Understanding Plastics: Definition, History, and Recycling

 
 
 
What is a Plastic?
Definition of Plastic from 
www.dictionary.com
 
 - any
 
of
 a group 
of
 
synthetic
 
or
 
natural
 
organic
 materials
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.
 
History of Plastics
References of plastic as far back as the Old Testament
1846
 in Europe, Charles Schönbein accidentally discovered 
nitrocellulose
1851
 Ebonite (hard rubber) discovered, was the first thermosetting material to be
prepared
1870
 John W. Hyatt reacts nitrocellulose with camphor to make 
celluloid
1890s – 1907
 Formaldehyde Resins very important alternative to celluloid
particularly 
casein
.
1909
 Leo Baekeland synthesized 
bakelite. 
Led to a class of plastics known as
phenolic resins.
1930’s
 Wallace Carruthers, a Dupont Chemist, invents plastic polymer known as
nylon
.
1930-1940
 initial commercial development of today’s major thermoplastics, PVC,
LDPE, PS. The advent of WW II in 1939 brought plastics into great demand.
1945-1955 
First Decade after WW II saw the development of PP, HDPE, and the
growth of new plastic in many applications
1978
 Linear low density polyethylene introduced (Density of 0.90 – 0.96) reduced
the cost of their production drastically
 
 
Plastics Today
Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI) founded in 1937.
Developed a Resin Identification Code (RIC) in 1988 to
help with the recycling of the different plastics
available.
There are 7 categories within the RIC.
1 – PET (polyethylene terephthalate)
2 – HDPE (high density polyethylene)
3 – V or PVC (Vinyl or Poly (vinyl chloride))
4 – LDPE (low density polyethylene)
5 – PP (polypropylene)
6 – PS (polystyrene)
7 – Other (mixed plastics)
 
1 – PET (polyethylene terephthalate)
(-CO-
C
6
H
4
-CO-O-CH
2
-CH
2
-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 
C
6
H
4
 highlighted in the molecular formula above represents a
benzene ring. Benzene is generally considered a carcinogenic substance.
 
2 – HDPE (high density polyethylene)
(-CH
2
-CH
2
-)
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)
(-CH
2
-CH
Cl
-)
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)
( - CH
2 
- CH
2 
- )
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)
(-CHCH
3
-CH
2
-)
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)
(-CH
C
6
H
5
-CH
2
-)
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: 
C
6
H
5
 in the molecular formula comprises a benzene
ring. Benzene is generally considered a carcinogenic
substance.
 
7 – Other (misc. plastics)
Properties:
 varies according to constituent resins
 
Statistic:
 In 1999 there was minimal usage of resins in the 'other'
category in plastic bottles.
 
Description:
 The category of "Other" includes any resin not specifically
numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6, or combinations of one or more of these
resins.
 
Packaging applications:
 Three and five gallon water bottles, certain
food product bottles
 
Recycled products: 
Plastic lumber, custom-made products
 
Videos
 
1944 Plastic Science and Chemistry video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKKFe4Y-
9EA
 
 
References
 
SPI -
http://www.plasticsindustry.org/AboutPlastics/content.cfm?ItemNumbe
r=670
 
SPI -
http://www.plasticsindustry.org/AboutPlastics/content.cfm?ItemNumbe
r=823&navItemNumber=2144
 
How stuff works - 
http://science.howstuffworks.com/plastic1.htm
 
EPA - 
http://www.epa.gov/osw/conserve/materials/plastics.htm
 
Earth Odyssey - 
http://www.earthodyssey.com/symbols.html
 
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Plastics are versatile materials that can be shaped when soft and hardened, replacing traditional materials like glass and wood. The history of plastics dates back centuries, with key milestones in the development of different types of plastics. Today, the Society of the Plastics Industry plays a crucial role in promoting recycling through the Resin Identification Code (RIC), categorizing plastics for efficient recycling. Explore the world of plastics, including the popular PET (polyethylene terephthalate) and its various applications in packaging and recycled products.


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  1. PLASTICS

  2. What is a Plastic? Definition of Plastic from www.dictionary.com - any of a group of synthetic or natural organic materials 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.

  3. History of Plastics References of plastic as far back as the Old Testament 1846 in Europe, Charles Sch nbein accidentally discovered nitrocellulose 1851 Ebonite (hard rubber) discovered, was the first thermosetting material to be prepared 1870 John W. Hyatt reacts nitrocellulose with camphor to make celluloid 1890s 1907 Formaldehyde Resins very important alternative to celluloid particularly casein. 1909 Leo Baekeland synthesized bakelite. Led to a class of plastics known as phenolic resins. 1930 s Wallace Carruthers, a Dupont Chemist, invents plastic polymer known as nylon. 1930-1940initial commercial development of today s major thermoplastics, PVC, LDPE, PS. The advent of WW II in 1939 brought plastics into great demand. 1945-1955 First Decade after WW II saw the development of PP, HDPE, and the growth of new plastic in many applications 1978 Linear low density polyethylene introduced (Density of 0.90 0.96) reduced the cost of their production drastically

  4. Plastics Today Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI) founded in 1937. Developed a Resin Identification Code (RIC) in 1988 to help with the recycling of the different plastics available. There are 7 categories within the RIC. 1 PET (polyethylene terephthalate) 2 HDPE (high density polyethylene) 3 V or PVC (Vinyl or Poly (vinyl chloride)) 4 LDPE (low density polyethylene) 5 PP (polypropylene) 6 PS (polystyrene) 7 Other (mixed plastics)

  5. 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.

  6. 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

  7. 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.

  8. 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.)

  9. 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

  10. 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.

  11. 7 Other (misc. plastics) Properties: varies according to constituent resins Statistic: In 1999 there was minimal usage of resins in the 'other' category in plastic bottles. Description: The category of "Other" includes any resin not specifically numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6, or combinations of one or more of these resins. Packaging applications: Three and five gallon water bottles, certain food product bottles Recycled products: Plastic lumber, custom-made products

  12. Videos 1944 Plastic Science and Chemistry video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKKFe4Y- 9EA

  13. References SPI - http://www.plasticsindustry.org/AboutPlastics/content.cfm?ItemNumbe r=670 SPI - http://www.plasticsindustry.org/AboutPlastics/content.cfm?ItemNumbe r=823&navItemNumber=2144 How stuff works - http://science.howstuffworks.com/plastic1.htm EPA - http://www.epa.gov/osw/conserve/materials/plastics.htm Earth Odyssey - http://www.earthodyssey.com/symbols.html

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