth impregnated with phenolic
resin.
[edit]Polystyrene and Polyvinyl Chloride
Main articles: Polystyrene and PVC
Plastic piping and firestops being installed in Ontario. Certain plastic pipes can
be used in some non-combustible buildings, provided they are firestopped
properly and that the flame spread ratings comply with the localbuilding code.

After the First World War, improvements in

chemical technology led to an explosion in
new forms of plastics. Among the earliest
examples in the wave of new plastics were
polystyrene (PS) and polyvinyl chloride
(PVC).
Polystyrene is a rigid, brittle, inexpensive
plastic that has been used to make plastic
model kits and similar knick-knacks. It would
also be the basis for one of the most popular
"foamed" plastics, under the name styrene
foam or Styrofoam. Foam plastics can be
synthesized in an "open cell" form, in which
the foam bubbles are interconnected, as in
an absorbent sponge, and "closed cell", in
which all the bubbles are distinct, like tiny
balloons, as in gas-filled foam insulation and
flotation devices. In the late 1950s, high
impact styrene was introduced, which was
not brittle. It finds much current use as the
substance of toy figurines and novelties.

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC, commonly called

"vinyl")[15] has side chains incorporating
chlorine atoms, which form strong bonds.
PVC in its normal form is stiff, strong, heat
and weather resistant, and is now used for
making plumbing, gutters, house siding,
enclosures for computers and other
electronics gear. PVC can also be softened
with chemical processing, and in this form it
is now used for shrink-wrap, food packaging,
and rain gear.

All PVC polymers are degraded by heat and

light. When this happens, hydrogen chloride
is released into the atmosphere and
oxidation of the compound occurs.
[16]
Because hydrogen chloride readily
combines with water vapor in the air to form
hydrochloric acid,[17] polyvinyl chloride is not
recommended for long-term archival storage
of silver, photographic film or paper (mylar is
preferable).[18]
[edit]Nylon
Main article: Nylon
The real star of the plastics industry in the
1930s was polyamide (PA), far better known
by its trade name nylon. Nylon was the first
purely synthetic fiber, introduced by DuPont
Corporation at the 1939 World's Fair in New
York City.
In 1927, DuPont had begun a secret
development project designated Fiber66,
under the direction of Harvard
chemist Wallace Carothers and chemistry
department director Elmer Keiser Bolton.
Carothers had been hired to perform pure
research, and he worked to understand the
new materials' molecular structure and
physical properties. He took some of the first
steps in the molecular design of the
materials.
His work led to the discovery of synthetic
nylon fiber, which was very strong but also
very flexible. The first application was for
bristles fortoothbrushes. However, Du Pont's
real target was silk, particularly
silk stockings. Carothers and his team
synthesized a number of different
polyamides including polyamide 6.6 and 4.6,
as well as polyesters.[19]
General condensation polymerization reaction for nylon

It took DuPont twelve years and US$27

million to refine nylon, and to synthesize and
develop the industrial processes for bulk
manufacture. With such a major investment,
it was no surprise that Du Pont spared little
expense to promote nylon after its
introduction, creating a public sensation, or
"nylon mania".
Nylon mania came to an abrupt stop at the
end of 1941 when the USA entered World
War II. The production capacity that had
been built up to produce nylon stockings, or
just nylons, for American women was taken
over to manufacture vast numbers of
parachutes for fliers and paratroopers. After
the war ended, DuPont went back to selling
nylon to the public, engaging in another
promotional campaign in 1946 that resulted
in an even bigger craze, triggering the so
called nylon riots.
Subsequently polyamides 6, 10, 11, and 12
have been developed based on monomers
which are ring compounds; e.g. caprolactam.
Nylon 66 is a material manufactured
by condensation polymerization.
Nylons still remain important plastics, and
not just for use in fabrics. In its bulk form it is
very wear resistant, particularly if oil-
impregnated, and so is used to build
gears, plain bearings, and because of good
heat-resistance, increasingly for under-the-
hood applications in cars, and other
mechanical parts.
[edit]Rubber
Natural rubber is an elastomer (an elastic
hydrocarbon polymer) that was originally
derived from latex, a milky colloidal
suspension found in the sap of some plants.
It is useful directly in this form (indeed, the
first appearance of rubber in Europe is cloth
waterproofed with unvulcanized latex from
Brazil) but, later, in 1839, Charles
Goodyear invented vulcanized rubber; this a
form of natural rubber heated with, mostly,
sulfur forming cross-links between polymer
chains (vulcanization), improving elasticity
and durability.
[edit]Synthetic rubber
Main article: Synthetic rubber
The first fully synthetic rubber was
synthesized by Sergei Lebedev in 1910. In
World War II, supply blockades of natural
rubber from South East Asia caused a boom
in development of synthetic rubber,
notably styrene-butadiene rubber. In 1941,
annual production of synthetic rubber in
the U.S. was only 231 tonnes which
increased to 840,000 tonnes in 1945. In
the space race and nuclear arms
race, Caltechresearchers experimented with
using synthetic rubbers for solid fuel for
rockets. Ultimately, all large military rockets
and missiles would use synthetic rubber
based solid fuels, and they would also play a
significant part in the civilian space effort.
[edit]Toxicity

Due to their insolubility in water and relative

chemical inertness, pure plastics generally
have low toxicity in their finished state, and
will pass through the digestive system with
no ill effect (other than mechanical damage
or obstruction). However, plastics often
contain a variety of toxic additives. For
example, plasticizers like adipates and phtha
lates are often added to brittle plastics like
polyvinyl chloride (PVC) to make them
pliable enough for use in food
packaging, toys and teethers, tubing, shower
curtains and other items. Traces of these
chemicals can leach out of the plastic when
it comes into contact with food. Out of these
concerns, the European Union has banned
the use of DEHP (di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate),
the most widely used plasticizer in PVC.
Some compounds leaching from polystyrene
food containers have been found to interfere
with hormone functions and are suspected
human carcinogens.[20]
Moreover, while the finished plastic may be
non-toxic, the monomers used in its
manufacture may be toxic; and small
amounts of those chemicals may remain
trapped in the product. The World Health
Organization's International Agency for
Research on Cancer (IARC) has recognized
the chemical used to make PVC, vinyl
chloride, as a known human carcinogen.
[20]
Some polymers may also decompose into
the monomers or other toxic substances
when heated.
The primary building block
of polycarbonates, bisphenol A (BPA), is
an estrogen-like endocrine disruptor that
may leach into food.[20]Research
in Environmental Health Perspectives finds
that BPA leached from the lining of tin
cans, dental sealants and polycarbonate
bottles can increase body weight of lab
animals' offspring.[21] A more recent animal
study suggests that even low-level exposure
to BPA results in insulin resistance, which
can lead to inflammation and heart disease.
[22]

As of January 2010, the LA Times

newspaper reports that the United States
FDA is spending $30 million to investigate
suspicious indications of BPA being linked to
cancer.[23]
Bis(2-ethylhexyl) adipate, present in plastic
wrap based on PVC, is also of concern, as
are the volatile organic compounds present
in new car smell.
The European Union has a permanent ban
on the use of phthalates in toys. In 2009, the
United States government banned certain
types of phthalates commonly used in
plastic.[24]
[edit]Environmental issues

Further information: Marine debris

Plastics are durable and degrade very
slowly; the molecular bonds that make
plastic so durable make it equally resistant to
natural processes of degradation. Since the
1950s, one billion tons of plastic have been
discarded and may persist for hundreds or
even thousands of years.[25] In some cases,
burning plastic can release toxic fumes.
Burning the plastic polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
may create dioxin.[26] Also, the manufacturing
of plastics often creates large quantities of
chemical pollutants.
Prior to the ban on the use of CFCs in
extrusion of polystyrene (and general use,
except in life-critical fire suppression
systems; seeMontreal Protocol), the
production of polystyrene contributed to the
depletion of the ozone layer; however, non-
CFCs are currently used in the extrusion
process.
By 1995, plastic recycling programs were
common in the United States and elsewhere.
Thermoplastics can be remelted and reused,
and thermoset plastics can be ground up
and used as filler, though the purity of the
material tends to degrade with each reuse
cycle. There are methods by which plastics
can be broken back down to a feedstock
state.
Plastic can be converted as a fuel. Plastic is
made from crude, so it can be broken down
to liquid hydrocarbon. One kilogram of waste
plastic produces a liter of hydrocarbon.
Plastic wastes are used in cement plants as
a fuel.[27][28][29]
To assist recycling of disposable items, the
Plastic Bottle Institute of the Society of the
Plastics Industry devised a now-familiar
scheme to mark plastic bottles by plastic
type. A plastic container using this scheme is
marked with a triangle of three "chasing
arrows", which encloses a number giving the
plastic type:

Plastics type marks: the resin identification code

1. PET (PETE), polyethylene

terephthalate
 2. HDPE, high-density polyethylene
3. PVC, polyvinyl chloride
4. LDPE, low-density polyethylene,
5. PP, polypropylene
6. PS, polystyrene
7. Other types of plastics (see
list, below)
Unfortunately, recycling of plastics has
proven to be a difficult process. The biggest
problem is that it is difficult to automate the
sorting of plastic wastes, making it labor
intensive. Typically, workers sort the plastic
by looking at the resin identification code,
although common containers like soda
bottles can be sorted from memory.
Typically, the caps for PETE bottles are
made from a different kind of plastic which is
not recyclable, which presents additional
problems to the automated sorting process.
Other recyclable materials such as metals
are easier to process mechanically.
However, new processes of mechanical
sorting are being developed to increase
capacity and efficiency of plastic recycling.
While containers are usually made from a
single type and color of plastic, making them
relatively easy to be sorted, a consumer
product like a cellular phone may have many
small parts consisting of over a dozen
different types and colors of plastics. In such
cases, the resources it would take to
separate the plastics far exceed their value
and the item is discarded. However,
developments are taking place in the field
ofactive disassembly, which may result in
more consumer product components being
re-used or recycled. Recycling certain types
of plastics can be unprofitable, as well. For
example, polystyrene is rarely recycled
because it is usually not cost effective.
These unrecycled wastes are typically
disposed of in landfills, incinerated or used
to produce electricity at waste-to-
energy plants.
[edit]Biodegradable (compostable) plastics
Main article: Biodegradable plastic
Research has been done
on biodegradable plastics that break down
with exposure to sunlight (e.g., ultra-violet
radiation), water or dampness, bacteria,
enzymes, wind abrasion and some instances
rodent pest or insect attack are also included
as forms of biodegradation orenvironmental
degradation. It is clear some of these modes
of degradation will only work if the plastic is
exposed at the surface, while other modes
will only be effective if certain conditions
exist in landfill or composting
systems. Starch powder has been mixed
with plastic as a filler to allow it to degrade
more easily, but it still does not lead to
complete breakdown of the plastic. Some
researchers have actually genetically
engineered bacteria that synthesize a
completely biodegradable plastic, but this
material, such as Biopol, is expensive at
present.[30] TheGerman chemical
company BASF makes Ecoflex, a fully
biodegradable polyester for food packaging
applications.
[edit]Bioplastics
Main article: Bioplastic
Some plastics can be obtained from
biomass, including:
 from pea starch film with trigger
biodegradation properties for agricultural
applications (TRIGGER).[31]
[32]
 from biopetroleum.

[edit]Oxo-biodegradable
Main article: Oxo Biodegradable
Oxo-biodegradable (OBD) plastic is
polyolefin plastic to which has been added
very small (catalytic) amounts of metal salts.
As long as the plastic has access to oxygen
(as in a littered state), these additives
catalyze the natural degradation process to
speed it up so that the OBD plastic will
degrade when subject to environmental
conditions. Once degraded to a small
enough particle they can interact with
biological processes to produce to water,
carbon dioxide and biomass. The process is
shortened from hundreds of years to months
for degradation and thereafter
biodegradation depends on the micro-
organisms in the environment. Typically this
process is not fast enough to meet ASTM
D6400 standards for definition as
compostable plastics.
[edit]Price, environment, and the future

The biggest threat to the conventional

plastics industry is most likely to be
environmental concerns, including the
release of toxic pollutants,greenhouse
gas, litter, biodegradable and non-
biodegradable landfill impact as a result of
the production and disposal of petroleum
and petroleum-based plastics. Of particular
concern has been the recent accumulation
of enormous quantities of plastic trash
in ocean gyres.
For decades one of the great appeals of
plastics has been their low price. Yet in
recent years the cost of plastics has been
rising dramatically. A major cause is the
sharply rising cost of petroleum, the raw
material that is chemically altered to form
commercial plastics.
With some observers suggesting that
future oil reserves are uncertain, the price of
petroleum may increase further. Therefore,
alternatives are being sought. Oil
shale and tar oil are alternatives for plastic
production but are expensive. Scientists are
seeking cheaper and better alternatives to
petroleum-based plastics, and many
candidates are in laboratories all over the
world. One promising alternative may be
fructose.[33]
[edit]Common plastics and uses
A chair made with a polypropylene seat

 Polyester (PES) - Fibers, textiles.

 Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) -

Carbonated drinks bottles, peanut butter

jars, plastic film, microwavable packaging.
 Polyethylene (PE) - Wide range of

inexpensive uses including supermarket

bags, plastic bottles.
 High-density polyethylene - Detergent

bottles and milk jugs.

 Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) - Plumbing

pipes and guttering, shower curtains,

window frames, flooring.
 Polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC) (Saran) -
Food packaging.
 Low-density polyethylene (LDPE)

- Outdoor furniture, siding, floor tiles,

shower curtains, clamshell packaging.
 Polypropylene (PP) - Bottle caps,

drinking straws, yogurt containers,

appliances, car fenders (bumpers), plastic
pressure pipe systems.
 Polystyrene (PS) - Packaging

foam/"peanuts", food containers, plastic

tableware, disposable cups, plates, cutlery,
CD and cassette boxes.
 High impact polystyrene (HIPS) -:

Refrigerator liners, food packaging,

vending cups.
 Polyamides (PA) (Nylons) - Fibers,

toothbrush bristles, fishing line, under-the-

hood car engine moldings.
 Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) -

Electronic equipment cases (e.g.,

computer monitors, printers, keyboards),
drainage pipe.
  Polycarbonate (PC) - Compact
discs, eyeglasses, riot shields, security
windows, traffic lights, lenses.
 Polycarbonate/Acrylonitrile Butadiene

Styrene (PC/ABS) - A blend of PC and

ABS that creates a stronger plastic. Used
in car interior and exterior parts, and
mobile phone bodies.
 Polyurethanes (PU) - Cushioning foams,

thermal insulation foams, surface coatings,

printing rollers (Currently 6th or 7th most
commonly used plastic material, for
instance the most commonly used plastic
found in cars).
[edit]Special purpose plastics
 Melamine formaldehyde (MF) - One of
the aminoplasts, and used as a multi-
colorable alternative to phenolics, for
instance in moldings (e.g., break-
resistance alternatives to ceramic cups,
plates and bowls for children) and the
decorated top surface layer of the paper
laminates (e.g., Formica).
 Plastarch material - Biodegradable and

heat resistant, thermoplastic composed

of modified corn starch.
 Phenolics (PF) or (phenol

formaldehydes) - High modulus, relatively

heat resistant, and excellent fire resistant
polymer. Used for insulating parts in
electrical fixtures, paper laminated
products (e.g., Formica), thermally
insulation foams. It is a thermosetting
plastic, with the familiar trade name
Bakelite, that can be molded by heat and
pressure when mixed with a filler-like wood
flour or can be cast in its unfilled liquid
form or cast as foam (e.g., Oasis).
Problems include the probability of
moldings naturally being dark colors (red,
green, brown), and as thermoset it is
difficult to recycle.
 Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) - Strong,

chemical- and heat-resistant

thermoplastic, biocompatibility allows for
use in medical implantapplications,
aerospace moldings. One of the most
expensive commercial polymers.
 Polyetherimide (PEI) (Ultem) - A high

temperature, chemically stable polymer

that does not crystallize.
 Polylactic acid (PLA) - A biodegradable,

thermoplastic found converted into a

variety of aliphatic polyesters derived
from lactic acid which in turn can be made
by fermentation of various agricultural
products such as corn starch, once made
from dairy products.
 Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) -

Contact lenses, glazing (best known in this

form by its various trade names around the
world; e.g., Perspex, Oroglas, Plexiglas),
aglets, fluorescent light diffusers, rear light
covers for vehicles. It forms the basis of
artistic and commercialacrylic paints when
suspended in water with the use of other
agents.
  Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) - Heat-
resistant, low-friction coatings, used in
things like non-stick surfaces for frying
pans, plumber's tape and water slides. It is
more commonly known as Teflon.
 Urea-formaldehyde (UF) - One of the

aminoplasts and used as a multi-colorable

alternative to phenolics. Used as a wood
adhesive (for plywood, chipboard,
hardboard) and electrical switch housings.
[edit]