What is plastic - 2 ?
How is Plastic Formed?
"Plastic" is not one single material. There are many types of plastics which are made of synthetic and organic compounds. Several molecules of the same compound form inter linkages with each other to form long chains. These chains are called polymers ("poly" meaning "many" and "meros" meaning "parts"). The basic compound that is repeated in the polymer is called the "base unit" of the polymer. Polymers which possess high molecular mass or which are made up of a large number of base molecules ar called plastics.
Composition of Plastic
The chain of the polymer is formed by multiple linkages of certain atoms of the compound, usually being carbon, oxygen or nitrogen. The property to form these chain linkages between similar atoms is called "catenation". The polymeric linkage forms the "Backbone" of the polymer. The other functional groups hang from the backbone.
Examples of plastics
Polyethylene (commonly referred to as polythene and popularly used sa carry bags in grocery stores and plastic bottles)
Poly Vinyl Chloride (commonly referred to as "PVC" and are used to make pipes and insulation material of wires)
Poly Tetra-Fluoro Ethylene (commonly known as "Thflon" and is popularly used as a coating for non-stick cookware)
Polyester (used in making fibres for textile industry)
Poly Ethylene Terephthalate (commonly referred to as "PET" and used to make bottles for carbonated drinks)
Poly Styrene (commonly used to make packaging foam material and plastic comtainers)













