Introduction The term Plastic was derived from the Greek plastikos, which means fit for molding. According to the property of there strength, plastics are divided into two categories. 1. Soft plastic 2 Hard plastic (Bakelite) Which are further sub divided into different categories according to there manufacture. 1. Synthetic Plastic 2.Non-synthetic Plastic
Plastics are manufactured in different forms such as
moulding pipes, sheets and films. They are formed or expanded to produce materials
of low density. Dissolved in solvents or dispersed as emulsions, they are used in paints, varnishes and adhesives. At present, use of plastic in buildings, mainly in thin coverings, panels, sheets, foams, pipes etc. skilful use of plastics will expand the usefulness and life of conventional building materials and help them to function more efficiently and economically
Classification Plastics are a wide variety of combinations of properties when viewed as a whole. There are two types of plastic materials which are classified according to there chemical and physical property as well. 1. Thermoplastics 2. Thermosetting Plastics.
Thermoplastics Thermoplastic, also known as a thermo-softening
plastic Thermoplastic means that when it is heated it turns to liquid rather than burning, and when cooled takes on the properties of a solid Semi-transparent state when cooled sufficiently.
Polythene Polyethylene is a plastic material known technically as a thermoplastic. Forms are: waxy flexible plastic (low-
density polythene) tougher rigid more crystalline form (high-density polythene) Polythene is used for packaging, moulded articles, pipes and tubing, insulation, textiles, and coatings on metal
Characteristics & Properties
Polyethylene is capable of being moulded, extruded(shaping it
by thrusting) and cast into many various shapes.
It is often used in construction as it is cheap and can be shaped or moulded easily, this is why it is appropriated to be used for the jobs such as guttering. It is a hard, stiff, strong and a dimensionally stable material that absorbs very little water It has good gas barrier properties and good chemical resistance against acids, greases and oils. Moreover it is Bio-degradable by doing special treatment Polyethylene also has good self extinguishing properties and resistance against ultra violet. Polyethylene sheet is used for many kinds of weatherproofing and can be a permanent weather barrier on exterior walls
Polyvinyl Chloride Polyvinyl chloride is a synthetic thermoplastic material made by polymerizing vinyl chloride.The
properties depend on the added
plasticizer. The flexible forms are used in hosepipes, insulation, shoes, garments, etc. Rigid PVC is used for moulded articles It is a common thermoplastic resin, used in a wide variety of manufactured products, including rainwear, garden hoses, floor tiles
Characteristics & Properties Very good thermal and acoustic insulation:
The multi-groove PVC profiles exhibit very
low thermal conductivity which means greater thermal insulation. Hence PVC is particularly suitable for fabrication of windows and doors No maintenance: coating or surface treatment, PVC is not altered by atmospheric agents. Flexibility in design: PVC can safely be used in all contexts. PVC is self-extinguishing or flame retardant, therefore it is very safe for all types of application and construction. Moreover PVC does not pollute the environment and can be fully recycled.
Polyvinyl Acetate Polyvinyl acetate is a hard, colourless, and non-toxic substance It is soluble in many organic solvents but not in gasoline, mineral oils, or water. Polyvinyl acetate softens at
low temperatures (26-28 C) and
exhibits cold flow and high adhesion to various materials. A colourless , odourless, tasteless resin used in emulsion paints, adhesives, sealers, and for sealing porous surfaces
Characteristics & Properties
It is used primarily in adhesives, both emulsion and hot-melt
types. It is also used in water based emulsion paints
As an emulsion in water, PVAc emulsions are used as adhesives for porous materials, particularly for wood, paper, and cloth, and as a consolidant (making firm) for porous building stone, in particular sandstone Used: as wood glue PVAc is known as "white glue" and the yellow "carpenter's glue" or PVA glue. for handcrafted works. as envelope adhesives, as wallpaper adhesive
Polypropylene Polypropylene is any of various tough flexible synthetic thermoplastic materials made by polymerizing propylene a
Used for making moulded
articles, laminates, bottles, pipes, and fibres for ropes, bristles, upholstery, and carpets Polypropylenes are similar to polyethylene's but are harder and tougher and are used to
make molded articles and
fibers.
Characteristics & Properties
Polypropylene mixes well with
different types of dyes and its
colourful fibers make beautiful carpets which have high durability. These carpets can be kept near swimming pools or other such areas where it is exposed to a lot of water. It does not promote growth of bacteria on its surface and hence, it is used in various medical equipment. In the construction sector, the uses of polypropylene are in manufacturing of pumps and different types of pipes. Moreover, Polypropylene is recyclable
Polymethyl Metha-Crylate It is a transparent thermoplastic , often used as a lightweight or shatter-resistant alternative to glass It is sometimes called Acrylic glass
Characteristics & Properties
Its properties include weatherability and scratch resistance It is available commercially in both pellet and sheet form The most serious deficiencies are low impact strength and
poor chemical resistance
Acrylic panels have been used to redirect sunlight into a light pipe or tubular skylight and, from there, to spread it into a room
Polystyrene A polymer of styrene, a rigid transparent thermoplastic that has good physical and electrical insulating
properties It is used especially in moulded products, foams, and sheet materials Used as a white rigid foam (expanded polystyrene) for insulating and packing and as a glasslike material in light fittings and water tanks
Characteristics & Properties
EPS(Expanded Polystyrene) sheets and boards are used for
thermal and sound insulation in walls, roofs and on floors,
Due to good thermo physical properties of polystyrene Loose beads are used as an aggregate in lightweight concrete, plasters and renderings Other uses include under floor heating systems, drainage
boards, permanent formwork, foundation and prefabricated
wall systems. Since, EPS remains unaffected by micro-organisms in soil, it is ideal for geothermic insulation beneath roads, around foundations and in embankments where it prevents soil break-up through freezing.
Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene
(ABS) It is an amorphous, thermoplastic polymer that is often injection moulded because it has good heat
and impact resistance
Combines the advantages of hardness and strength of the vinyl resin component with the toughness and impact resistance of the rubbery component.
Characteristics & Properties
Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) is a black plastic piping
material. It is porous in nature due to the way it is manufactured. Its porosity lessens the strength of the material, but also reduces manufacturing costs. ABS's light weight and ability to be injection moulded and extruded make it useful in manufacturing products such as drain-waste-vent (DWV) pipe systems It's typically used for drains or vent stacks. Vents stacks are simply a vent to allow air to escape up through the roof, and drains have very little pressure.
Nylon It is a synthetic thermoplastic material characterized
by strength, elasticity, resistance to abrasion and
chemicals, low moisture absorbency, and capacity to be permanently set by heat. Nylon is very strong and elastic, and can be formed into fibers, sheets, or bristles. It is used to make fabrics, plastics, and moulded products.
Characteristics & Properties
Variation of lustre : nylon has the ability to be very lustrous, semi
lustrous or dull. Durability : its high tenacity fibers are used for seatbelts, tire cords, ballistic cloth and other uses. High elongation Excellent abrasion resistance Paved the way for easy-care garments High resistance to insects, fungi, animals, as well as moulds, mildew, rot and many chemicals Used in carpets and nylon stockings Melts instead of burning Used in many military applications Good specific strength Transparent to infrared light
Polycarbonate Any of a class of
thermoplastics characterized by highimpact strength, light weight, and flexibility, and used as shatterresistant substitutes for glass Strong transparent thermoplastic resins used in moulding materials, laminates, etc.
Characteristics & Properties
Polycarbonate has excellent impact resistance, approximately
250 times that of glass , it is perfect for machine guards and
window replacement in high impact areas. It is a versatile, tough plastic used for a variety of applications, from bulletproof windows to compact disks (CDs). The main advantage of polycarbonate over other types of plastic is unbeatable strength combined with light weight. While acrylic is 17% stronger than glass, polycarbonate is nearly unbreakable Bulletproof windows and enclosures as seen inside banks or at drive-throughs are often made of polycarbonate Only drawback is that it is more expensive than either acrylic or glass. Polycarbonate roofing panels are a durable, long-lasting
Thermosetting Plastic Thermosetting plastics are simply plastics when
moulded into shape and allowed to cool will not
change shape when heated again they will char or burn
Polyester Resin It is one of the group of synthetic resins which undergo polymerization during curing Advantageous because high pressure is not required for curing It has excellent adhesive
properties, high strength, good
chemical resistance Especially, used in laminating and impregnating(soaking) materials
Characteristics & Properties
Polyester resin is used as a source of lightweight strength Prefabricated shower stalls and closet fixtures are often made
of a mixture of polyester resin and acrylic
Decorative metal pieces are often gel-coated with a polyester
resin-based colorant to match decor.
Many decorative architectural details such as columns and
balustrades can be carved from hard foam, coated with
fiberglass and polyester resin for strength and weatherproofing, and painted to match the building.
Polyurethane Polyurethane is widely varying in flexibility, used in tough chemical-resistant coatings, adhesives, and
foams
Commonly used as a foam
(polyurethane foam) for insulation and packing, as fibres and hard inert coatings
Characteristics & Properties
The material offers good adhesion to numerous substrates,
such as concrete, wood, plastic, and glass due to its elasticity
and structural properties Properly applied, polyurethane foams can effectively control air leakage, and reduce drafts and noise between walls and floors The largest use of polyurethane adhesive is the moisture curable system it joins sub-flooring to floor joists in combination with nails. This adhesive bonding is also used in both floors and exterior walls. A two-part polyurethane adhesive is the predominant adhesive used for attaching the ceiling gypsum wallboard to the truss rafters
Synthetic Resin Synthetic resins are materials with a property of interest that is similar to natural plant resins
They are viscous liquids
that are capable of hardening permanently. Any of a large number of resin-like products made either by polymerization or condensation, or by
modifying a natural material.
Characteristics & Properties
Synthetic resin is typically manufactured using a chemical
polymerization process, which results in the creation of
polymers that are more stable and homogeneous than naturally occurring resin. Since they are more stable and are cheaper, various forms of
synthetic resin are used in a variety of products such as
plastics, paints, varnishes, and textiles The applications of synthetic resins are seen in paint industry,
adhesive industry, the textile industry, the floor polish, paper
etc.
Rubber
A yellowish, amorphous, elastic
material obtained from the
milky sap or latex of various
tropical plants, especially the rubber tree It is then vulcanized, pigmented, finished And modified into products such as electric insulation, elastic bands and belts, tires, and containers. A highly resilient material, capable of recovering from large
Characteristics & Properties
The chief characteristics which make rubber great for
structural purpose are:
Its strength of its bonding to metals and other substrates Its ability to deformability Its resistance to attack by corrosive chemicals, its resistance to abrasion(cut, scratch) Its good electrical properties Its ease of moulding or forming to any shape and size. Rubber is also used for protection of other materials against fire, heat and wearing It gives excellent performance, in vibration and shock dampening In elimination of structural noise and is the ultimate material for sealing systems.
Name High Density Polyethylene Low Density Polyethylene Polyvinyl Chloride Polypropylene Polyethylene terephthalate Polymethylmethacrylate Polycarbonate Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene Polyamide Polyimide Polysulfone
