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Plastic

Can you name different products made out of plastic ?

Can you think of advantages or disadvantages of


using plastics in our daily lives?
Plastics
Task name 10 objects made of plastic that is in close proximity to you.
Plastic
how do we use plastics in our homes?

Photographs below courtesy of www.bodieandfou.com www.thelollipopshoppe.co.uk


Plastic

Can you think of ways we use plastics in:


packaging

Can you think of ways we use plastics in:


entertainment
Plastic

This material is man made and is a by


product of the oil industry.
There are two types of plastic :

Thermoplastics

Thermosetting
Thermoplastics materials
These are described as plastics that can
be reformed using heat : this plastic has
a memory, it returns to its original flat
shape when re-heated.

Here are some examples and their uses : Polypropylene

Acrylic available in almost any colour in sheet


rod or tube form, can be shaped using a line
bender or vacuum former.

ABS a very commonly used plastic can be injection moulded from a powder form.

Styrene very good for vacuum forming.

thermoplastic resin. ABS.


Thermosetting materials Kettle saucepan handles

These are described as plastics that do


not reform using heat, they SET
and cannot be reshaped .
Here are some examples and their uses :

Urea formaldehyde electric plugs


and sockets

Melamine kitchen worktops,


unbreakable drink mugs

Polyester resin poured into moulds to


make products or for boat repair
Harry Allens paper weight/doorstop
made from resin
Materials - Plastics
Materials Plastics
Plastics are synthetic resinous substances that can be moulded with the help of heat or pressure.
There are two main classes of plastics:
Thermosetting plastics that can only be heated and be moulded once. If re-heated they cannot soften.
Thermoplastics plastics that are moulded by heating and can be remoulded if heated again.
Thermoplastics soften when heated and can be shaped when hot. The plastic will harden
as it cools down.
Thermoplastic Thermoplastic Thermoplastic uses Example outcomes
properties
Acrylics or Perspex Stiff, hard, shiny, brittle in Used for signs, key rings,
(Polymethyl small sections, durable, lighting, storage containers
Methacrylate) scratches easily, available
in different colours, good
electrical insulator

High impact polystyrene Light but strong plastic, Used for vacuum forming and
(HIPS) available in sheets in a making outer casings and
variety of thicknesses and packaging for products
colours and softens at
about 95 degrees

Acetate Hard, shiny and Used in badge-making,


translucent/transparent packaging and for overhead
projector transparencies

Expanded polystyrene White, lightweight and Used for protective or


(styrofoam) crumbly insulating packaging
Materials - Plastics
Materials Plastics
Thermoplastic Thermoplastic
properties
Thermoplastic uses Example outcomes

Polypropylene (PP) Light, hard, flexible but Used for different kinds of
can scratch easily. Durable packaging, chairs,
to wear and has good gadgets, textiles and
resistance to chemicals automotive components

Low density Soft, flexible, good Used for packaging film,


polyethylene (LDPE) resistance to chemicals, carrier bags, bottles, toys
good electrical insulator,
tough

High density Hard, stiff and strong. Able Used for plastic bottles,
polyethylene (HDPE) to be sterilised tubing and household
equipment

Corrugated plastic Lightweight, rigid and Used for sign boards and
weatherproof folders

Low-tack masking film Flexible and transparent Used to position sticky-


backed vinyl letters or
images onto a chosen
surface. Used for creating
signs, stencils and vehicle
signage

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) Stiff, hard wearing, brittle Used for blister packs,
but can be treated to window frames, records
make it softer and more and clothing
rubbery
Its just another plastic bag!
Are there any problems or issues with using
carrier bags ?

Task 1 in smalls group, list three advantages


and disadvantages of using carrier bags.

Task 2 in your group consider two ways of


improving any problems that you have identified.
How many supermarket carrier bag does the 5 15 12 20
average shopper use to carry goods home every
week?

How could this number be reduced? By using shopper bags, how many carrier
bags could we cut down on using in a year?
Shopper
20 plastic bags a week x 52 weeks = 1,040
bags

Supermarkets hand out 1.75 billion bags a year.


Just one more phone it wont matter.

What happened to your old mobile phone?

11 million people expect to get a new


mobile phone over Christmas in the UK.

2 million mobile phones are expected to go on


the scrapheap during a Christmas period.

What can be done to improve this?


Before we use plastic materials aspects for consideration
Plastic and sustainability aspects.

Plastic is a precious resource made


from oil. Because it is such a versatile
material, we use it a lot.
Working in small groups discuss the
following and feed back to the class.

1. List 5 products where plastic is the


best material to use.
2. List 5 plastic products that no-one
should ever bothered making.

3. List 5 plastic products that would be


better made from a different materials.

Photographs courtesy of photo gallery wales.

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