Plastics have many diverse properties... this means plastics are used in a variety of ways!

1. PLASTICS Thermoplastics Thermoset What Are Plastics? Plastics have many diverse properties... this means plastics are used in a variety of ways!

2. All About Plastics • Your GoreTex jacket, your iPod, your family car, your cell phone, the pen you write with, your shoes, for example, are among the many products made of plastic. But really, what is plastic? A plastic is made of polymers. It is solid in its finished state, but it can be shaped by flow during the manufacturing process. • Let’s review the three parts of the definition: • Plastics are made of polymers. The word polymer comes from the Greek word for "of many parts". A polymer is a long-chain molecule made of many smaller molecules, called monomers, linked together. • Different combinations of monomers make resins that are used in plastic products. You can learn about polymers in your science class. Today most plastics are made from oil and gas, but some plastics are now being made entirely from substances of vegetable origin, meaning they are better for the environment! • Most plastic products are solid – for example, the keys on your computer keyboard were formed as a plastic flowed into a mould and solidified into shape. Some plastics may be flexible or soft like Silly Putty, but they are still considered to be solid. The properties of plastics are affected by the chemical makeup in their polymers; Teflon’s polymers, for example, contain fluorine.

3. All About Plastics PLASTICS • Thermoplastics • can be heated and reformed repeatedly and, therefore, can be recycled. • many household containers are thermoplastics; other thermoplastics are nylons (ropes), polycarbonates, thermoplastic polyurethanes and acetals. • Thermoset • form strong chemical bonds after they are heated and cannot be reformed as they will scorch. • a polyester shirt is a thermoset plastic; other thermoset plastics include epoxies (paints), polyurethane (foams) and phenolics (electrical wall switch plate). A plastic can be heated and allowed to cool in a mould to form a desired shape. Methods for getting the plastic into a mould vary from injecting it to foaming it like a Styrofoam™ cup. Find out more about methods of manufacturing. A plastic can also be an elastomer, which displays the elastic properties of rubber. Natural rubber, synthetic rubber, and chewing gum are all examples of elastomers. Some elastomers may be used for cushions, padding, and insulation, while others are used for tires. For example, Silly Putty™ is a silicon based polymer with elastomeric properties. Whether a polymer is moulded into bottles, mixed to become an adhesive, or foamed into polystyrene (e.g., Styrofoam™), the physical properties of the plastic are carefully considered for its particular use. Plastics are materials with a seemingly limitless range of characteristics and colours. Most importantly, plastics or polymers are inert, meaning they do not react easily with other chemicals, can be both thermal and electrical insulators, are lightweight, and vary in strength.

4. Exploring Plastics A GUIDE TO A FEW DIFFERENT TYPES OF PLASTICS The properties of a certain plastic are important when the plastics team is choosing the right one for a new plastics product they are designing for manufacture. Will it be strong enough? Does it need to resist heat? Will it shatter when dropped? Consider a few important properties: impact strengthability to resist shocks gas barrieramount of gas passing through a material heat seal strengthability to fuse to a surface with heat and pressure tear strength resistance to tearing tensile strengthability to be pulled before breaking apart machinabilityusability in machinery heat resistancehighest temperature before it loses its properties dimensional stabilitychange of shape due to humidity or temperature change coefficient of frictiondegree of friction on its surface elongation% of length increase before breakage when material is pulled water vapour barrieramount of moisture passing through a material usage temperaturesrange of temperature at which material can be used

5. A GUIDE TO A FEW DIFFERENT TYPES OF PLASTICS Each plastic or "resin" type has unique properties that make it suitable for particular applications. Properties are often a reflection of the bonds within and between the plastic’s polymers. Sometimes, the polymers are cross-linked, which means a stronger, but often more expensive, product There are more than 40 basic families of plastics; the most common ones are found in the table below: Exploring Plastics

6. Methods Of Making Plastics Fun Fact New equipment in the plastics industry is complex and computer controlled, requiring operators to obtain on-going education and experience.

7. Methods Of Making Plastics Intelligent plastic film used to cover ready-made meals can detect the presence of bacteria in the food underneath and generate a warning sign directly on the package. Fun Fact

8. The Plastics Industry Additive suppliers Resin suppliers Compounders Administration Process Captive processors Custom processors Machinery dies & moulds Markets Designers

9. Who Works In Plastics? Additive suppliers Used to modify properties of Plastics (e.g. carbon, glass, Kevlar) Resin suppliers Manufactured mostly from petrochemicals • Compounders • Mix the resin and additives • - materials handler • - materials engineer • - chemical engineer • Administration • Ensure the business is running safely and effectively- plastic process trainer - health and safety inspector- quality assurance inspector Process Make sure the process is safely and efficiently done- process engineer- manufacturing engineer • Captive processors • Make products they market themselves- machine operator- set-up technician- maintenance technician Custom processors Make products for other businesses under contract - machine operator- set-up technician-maintenance tech.- plastic part assembler • Machinery dies & moulds • Make moulds, dies and processing equipment --- mould maker- plastic engineering technician- machine operators- set-up technician- maintenance technician Markets Automobile, construction,packaging, etc. A GUIDE TO THE CAREERS AVAILABLE TO YOU IN THE PLASTICS INDUSTRY A career in plastics offers many opportunities for professional development, career growth, and even travel. For example, you may need to conduct research or visit technical labs in the United States or Europe, or visit processing plants around the world. Many Canadian-trained engineers and technicians manage and service installations in Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, and other countries. Once you’ve entered the plastics work force, certain jobs will lead you to new positions as you gain experience and skills. • Designers • Design moulds, parts to manufacture plastic products- plastic part designer- mould designer- engineering technician- mechanical engineer