1. Polymers c) Polymers Aesthetic, functional and mechanical properties, application and advantages/disadvantages of the following thermoplastics in the production of graphic products and commercial packaging: polythene polyethylene high density polyethylene (HDPE) low density polyethylene (LDPE) polyethylene terephthalate (PET) polyvinyl chloride (PVC) polypropylene (PP) polystyrene (PS), rigid (high density polystyrene) and expanded Styrofoam TM for block modelling acrylic.

2. Why Polymers? SteelAluminiumZincPlastic Raw material cost£250/Ton£1,000/Ton £1,500/Ton Strength200-500 Mpa40-510 Mpa160-400Mpa60-80 Mpa Stiffness160 Gpa75 Gpa60 Gpa3-4 Gpa Max. working temperature 400 o C180 o C130 o C75 o C

3. So Plastic performs abysmally!- why then it the major growth material from the last 50 years! Because it is the most versatile and easily formed material yet devised! Plastic products are produced in one or at most two operations. Plastics require little or no finishing, painting, polishing etc, and particular finishes can be achieved at relatively low cost. Plastics can be coloured during manufacture- no painting etc required. Plastics can be easily printed, decorated or painted. Plastics are corrosion resistant, and generally waterproof. Plastics are lighter than metals, giving deeper sections for a given weight, and hence stronger sections

4. There is one catch:- To obtain the cost benefits of using plastic products you need the tooling to do it with. This can take the form of an extrusion die, a mould tool, or a former. All of these things are expensive, and take time to make.

5. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-RVdJ1iJ0c http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOvp0JWH8-I