The True Nature Of Polymers

In fact, many of the major plastics used today began when commissioned to be used for the war effort (Freinkel, 6). When plastic was first brought to The United States, the American people loved it. Not only can plastic imitate other materials, but it is also much more affordable. Overall, plastic is cheap. The leap in plastic produced from the ‘40s until now is extremely substantial. For instance, in 1940 plastic was hardly used, in 1960 a single American used close to 30 pounds of plastic per year, today each individual uses more than 300 pounds of plastic per year (Freinkel, 6). A major impact on the amount of plastic used is directly related to the way Americans, starting in the 1940s, were now able to mass produce plastic products. For instance, a single plastic comb making machine could reproduce ten combs in less than one minute (Freinkel, 22). Overall, plastic is relatively inexpensive and it is made for mass manufacture. Considering this it is east to see why plastic became so popular in the first place, it was a plastic miracle. However, there is a direct relationship between the amount of plastic produced and the amount of plastics that are being polluted into the

Developed techniques of plastic

We found that Polypropylene was our 5th unknown. Polypropylene (C3H6) or more commonly referred to as PP, is used for labeling, packaging, textiles, and stationery. In 1957, the crystallization of polymer was discovered. Soon fabric was made from the polymer, and was in high demand. It can also be used for moldings of cars, film, tape, foam and carpet. Polypropylene can not be glued to any objects or itself, and so it is melded. After Polyethylene, Polypropylene is the highest produced synthetic plastic. Polypropylene also holds up well over time, which is one of the reasons that it is the second most produced plastic. The melting point is between 130-171 degrees celsius. Because polypropylene is tough and flexible it can be used as an engineering plastic. Finally, polypropylene can be used be manufactured into a living hinge. A

During the 1920s, Nobel laureate Hermann Staudinger laid the groundwork for our modern understanding of polymer science. He suggested a new molecular model for polymers; one of long, chain-like molecules and not aggregates or cyclic compounds as previously thought. In 1928, his models were confirmed by Meyer and Mark. These two scientists studied the dimensions of natural rubber using x-ray techniques. By the 1930s, models were widely accepted and extensive development of synthetic polymers began in

The book discusses the origin of plastic; John Wesley Hyatt created one of the first synthetic plastic materials, celluloid, in 1869 (Freinkel, 2011, p. 16). His invention made it easier to create things at a much cheaper cost. As Freinkel puts it, “It helped fuel a growing demand for things, period” (Freinkel, 2011, p. 19). Ever since the growth of the plastic industry, our world has become one in which plastic is normal. In the introduction of her book, Freinkel walks around for a day recording everything

Rebecca Thickbloom of Clectic Designs has been working in polymer for six years. Her move to polymer was prompted by a need to challenge herself to create beads from scratch. After many years of jewelry design with semi-precious stones, she was ready for a new challenge. “My internet research led me to glass, aluminum and polymer,” she said. She was hooked on polymer after a beginning weekend course with Debbie Carlton, who later became her creative pal. She does not rule out a circle back to glass and aluminum with a polymer mix at a later date.

Since 2009, Maria Petkova has been working in polymer. She discovered the medium in 2003, but could not find any real information on it within her home country of Bulgaria, so she did not pursue it. She explains that there was only one brand of polymer in the chain art stores, and it was very expensive. That coupled with the lack of information on the medium made her less willing to experiment with it.

Song JH, (2009) states that “Many different materials are used for packaging including metals, glass, wood, paper or pulp, plastics or combinations of more than one material as composites” (p 364). What this means is that most of the packaging materials we use for packaging contain products that are very hard to de compose and end up in landfills. In order to achieve bio degradable packaging we should consider bioplastic polymers which “are generally still much higher than that of their traditional plastic counterparts” (364). Bioplastic polymers cost much more than regular polymers we use but, if we can help our planet and company become more environmental friendly, we should take that step and use bioplastic polymers for our

2) Excellent thermal insulation. 3) Resistance to thermal and mechanical shocks. 4) Easily manufactured in large sizes. There are three common types of ablative materials, including polymers that depolymerize due to the intense reentry heating, materials such as graphite that combust at the surface and release CO2 gas, and materials which undergo pyrolysis and vaporization. Recent studies have focused on a few different classes of materials, including traditional phenolic resins, nanocomposites, Teflons, carbon based materials, and ultra-high temperature ceramics. In order to accurately characterize these materials and assess their performance, it is necessary to perform tests which mimic the environmental conditions of atmospheric reentry as closely as possible. By combining physical principles, numerical modeling approaches, and high temperature arcjet testing experiments, it is possible to evaluate a potential ablative material during reentry conditions. In this study, we intend to do a broad survey of the current materials being investigated, the testing facilities available, and some of the most successful numerical models, in order to construct an accurate picture of the current developments in spacecraft heat

In 1937 two German workers produced a new polymer that had advantages over existing plastics made from polycondensation and was not covered by existing patients like that of Wallace Carothers polyesters patent. This polymer was polyurethane. Polyurethanes belong to the family of reaction polymers, which also consist of unsaturated polyesters epoxies and phenolics, it is produced by reacting an isocyanate containing two or more isocyanate groups per molecule with a polyol containing on average two or more hydroxy groups per molecule in the presence of a catalyst or by activation with ultraviolet light. The properties of polyurethane are directly related to the polyol, and isocyanates used. For instance, high amounts of crosslinking produce

Polymeric materials are consumed on the order of three million metric tons per year and account for the high standard of living in the developed world. For most applications, these materials must be plasticized. Traditionally, phthalate esters, owing both to cost and effectiveness, have been popular plasticizers. However, these materials may migrate from the host polymer, particularly for waste items discarded in a landfill, and enter the environment. They may bioaccumulate become part of the human diet and contribute to various negative health effects. As a consequence, new environmentally-benign plasticizers are being sought.

Although heavy and brittle, hardened clay and glass were used for storage. Some natural substances were sticky and moldable. Rubber wasn't very useful for storage because it eventually lost its ability to leap back into shape and became sticky when heated. The way plastics are manufactured has evolved from the use of natural plastic materials to the use of chemically modified, natural materials and finally to completely synthetic molecules. Early plastics were bio-derived materials, which are organic polymers. In 1600 BC, Mesoamericans used natural rubber for balls, bands, and figurines. In 1839, Charles Goodyear discovered a process in which sulfur reacted with crude rubber when heated and then cooled. The rubber became resilient upon cooling, it could stretch, but it snapped back to its original shape. It also retained its flexibility when heated. We now know that the sulfur forms chemical bonds between adjacent rubber polymer strands. The bonds cross-link the polymer strands, allowing them to go back to normal when stretched. Goodyear had discovered the process now known as vulcanization, which made rubber more

"Plastic" entered the world through chemistry in 1909 and was originally coined to describe Bakelite, the first fully synthetic resin. What make's plastic so unique is when it is heated it can be molded but it retained its shape when cooled (Reddy, 2010). The modern plastic bag was not possible until the accidental discovery of the first industrially practical method of polyethylene synthesis in 1933. Fast forward to today, the use and

Though polymers are a very beneficial thing now, but In the future I believe that at the very best that they will only hold the same value to society. I say this because polymers are not a very complicated item and it would be difficult to better this technology in a drastic way. The only further advancements I see are people discovering ways to make polymers stronger, more durable and better suited for extreme and

Investigations into developing a more sustainable and eco-friendly aspect of every day life are becoming a major priority. Without such investigations or developments in not only the food packaging sectors, but in many other major industries, this planet along with its inhabitants will surely succumb to the human lust of consumerism and ultimately the waste that such hunger produces. The implantation of ecofriendly “green” packaging options would see a sharp decline in the amount of waste that is produced each year and give the ability to recycle and to produce new items from previously used packaging. In this report the team discuss the concept of biodegradable plastics and their future implementation as “green” food packaging alternatives to the current form of non eco-friendly plastics that are in existing use. Biodegradability refers to a composites ability to be degraded by bacteria or other living organisms, plastics such as these can also be susceptible to water and ultraviolet rays as sources of decomposition with this aspect being discussed within the chapters of this report. As apart of this report, team members assess the discovery, life cycle as well as the current or future applications of three different types of bio-plastic. Contained within is discussion on Poly-Lactic Acid, Novamont’s thermoplastic starch-based polymer and …