PLASTICS

Introduction
The term Plastic was derived from the Greek plastikos,
which means fit for molding.
According to the property of there strength, plastics are
divided into two categories.
1. Soft plastic
2 Hard plastic (Bakelite)
Which are further sub divided into different categories
according to there manufacture.
1. Synthetic Plastic
2.Non-synthetic Plastic

 Plastics are manufactured in different forms such as

moulding pipes, sheets and films.
They are formed or expanded to produce materials

of low density.
Dissolved in solvents or dispersed as emulsions, they
are used in paints, varnishes and adhesives.
At present, use of plastic in buildings, mainly in thin
coverings, panels, sheets, foams, pipes etc. skilful
use of plastics will expand the usefulness and life of
conventional building materials and help them to
function more efficiently and economically

Classification
Plastics are a wide variety of combinations of
properties when viewed as a whole.
There are two types of plastic materials which are
classified according to there chemical and physical
property as well.
1. Thermoplastics
2. Thermosetting Plastics.

PLASTICS
THERMOPLASTICS

THERMO-SETTING PLASTICS

1. Polythene
1. Polyster resin
2. Polyvinyl chloride
2. Polyurethane
3. Polyvinyl acetate
3. Synthetic resin
4. Poly-propylene
4. Rubber
5. Polymethyl metha crylate
6. Polystyrene
7. Acrylo- nitrile butadiene styrene
8. Nylon
9. Polycarbonate

Thermoplastics
Thermoplastic, also known as a thermo-softening

plastic
Thermoplastic means that when it is heated it turns
to liquid rather than burning, and when cooled
takes on the properties of a solid
Semi-transparent state when cooled sufficiently.

Polythene
Polyethylene is a plastic
material known technically as
a thermoplastic.
Forms are:
waxy flexible plastic (low-

density polythene)
tougher rigid more crystalline
form (high-density polythene)
Polythene is used for
packaging, moulded articles,
pipes and tubing, insulation,
textiles, and coatings on metal

Characteristics & Properties

Polyethylene is capable of being moulded, extruded(shaping it

by thrusting) and cast into many various shapes.

It is often used in construction as it is cheap and can be
shaped or moulded easily, this is why it is appropriated to be
used for the jobs such as guttering.
It is a hard, stiff, strong and a dimensionally stable material
that absorbs very little water
It has good gas barrier properties and good chemical
resistance against acids, greases and oils.
Moreover it is Bio-degradable by doing special treatment
Polyethylene also has good self extinguishing properties and
resistance against ultra violet.
Polyethylene sheet is used for many kinds of weatherproofing
and can be a permanent weather barrier on exterior walls

Polyvinyl Chloride
Polyvinyl chloride is a synthetic
thermoplastic material made by
polymerizing vinyl chloride.The

properties depend on the added

plasticizer.
The flexible forms are used in
hosepipes, insulation, shoes,
garments, etc. Rigid PVC is used
for moulded articles
It is a common thermoplastic
resin, used in a wide variety of
manufactured products, including
rainwear, garden hoses, floor tiles

Characteristics
&
Properties
Very good thermal and acoustic insulation:

The multi-groove PVC profiles exhibit very

low thermal conductivity which means
greater thermal insulation. Hence PVC is
particularly suitable for fabrication of
windows and doors
No maintenance: coating or surface
treatment, PVC is not altered by atmospheric
agents.
Flexibility in design: PVC can safely be used
in all contexts.
PVC is self-extinguishing or flame retardant,
therefore it is very safe for all types of
application and construction.
Moreover PVC does not pollute the
environment and can be fully recycled.

Polyvinyl Acetate
Polyvinyl acetate is a hard,
colourless, and non-toxic substance
It is soluble in many organic solvents
but not in gasoline, mineral oils, or
water. Polyvinyl acetate softens at

low temperatures (26-28 C) and

exhibits cold flow and high adhesion
to various materials.
A colourless , odourless, tasteless
resin used in emulsion paints,
adhesives, sealers, and for sealing
porous surfaces

Characteristics & Properties

It is used primarily in adhesives, both emulsion and hot-melt

types. It is also used in water based emulsion paints

As an emulsion in water, PVAc emulsions are used as
adhesives for porous materials, particularly for wood, paper,
and cloth, and as a consolidant (making firm) for porous
building stone, in particular sandstone
Used:
as wood glue PVAc is known as "white glue" and the yellow
"carpenter's glue" or PVA glue.
for handcrafted works.
as envelope adhesives,
as wallpaper adhesive

Polypropylene
Polypropylene is any of various
tough flexible synthetic
thermoplastic materials made
by polymerizing propylene a

Used for making moulded

articles, laminates, bottles,
pipes, and fibres for ropes,
bristles, upholstery, and carpets
Polypropylenes are similar to
polyethylene's but are harder
and tougher and are used to

make molded articles and

fibers.

Characteristics & Properties

Polypropylene mixes well with

different types of dyes and its

colourful fibers make beautiful
carpets which have high durability.
These carpets can be kept near
swimming pools or other such areas
where it is exposed to a lot of water.
It does not promote growth of
bacteria on its surface and hence, it is
used in various medical equipment.
In the construction sector, the uses of
polypropylene are in manufacturing
of pumps and different types of pipes.
Moreover, Polypropylene is recyclable

Polymethyl Metha-Crylate
It is a transparent thermoplastic , often used as a
lightweight or shatter-resistant alternative to glass
It is sometimes called Acrylic glass

Characteristics & Properties

Its properties include weatherability and scratch resistance
It is available commercially in both pellet and sheet form
The most serious deficiencies are low impact strength and

poor chemical resistance

Acrylic panels have been used to redirect sunlight into a light
pipe or tubular skylight and, from there, to spread it into a
room

Polystyrene
A polymer of styrene, a rigid
transparent thermoplastic
that has good physical and
electrical insulating

properties
It is used especially in
moulded products, foams,
and sheet materials
Used as a white rigid foam
(expanded polystyrene) for
insulating and packing and as
a glasslike material in light
fittings and water tanks

Characteristics & Properties

EPS(Expanded Polystyrene) sheets and boards are used for

thermal and sound insulation in walls, roofs and on floors,

Due to good thermo physical properties of polystyrene
Loose beads are used as an aggregate in lightweight concrete,
plasters and renderings
Other uses include under floor heating systems, drainage

boards, permanent formwork, foundation and prefabricated

wall systems.
Since, EPS remains unaffected by micro-organisms in soil, it is
ideal for geothermic insulation beneath roads, around
foundations and in embankments where it prevents soil
break-up through freezing.

Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene

(ABS)
It is an amorphous,
thermoplastic polymer that
is often injection moulded
because it has good heat

and impact resistance

Combines the advantages
of hardness and strength of
the vinyl resin component
with the toughness and
impact resistance of the
rubbery component.

Characteristics & Properties

Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) is a black plastic piping

material.
It is porous in nature due to the way it is manufactured. Its
porosity lessens the strength of the material, but also reduces
manufacturing costs.
ABS's light weight and ability to be injection moulded and
extruded make it useful in manufacturing products such as
drain-waste-vent (DWV) pipe systems
It's typically used for drains or vent stacks. Vents stacks are
simply a vent to allow air to escape up through the roof, and
drains have very little pressure.

Nylon
It is a synthetic thermoplastic material characterized

by strength, elasticity, resistance to abrasion and

chemicals, low moisture absorbency, and capacity to
be permanently set by heat.
Nylon is very strong and elastic, and can be formed
into fibers, sheets, or bristles.
It is used to make fabrics, plastics, and moulded
products.

Characteristics & Properties

Variation of lustre : nylon has the ability to be very lustrous, semi

lustrous or dull.
Durability : its high tenacity fibers are used for seatbelts, tire
cords, ballistic cloth and other uses.
High elongation
Excellent abrasion resistance
Paved the way for easy-care garments
High resistance to insects, fungi, animals, as well as moulds,
mildew, rot and many chemicals
Used in carpets and nylon stockings
Melts instead of burning
Used in many military applications
Good specific strength
Transparent to infrared light

Polycarbonate
Any of a class of

thermoplastics
characterized by highimpact strength, light
weight, and flexibility,
and used as shatterresistant substitutes for
glass
Strong transparent
thermoplastic resins
used in moulding
materials, laminates, etc.

Characteristics & Properties

Polycarbonate has excellent impact resistance, approximately

250 times that of glass , it is perfect for machine guards and

window replacement in high impact areas.
It is a versatile, tough plastic used for a variety of applications,
from bulletproof windows to compact disks (CDs).
The main advantage of polycarbonate over other types of
plastic is unbeatable strength combined with light weight.
While acrylic is 17% stronger than glass, polycarbonate is
nearly unbreakable
Bulletproof windows and enclosures as seen inside banks or at
drive-throughs are often made of polycarbonate
Only drawback is that it is more expensive than either acrylic
or glass.
Polycarbonate roofing panels are a durable, long-lasting

Thermosetting Plastic
Thermosetting plastics are simply plastics when

moulded into shape and allowed to cool will not

change shape when heated again they will char or
burn

Polyester Resin
It is one of the group of
synthetic resins which undergo
polymerization during curing
Advantageous because high
pressure is not required for
curing
It has excellent adhesive

properties, high strength, good

chemical resistance
Especially, used in laminating
and impregnating(soaking)
materials

Characteristics & Properties

Polyester resin is used as a source of lightweight strength
Prefabricated shower stalls and closet fixtures are often made

of a mixture of polyester resin and acrylic

Decorative metal pieces are often gel-coated with a polyester

resin-based colorant to match decor.

Many decorative architectural details such as columns and

balustrades can be carved from hard foam, coated with

fiberglass and polyester resin for strength and
weatherproofing, and painted to match the building.

Polyurethane
Polyurethane is widely
varying in flexibility, used in
tough chemical-resistant
coatings, adhesives, and

foams

Commonly used as a foam

(polyurethane foam) for
insulation and packing, as
fibres and hard inert
coatings

Characteristics & Properties

The material offers good adhesion to numerous substrates,

such as concrete, wood, plastic, and glass due to its elasticity

and structural properties
Properly applied, polyurethane foams can effectively control
air leakage, and reduce drafts and noise between walls and
floors
The largest use of polyurethane adhesive is the moisture
curable system it joins sub-flooring to floor joists in
combination with nails.
This adhesive bonding is also used in both floors and exterior
walls.
A two-part polyurethane adhesive is the predominant
adhesive used for attaching the ceiling gypsum wallboard to
the truss rafters

Synthetic Resin
Synthetic resins are
materials with a property
of interest that is similar to
natural plant resins

They are viscous liquids

that are capable of
hardening permanently.
Any of a large number of
resin-like products made
either by polymerization or
condensation, or by

modifying a natural
material.

Characteristics & Properties

Synthetic resin is typically manufactured using a chemical

polymerization process, which results in the creation of

polymers that are more stable and homogeneous than
naturally occurring resin.
Since they are more stable and are cheaper, various forms of

synthetic resin are used in a variety of products such as

plastics, paints, varnishes, and textiles
The applications of synthetic resins are seen in paint industry,

adhesive industry, the textile industry, the floor polish, paper

etc.

Rubber

A yellowish, amorphous, elastic

material obtained from the

milky sap or latex of various

tropical plants, especially the
rubber tree
It is then vulcanized, pigmented,
finished
And modified into products
such as electric insulation,
elastic bands and belts, tires,
and containers.
A highly resilient material,
capable of recovering from large

Characteristics & Properties

The chief characteristics which make rubber great for

structural purpose are:

Its strength of its bonding to metals and other substrates
Its ability to deformability
Its resistance to attack by corrosive chemicals, its resistance to
abrasion(cut, scratch)
Its good electrical properties
Its ease of moulding or forming to any shape and size.
Rubber is also used for protection of other materials against
fire, heat and wearing
It gives excellent performance, in vibration and shock
dampening
In elimination of structural noise and is the ultimate material
for sealing systems.

Properties of some thermoplastic materials

HDPE
LDPE
PVC
PP
PET
PMMA
PC
ABS
Nylon 6
PI
PSF

Flexural
strength
[MPa]
40
14
91
49
105
103
95
70
91
143
115

Elastic
modulus
[GPa]
1.86
0.29
3.32
1.36
1.35
2.77
2.3
2.45
2.95
3.1
2.61

Elongation
at rupture
[%]
100
500
60
350
170
4
130
33
60
7
75

Thermal
stability
[C]
120
90
80
150
120
100
120
70
110
380
160

Expansion at
20C

[g/cm3]
0.95
0.92
1.44
0.91
1.35
1.19
1.2
1.05
1.13
1.38
1.25

Tensile
strength
[MPa]
31
17
47
37
61
61
68
45
60
96
68

Polyamide-imide, electrical grade

PAI

1.41

138

193

4.1

12

260

30

Polyamide-imide, bearing grade

Polytetrafluoroethylene
Polyetherimide
Polyether ether ketone
Polyaryletherketone (strong)
Polyaryletherketone (tough)
Self-reinforced polyphenylene
Polyamide-imide

PAI
PTFE
PEI
PEEK
PEAK
PEAK
SRP
PAI

1.46
2.17
1.27
1.32
1.46
1.29
1.19
1.42

103
24
105
100
136
87
152
152

159
33
151

5.5
0.49
2.9
3.6
12.4
3
5.52
4.9

6
300
60
50
2.1
40
10
15

260
260
210
343
267
190
151
278

25
95
31
-

Name
High Density Polyethylene
Low Density Polyethylene
Polyvinyl Chloride
Polypropylene
Polyethylene terephthalate
Polymethylmethacrylate
Polycarbonate
Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene
Polyamide
Polyimide
Polysulfone

Symbol

Density

213
124
234
241

[106/C]
126
160
75
90
70
65
66
90
66
43
56

Market survey
Plastic panels 3mm
22rs/sqFt

In electrical fitting

Market survey

P.V.C. comes in 1-1\4 to 8

1-1/4 - 15rs/ft
2-1/2 - 24rs/ft
4
- 50rs/ft
8
- 120rs/ft

Market survey

Thank You