Plastics Plastics are a designed material – Formed into many shapes – Add stuff to them so they have many properties Come from petroleum (oil), natural gas, and coal – Non-renewable resources
Plastics Belong to a group called polymers – Polymer – chains of the same molecular unit repeated many times
Four Common Plastics Polypropylene (PP) – Ketchup bottles, yogurt cups Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) – Shampoo and salad dressing bottles High density Polyethylene (HDPE) – Milk containers, orange juice bottles, and bleach bottles Polystyrene (PS) – Prescription bottles, utensils, cups
What is a polymer? Agenda for Wednesday Nov 16 th 1.Finish plastics lab 2.Oobleck lab
Paper or Plastic
PaperPlastic AdvantagesDisadvantagesAdvantagesDisadvantages BiodegradeableDepletes forestsHandlesBiodegrades slowly Uses renewable resources Tears easilyLight weightDepletes oil reserves Burns like woodPaper cutsSome break down in sunlight Harm animals and envt Safer – less smothering Weighs moreStrongerCan’t hold as many items Used for book coversNo handlesEconomicalDangerous to children Easy to use for trashBreaks when wetCan be used when wet Limited recyclability Credit for re-useHigh volume in landfill StretchesDistorted and weakened by heavy item