Origin Of Plastics

Origin of plastics

Introduction

Many theories say that plastic originated in the US. UU. In 1860. It all started with a competition that consisted of finding a way to replace ivory in another material to create billiard balls. The winner was a man named John Hyatt who managed to create the celluloid. In 1907 Leo Baekeland managed to create the baquelita, giving rise to what was known as the first thermostable plastic. Scientists inspired by this invention, created what they now know how polymers.

Developing

• Monomer:

Molecule with a low molecular mass which can be joined with other monomers forming macromolecules, or better calls, polymers.

• Polymer:

Combination of macromolecules, which are formed by the link of different types of molecules.

• Polymerization methods to obtain plastics:

To obtain plastic the most important step is polymerization, this refers to when the monomers form the chemical bonds resulting in a molecule with a high molecular weight, there are two main methods to obtain plastic, which are, the reaction ofcondensation and addition reaction. 

The main difference between these two polymerizations is that the condensation reaction creates by -products and on the other hand, the addition does not. Condensation generates by -products due to the fact that a small molecule is lost because the monomer loses atoms when it becomes part of the polymer.

The addition reaction is when the monomer is part of the polymer, without any loss of atoms.

Polyethylente Reftalate:

(PET) Monomers that constitute PET: Dimityl and ethylenglicol terephthalate. It is made up of crude oil, gas and air. Its main characteristics: synthetic, thermoplastic and copolymer polymer. Its structure is not uniform just as there is no order in it. Its main use is to serve as a container for food, liquids, household products, liquors, the more.

High density polyethylene:

(HDPE or PAD) is classified as polymeric, vinyl, thermoplastic, polyethylene and clearly density. Its chemical composition is (-ch2-ch2-) n. It is a polyethylene with high density as well as resistance, since there is a slight branch resulting in macromolecules do not have much distance between them. It is extremely crystalline greater than 90%. The most common and most surprising use is that of the elaboration of vests against bullets. It is very flexible, it is opaque, it is resistant against acids and alcohols.

Low density polyethylene:

(LDPE or PEBD) Monomers that constitute the LDPE: Ethylene or Eteno. It is classified as polymer, thermoplastic, vinyl, polyethylene and low density as its name says. Its branch is very high, they can be short or long chain. Its crystallinity is less than that of HDPE, due to the branch of its structure, resulting in more distance between macromolecules, and as a result, plastic has much less density just like its resistance is not high. It is used for supermarket plastic bags, plates, cutlery, disposable vessels, toys, among many more, because it is one of the most used plastics by the human.

Polypropylene:

(Pp) enters the thermoplastic category. Its chemical structure is based on: Atactic polymer, isostatic polypropylene, syndiotactic polypropylene. The PP can be obtained by the propylene monomer. Some of its main uses is the manufacture of sacks, bags, wraps, fibers, among many more. It has high chemical resistance, its water absorption is very little almost zero. Its formula is H2C = CH – CH3.

Polystyrene:

(Ps) monomer that constitutes the PS: stretch. It is a carbon and hydrogen chain, this chain is long, it has a united phenyl group every two carbon atoms. It is thermoplastic solid which can be melted at a high temperature. There are two types being: Polystyrene for general use or polystyrene crystal (GPPS) and high impact polystyrene (Hips). The color of the PS is transparent, it is very light, it is resistant to inorganic chemicals just like water. The main uses of the PS are the manufacture of containers, manufacture of different types of objects and the manufacture of thermal insulators for construction.

Polyvinyl chloride:

(PVC) Every two carbon atoms, a hydrogen atom is replaced by a chlorine atom. It is a colorless gas, it is considered flammable and stable. Its main uses is the manufacture of pipes, cables, products that serve to pack, the more. It is considered a thermoplastic material. Its formula is: CH 2 = Chcl. PVC monomer:

H Cl

C = c

H H 

conclusion

Given this, we can conclude exactly that the origin of the plastics comes from natural resources that the earth gives us, some of these resources would be oil or natural gas, therefore, the origin of the plastics comes from our planet.