1. Plastics & Composites. Typical uses.

2. Plastics & Composites. Plastics are man-made materials. Plastics have largely taken the place of traditional materials like woods and metals. Some plastics are derived from natural substances such as animals, insects and plants but most are man-made. Most synthetic/man made plastics come from crude oil but coal and natural gas is also used. When crude oil is refined gasses are given off. The gasses are broken down into Monomers. These are chemical substances consisting of a single molecule. Thousands of these are linked together in a process called Polymerisation to form new compounds called Polymers.

3. Plastics & Composites. Plastics are often incorporated with other materials to produce composites, Composite materials have many advantages because their mechanical properties can be tailored for a particular application, A popular use of composite materials is in weight saving structures where a combination of high strength continuous fibres, like carbon fibre and Kevlar, and an epoxy substrate produce low density materials.

4. Plastics & Composites. img.diytrade.com pslc.ws/macrogcss www.shoedeals4u.com people.smu.edu www.abc.net.aublog.wired.com

5. Plastics & Composites. The Chevrolet Volt – concept car. reviews.cnet.com

6. Plastics & Composites. The automotive industry is an area striving with its use of plastics/composites – “This sudden interest in plastics isn't just a phase that industrial designers and engineers are going through; there are a number of factors driving it. First, environmental issues are gaining greater visibility, and automakers want to burnish their green credentials. Plastics let automakers reduce the weight of their vehicles, thereby increasing fuel economy. But it's not just about miles-per-gallon; GE's Xenoy composite, used in the doors and hood of the Volt, is made from 85 percent recycled material. All those plastic bottles you throw into the recycling bin may end up as body panels on your next car.” Quote taken via Wayne Cunningham:reviews.cnet.com/i/col/di/volt

7. Plastics & Composites. Typical Properties – Good electrical insulators, Good resistance to corrosion & chemical attack, Lightweight, Strong (especially combined with fibres to produce composite), Complex shapes can be formed, reduction in parts,