Types Of Plastics
The Eleven Most Important Types of Plastic:
One of the major innovations of the past century
has been the introduction and wide adoption of plastics for many day-to-day applications that
previously relied on traditional materials like metal, glass, or cotton. Plastics have revolutionized many industries for a
number of different reasons to include the fact that they resist environmental
degradation over time, are generally safe for human beings, are economical and
widely available, and are produced with a wide variety of material properties
that allow adaptation to many different applications. Here is our list of the
top 11 plastics the modern world simply cannot do without:
1. Polyethylene terephthalate (PETE or PET):
PET is the most widely produced plastic in the world. It is used predominantly as a fiber (known by the trade name “polyester”) and for bottling or packaging. For example, PET is the plastic used for bottled water and is highly recyclable.
Three words or short phrases to describe the major
benefits of Polyethylene relative to other plastics and materials would be:
- Wide
applications as a fibre (“polyester”)
- Extremely
effective moisture barrier
- Shatterproof
2. Polyethylene (PE):
There are a number of different variants of polyethylene. Low and high density polyethylene (LDPE and HDPE respectively) are the two most common and the material properties vary across the different variants.
1. LDPE: LDPE is the plastic used for plastic bags in
grocery stores. It has high ductility but low tensile strength.
2. HDPE: A stiff plastic used for more robust plastic
packaging like laundry detergent containers as well as for construction
applications or trash bins.
3. UHMW: Extremely strong plastic that can rival or
even exceed steel in strength and is used is for applications like medical
devices (e.g. artificial hips).
3. Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC):
Polyvinyl Chloride is perhaps most well known for its use in residential and commercial property construction applications. Different types of PVC are used for plumbing, insulation of electrical wires, and “vinyl” siding. In the construction business PVC pipe is often referred to by the term “schedule 40” which indicates the thickness of the pipe relative to its length.
Three words or short phrases to describe the major benefits of PVC relative to other plastics and materials would be:
- Brittle
- Rigid
(although different PVC variants are actually designed to be very
flexible)
- Strong
4. Polypropylene (PP):
Polypropylene is used in a variety of applications to include packaging for consumer products, plastic parts for the automotive industry, special devices like living hinges, and textiles. It is semi-transparent, has a low-friction surface, doesn’t react well with liquids, is easily repaired from damage and has good electrical resistance (i.e. it is a good electrical insulator). Perhaps most importantly, polypropylene is adaptable to a variety of manufacturing techniques which makes it one of the most commonly produced and highly demanded plastics on the market.
Two short phrases to describe the major
benefits of Polypropylene relative to other plastics and materials would be:
- Unique
Use For Living
Hinges
- Simple to
Manufacture
5. Polystyrene (PS):
Polystyrene is used widely in packaging under the trade name “Styrofoam.” It is also available as a naturally transparent solid commonly used for consumer products like soft drink lids or medical devices like test tubes or petri dishes.One short phrase to describe the major benefits of Polystyrene relative to other plastics and materials would be:
- Foam
Applications
6. Polylactic Acid (PLA):
Polylactic Acid is unique in relation to the other plastics on this list in that it is derived from biomass rather than petroleum. Accordingly it biodegrades much quicker than traditional plastic materials.
Two words or short phrases to describe the major benefits of Polylactic Acid relative to other plastics and materials would be:
- Biodegradable
- DIY 3D
Printing (compare
PLA to ABS)
7. Polycarbonate (PC):
Polycarbonate is a transparent material known for its particularly high impact strength relative to other plastics. It is used in greenhouses where high transmissivity and high strength are both required or in riot gear for police.
Two words or short phrases to describe the major benefits of Polycarbonate relative to other plastics and materials would be:
- Transparent
- High
Strength
8. Acrylic (PMMA):
Acrylic is best known for its use in optical devices. It is extremely transparent, scratch resistant, and much less susceptible to damaging human skin or eye tissue if it fails (e.g. shatters) in close proximity to sensitive tissue.
Two words or short phrases to describe the major
benefits of Acrylic relative to other
plastics and materials would be:
- Transparent
- Scratch
Resistant
9. Acetal (Polyoxymethylene, POM):
Acetal is a very high tensile strength plastic with significant creep resistant properties that bridge the material properties gap between most plastics and metals. It is known for high resistance to heat, abrasion, water, and chemical compounds. Additionally, Acetal has a particularly low coefficient of friction which combined with its other characteristics makes it very useful for applications that utilize gears.
One short phrase to describe the major benefits of
Acetal relative to other plastics and materials would be:
- Low
Friction
10. Nylon (PA):
Nylon is used for a variety of applications to include clothing, reinforcement in rubber material like car tires, for use as a rope or thread, and for a number of injection moulded parts for vehicles and mechanical equipment. It is often used as a substitute for low strength metals in applications like car engines because of its high strength (relative to other plastics), high temperature resilience, and high chemical compatibility.
Two short phrases to describe the major benefits of
Nylon relative to other plastics and materials would be:
- High
Strength
- Temperature
Resistant
11. ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene):
ABS has a strong resistance to corrosive chemicals and physical impacts. It is very easy to machine, is readily available and has a low melting temperature making it particularly simple to use in injection moulding manufacturing processes or 3D printing.
Four short phrases to describe the major
benefits of ABS relative to other plastics and materials would be:
- Impact
Resistant
- Readily
Available
- Simple to
Manufacture
- #1
Material For 3D
Printing
No matter what the application is there are
different plastics with the right material properties to suit the requirements.
If you’re looking for the right plastic for your application we can help. We
have been creating plastic prototypes for more than 30 years and can help you
or your organization make your idea a
reality.
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