Plastic Chelsea Glynn

Plastic is referred to as a synthetic material which means that it is synthesized from oil, starch, or sugar. It is moldable It is most commonly derived from petrochemicals, which are chemical products from petroleum.

History The first man-made plastic was revealed by Alexander Parkes at the 1862 Great International Exhibition in London. In 1869 a plastic that succeeds is celluloid. It was synthesized from cotton fiber and the plant material camphor, originally to make a cheaper substitute for ivory billiard balls. In 1897 the discovery of casein plastics, produced by reacting casein (milk protein) with formaldehyde. Cellulose acetate, a thermoplastic, was introduced as a molding compound in The demand for plastics has increased steadily; plastics are now accepted by designers and engineers as basic materials along with the more traditional materials.

Description Two broad distinctions of types of plastics are thermoset plastics and thermoplastics. Thermoset plastics cannot have their shape altered after production Thermoplastics are plastics that can be softened and formed with heat.

Acrylic One thermoplastic material that is commonly used is acrylic. Acrylic is mainly used in its solid, clear form. It is chemically clear, colorless resin, but it can have color introduced into the material before forming. It can be heat formed at about 350° F. It is available in sheets and rods that can be bonded together. Acrylic is considered for locations where glass would be too heavy or the breakage too dangerous.

Solid Surfacing Solid surfacing products are nonporous, thermoplastic or thermoset materials. This material can be worked with the same kinds of tools used to cut and shape wood. It is used to make sinks, countertops and other moldable objects.

Engineered Stone Engineered stone is natural quartz combined with polyester resins. It is typically available in 4 –foot widths and 10-foot lengths. It is resistant to scratching, burning and staining. Engineered stones are nonporous and they can be used where natural stone is prohibited, such as food service and health care applications. It is cheaper and more chemically resistant than acrylic.

Plastic Laminates Plastic laminate is layers of paper bonded together with resins to produce a surfacing veneer. Two types are high pressure and low pressure laminate. High pressure laminate is kraft paper saturated with phenolic resin. Low pressure laminate is a melamine resin-saturated paper with a color or a gravure print decorative surface.

Thermally Fused Foils Foils are a cellulosic paper soaked with melamine, acrylic, and urea resins. Once the foil is cured it can be printed (photographic wood grain is common) and embossed (many sheen levels are created with texture). Surface textures can be molded to imitate the texture of materials.

Decorative and 2D Foils Solid colored, pattern less thermofoil is referred to as 2D foil, low pressure laminate, or melamine. Considered an economy material and used when cost is a primary consideration. Sensitive to heat

Rigid Thermofoils Applied to Medium Density Fiberboard substrates that have contours, raised panels, curves and intricately shaped edges. They are called 3D thermofoils because they conform to complicated shapes. They create a seamless surface for environments where precise maintenance is important, such as healthcare, childcare, or educational buildings.

Application Laminates should be bonded to substrates Laminate details for an exposed edge may require some attention because the thin material is just a surface and the side of the sheet will be shown. Screws and other mounting hardware may be used to hold thicker surfaces in place. Glues that are specified may fuse the surfaces together by chemically interacting with the material.

Application Acrylic items can be self supporting and the seams can be chemically welded or fused. For high-pressure plastic laminate, the structure designed will be built from a different material and covered with laminate sheets. The substrate for thermofoil is particleboard or medium density fiberboard but they are mostly laminated to plywood.

Maintenance Plastic can shrink and grow with temperature so it should be fully acclimated to the site conditions before installing. Acrylic is damaged by window cleaners containing ammonia. Acrylic tends to attract and show dust, so it must be dusted frequently. All plastic surfaces need to be protected from scratching. Damage to plastic laminate is usually permanent.

Organization of the Industry Manufacturers sells to distributors or dealers and dealers selling to trades. It is uncommon for end users to purchase the material.

Sustainability Thermoset plastics are not currently recyclable. Thermoplastic resins are recyclable but the industry lacks the tools to recycle them. Bio-based plastics are under development, they come from renewable resources and some can biodegrade under the right conditions. Petro-free resin is one example of a bio-based plastic used in the making of a solid surface. Plastic certification: ASTM D

Cost Laminates are one of the most economical surfacing materials. The plastics are not expensive so the greater cost will come from fabrication and installation. Custom-cast plastics will be more expensive.

High Pressure Laminate Detail

Manufacturers EVCO Plastics CW Plastics Rex Plastics Mack Ameri-Kart

Video Plastic Injection Molding