Characteristics and applications of plastics

    Plastic is malleable. As the name suggests, plastic is a material that can be molded. The so-called plasticity of plastic means that the solid plastic can be softened by heating, and then the softened plastic is placed in the mold, and then it is cooled and re-solidified into a solid with a certain shape. This property of plastics also has certain drawbacks, that is, it is easy to soften and deform when exposed to heat. Some plastics can even be deformed after being scalded with hot water. Therefore, plastic products are generally not suitable for contact with boiling water.

    Plastic is elastic. Some plastics also have a certain degree of elasticity like synthetic fibers. When it is stretched by an external force, the curled molecules are straightened by flexibility, but once the tension is removed, it will return to the original curled state, which makes the plastic elastic, such as those of polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride. Film products. But some plastics are not elastic.

    Plastic has high strength. Although plastic is not as hard as metal, it still has relatively high strength and wear resistance compared with glass, ceramics, wood, etc. Plastic can be made into strong gears and bearings on the machine.

    Plastic has corrosion resistance. Plastics will not rust in humid air like metals, nor will they rot or be corroded by microorganisms in humid environments like wood. In addition, plastics are resistant to acid and alkali corrosion. Therefore, plastics are often used as water and liquid pipelines in chemical plants, doors and windows in buildings, and so on.

    Plastic is insulating. The molecular bonds of plastics are covalent bonds between atoms, and molecules can neither ionize nor transfer electrons in the structure, so plastics are insulating. Plastics can be used to make wire wraps, electrical sockets, and electrical appliances.

(Huiputech)