PLASTICS 101

1. PLASTICS 101 “What You Should Know”

2. Plastics defined • Plastics are any one of a large number of synthetic usually organic materials that have a polymeric structure and can be molded when soft • Thermoplastic • Thermoset

3. Fun Facts • 8% oil production becomes plastics • 5 – 10% oil production used in other chemicals/materials • Medicines • Cosmetics • Fertilizers • Pesticides Plastics use 33% packaging 33% construction 33% automotive, toys, furniture, appliance housings

4. Most important plastics by world production Polyethylene Polypropylene Polyvinyl chloride Polyester

5. Polyethylene (PE) • Ultra High Molecular Weight PE • High Density PE • Medium Density PE • Low Density PE • Linear Low Density PE Ethane cracked to ethylene polymerized to PE

6. PE End Users • Ultra High Molecular Weight – braided strand cable, sails, parachutes, in composite body armor plates • High Density – furniture, storage sheds, medical devices, milk bottles, geomembranes, food storage containers, bags, toys • Low Density – primarily bags, tubing, flexible containers/bottles, siding, floor tiles, outdoor furniture • Linear Low Density – bags, wrap/film, stretch wrap

7. Polypropylene (Polypro) • Propane cracked to propylene polymerized to Polypropylene • Polypro End Uses indoor/outdoor carpeting, bottles, nonwoven such as diapers, toys, pipe, bags, food containers, medical devices – sutures, oil spill booms, auto parts/components

8. “Raw” Polymer”

9. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) • Ethane is cracked to produce ethylene which is reacted with hydrochloric acid and oxygen to give dichloroethane which is cracked to give chloroethylene (vinyl chloride) which is polymerized to give PVC • End Uses Pipes, siding, flooring, furniture, bank cards, soft closed cell foam - insulation/weather stripping Plasticized PVC - bags, medical devices (blood bags), wire insulation, inflatable products, leathers, shower curtains

10. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET, PETE) • Ethylene glycol and dimethyl terephthalate are polymerized/reacted together • Ethylene is reacted with oxygen to give ethylene oxide which is reacted water to give ethylene glycol • p-Xylene (BTEX fraction of oil) is reacted with oxygen to give terephthalic acid which is reacted with methanol to give dimethyl terephthalate. • End Uses – fiber/fabrics, food packaging (soft drink bottles), films, blister packs, freezer to oven trays, boats/canoes, wood finishes

11. PET

12. Polymer Identification Code – “Chasing Arrows”

13. Polystyrene (PS) • Ethylene is reacted with benzene to give ethylbenzene which is cracked to styrene which is polymerized to PS [Styrene occurs naturally in coffee beans, peanuts and cinnamon] • Sheet/molded PS – dinnerware, cutlery, CD “jewel” cases, appliance housings, labware, toys, medical devices • Foam – cups, “clam shells”, packaging materials, insulation, • High Impact Polystyrene (HIPS) – polymerize styrene in the presence of polybutadiene – not as brittle as PS, end uses as sheet/molded PS

14. Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) • Acrylonitrile and styrene are polymerized in the presence of polybutadiene – ammonia and propylene react to give acrylonitrile – butadiene is produced by the cracking of butane • End Uses – toys (LEGO), pipes, appliance housings, electronics cases, medical devices, automotive parts, helmets, canoes, hard carrying cases, filaments used as feed material for 3D printers, sheeting, refrigerators,

15. Styrene Acrylonitrile (SAN) • Styrene is polymerized with acrylonitrile to give SAN • End Uses – appliance housings, food containers, water bottles, battery cases, optical fibers,

16. Elastomers/Rubber • Natural rubber (India Rubber, Caoutchouc, Gutta Percha) is polyisoprene • Synthetic Rubber Styrene is reacted with butadiene to give SBR Isoprene (2-methylbutadiene) is polymerized to give synthetic polyisoprene Chloroprene (2-chlorobutadiene) is polymerized to give polychloroprene

17. Elastomers/Rubber Chlorine is reacted with butadiene to give dichlorobutylenes which are converted to 3,4-dichlorobut-1-ene which is reacted with dilute alkaline (basic) to give chloroprene Isoprene is one of the products from the thermal cracking of the naphtha fraction of oil

18. Polyamides, Nylon Nylon 66 – adipic aid is polymerized with hexamethylenediamine adipic acid is made from benzene hexamethylenediamine is made from butadiene Nylon 6 – caprolactam is self polymerized caprolactam is made from benzene

19. Polyamide End Uses • Fiber – apparel, carpets, tires, hosiery, ropes, parachutes, tubing, • Filament – fishing lines, brushes, string trimmers, 3D printers

20. Other Materials • Polyurethane – diisocyanate reacted with a diol foam insulation, auto seats, boats, tubing, textiles (spandex) • Polycarbonate – bisphenol A reacted with phosgene beverage glasses, data storage (CD, DVD), bullet-proof glass, thermoformed glazing, eye wear, medical devices, • Poly(methyl methacrylate) – polymerization of methyl methacrylate glass (“Lucite”, “Plexiglass”), medical devices, eye wear,

21. Bioplastics Plastics • Cellophane, rayon – cellulose treated with sodium hydroxide and carbon disulfide and then extruded into sulfuric acid. current uses – base/backing for tapes, dialysis tubing, textiles, insulation • Polylactic acid – fermentation of carbohydrates to give lactic acid which is polymerized to polylactic acid End uses – degradable medical devices, food packaging, cups, table wear, disposable garments • Plastarch – modified corn starch

22. Biodegradable Plastics • Polylactic acid – composting, biological decomposition to lactic acid, • Cellophane – “100% biodegradable” but carbon disulfide inhibits degradation • Starch used to promote degradation of plastics in general • Degradation enhanced by sunlight, air (oxygen), moisture, bacteria, enzymes, rodents, insects, other “pests”, bioengineered bacteria

23. Points To Consider