PLASTIC (THERMOPLASTIC AND THERMOSETTING RESINS)

Outline of Coverage polymeric materials that have the capability of being molded or shaped, usually by the application of heat and pressure. This property of plasticity, often found in combination with other special properties such as low density, low electrical conductivity, transparency, and toughness, allows plastics to be made into a great variety of products. These include tough and lightweight beverage bottles made of polyethylene terephthalate, flexible garden hoses made of polyvinyl chloride, insulating food containers made of foamed polystyrene, and shatterproof windows made of polymethyl methacrylate. In this article a brief review of the essential properties of plastics is provided, followed by a more detailed description of their processing into useful products and subsequent recycling. For a fuller understanding of the materials from which plastics are made, the reader is advised to begin with the article industrial polymers, chemistry of. For an overview of the position of plastics within the broader field of industrial polymers, see Industrial Polymers: Outline of Coverage.