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CH1012
PLASTICS
• Polyethylene (HDPE) is produced on a vast
scale (10.4 MT/y) as are: polyvinylchloride (PVC), PolyTetraFluoroEthene (Teflon) …
• Plastic is a term applied to materials that
can be formed into various shapes by the
use of heat & pressure.
• Thermoplastic is a plastic
which can be reshaped.
eg. HDPE recycling.
• Thermosetting plastic is
fixed into a shape thru an
irreversible reaction.
eg. rubber
Kevlar®
Kevlar ropes are >20 stronger than steel ropes
H-bonds
Celluloid – the first plastic     Adhesives – epoxy resins are hardest
Biodegradeable polymers – may be broken down by enzymes.
Polyurethane, PVC, polystyrene, TEFLON, nylon6,6