What is PVC?

Posted on 4th February 2010 in Plastics Materials

Unplasticised Polyvinyl Chloride (uPVC) and Plasticised Polyvinyl Chloride (pPVC) has excellent transparency, chemical resistance, long term stability, good resistance against weather and stable electrical properties. Vinyl products can be broadly divided into rigid and flexible  materials.

Rigid PVC applications are used mostly in the construction industry, which include pipe and fittings, curtain railings, carpet backing and window frames. The use of PVC in pipe and fittings is attributed by its resistance to most chemicals, impervious to bacteria attacks or micro-organisms, corrosion resistance and strength.

Flexible PVC is used in wire and cable sheathing, insulation, film and sheet, floor coverings, synthetic leather products, coatings, blood bags and medical tubing.

PVC carries the recycle logo no. 3

Popularity: 39% [?]

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What is Acrylic?

Posted on 4th February 2010 in Plastics Materials

Acrylics are known for their crystal clarity and excellent durability against the weather. The “Acrylics” group of plastics includes several materials, but the most commercially used is Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA). PMMA has many general properties which include excellent weathering resistant particularly to UV light, impact resistant, thermal resistance, chemical resistance and flammability. Acrylics are used in a range of markets which include food handling trays, tail and indicator lamp lenses in automobiles, baths and basins, skylights and advertising displays, medical disposables, magnifying lenses, etc.

PMMA is classified under the recycle logo no. 7


Popularity: 37% [?]

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What is LDPE?

Posted on 4th February 2010 in Plastics Materials

PE

Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) is predominantly used in film applications due to its toughness, flexibility and 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 dry cleaned garment. 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.

LDPE carries the recycle logo no. 4

Popularity: 37% [?]

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What is HDPE?

Posted on 3rd February 2010 in Plastics Materials

PE

High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) is used for many packaging applications because it provides excellent moisture barrier properties and chemical resistance. However, HDPE, like all types of polyethylene, is limited to those food packaging applications that do not require an oxygen or C02 barrier.

As a film, HDPE is used in snack food packages and cereal box liners. In blow-moulded bottles, for milk and non-carbonated beverage bottles. In injection-moulded tub form, for packaging margarine, whipped toppings and deli foods.

Because HDPE has good chemical resistance, it is used for packaging many household as well as industrial chemicals such as detergents, bleach and acids. General uses of HDPE include injection-moulded beverage cases, bread trays as well as films for grocery sacks and bottles for beverages and household chemicals.

HDPE carries the recycle logo no. 2

Popularity: 36% [?]

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What is Polycarbonate?

Posted on 26th July 2009 in Plastics Materials

PC

Polycarbonate (PC) is one of the most widely used engineering    thermoplastics. Transparency, excellent toughness, thermal stability, good dimensional stability are some of the properties of PC. Compact discs, riot shields, vandal proof glazing, baby feeding bottles, electrical components, safety helmets and headlamp lenses are all typical applications for PC.

PC is known to contain Bisphenol A (BPA) – an organic compound used in the manufacture of PC and Epoxy resin. There are concerns about the use of BPA in consumer products (especially products used for food storage) and were regularly reported in the news media in 2008 after several governments issued reports questioning its safety. Some retailers even removed products containing BPA from their shelves.

Currently studies are still being carried by FDA, WHO, the European Food Safety Authority, and other agencies from various countries to establish what is the amount of BPA exposure that is considered harmful.

PC is classified under the recycle logo no.7 (others)

PC resin copy

Popularity: 37% [?]

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What is ABS?

Posted on 26th July 2009 in Plastics Materials

ABS

Acrylonitrile-butadienne-styrene (ABS) is the ideal material wherever – superlative surface quality, colorfast-ness and luster are required. ABS can be modified by the addition of additives and by varying the ratio of the three monomers Acrylonitrile, Butadiene and Styrene – the 3 chemicals that forms ABS. As such, the grades available include high and medium impact, high resistance and electroplatable (for chrome finishing). It has good balance of properties like toughness/strength/temperature resistance, coupled with the ease of molding and a high quality surface finish.

ABS has a wide range of applications that include domestic appliances; telephone handsets; computers and other office equipment housings; lawn mower covers; safety helmets; luggage shells; pipes and fittings. ABS is also used for  automotive interior and exterior trim components.  ABS producers has ability to tailor each grade to the requirement of various application, including electroplatable grades.

ABS is classified under recycle logo no. 7

ABS resin copy

Popularity: 39% [?]

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Types of Plastics Material

Posted on 11th April 2009 in Plastics Materials

List of known plastics material:


Common Thermoplastics:
Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)
Polyethylene (PE)
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
Polyproplene (PP)
Polystyrene (PS)

Engineering Thermoplastics:
Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS)
Celluloid
Cellulose Acetate
Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate (EVA)
Ethylene Vinyl Alcohol (EVOH)
Fluoroplastics (PTFE)
Ionomers
Liquid Crystal Polymer (LCP)
Polyacetal (POM) or Acetal
Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) or Acrylonitrile
Polyamide (PA) or Nylon
Polyamide-imide (PAI)
Polyaryletherketone (PAEK)
Polybutadiene (PBD)
Polybutylene Terephthalate (PBT)
Polycaprolactone (PCL)
Polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE)
Polycyclohexylene Dimethylene Terephthalate (PCT)
Polycarbonate (PC)
Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs)
Polyketone (PK)
Polyester
Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA) or Acrylic
Polyetherketoneketone (PEKK)
Polyetherimide (PEI)
Polyethersulfone (PES)
Polyethylenechlorinates (PEC)
Polyimide (PI)
Polylactic Acid (PLA)
Polymethylpentene (PMP)
Polyphenylene Oxide (PPO)
Polyphenylene Sulfide (PPS)
Polyphthalamide (PPA)
Polysulfone (PSU)
Polytrimethylene Terephthalate (PTT)
Polyurethane (PU)
Polyvinyl Acetate (PVA)
Polyvinylidene Chloride (PVDC)
Styrene Acrylonitrile (SAN or AS)

Thermoset Plastics:
Vulcanized Rubber
Phenolics (PF)
Duroplast
Urea Formaldehyde (UF)
Melamine (MF)
Epoxy Resin
Polyimides

Popularity: 41% [?]

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