Meet your plastic...
Plastic is a nonbiodegradable substance, which can take over 450 years to completely decompose. Plastic is made up of several key ingredients, petroleum (oil), water, hydrocarbons, and ethylene glycol, which is an organic compound. There are seven types of plastics all of which can be identified by three arrows that make a triangle with a number inside. These notations are generally found at the bottom of a plastic substance. Check the link below to see how these symbols look.
1. PET or PETE
Also known as Polyethylene Terephthalate
PET 1 is used to make soda bottles, water bottles, medicine jars, combs, bean bags, rope, tote bags, and carpet.
They can be repurposed to make textiles, carpets, pillow stuffing, life jackets, clothing, boat sails, auto parts, sleeping bags, shoes, and luggage.
PET 1 is the most common thermoplastic resin of the polyester family. It is the fourth most produced synthetic plastic. It has excellent chemical resistance to water and organic materials. It is durable, lightweight and has a high strength to weight ratio, due to this PET 1 is used on a daily basis. PET 1 is also recyclable.
2. HDPE
Also known as High-Density Polyethylene
HDPE is used to make milk jugs, juice containers, grocery bags, trash bags, motor oil containers, shampoo and conditioner bottles, soap bottles, detergent bottles, toys, and bleach containers.
It can be repurposed for plastic crates, lumber, and fencing. It is no shock that HDPE got its name through its rigid structure. HDPE is sturdy, it's not flimsy which means you can not 'crumple' HDPE like you can crumple PET. HDPE is easily fabricated and has high chemical resistance. HDPE is also recyclable
3. PVC
Also known as Polyvinyl Chloride
PVC is used in plumbing pipes, tiles, shoes, gutters, window frames, ducts, sewage pipes.
It can be repurposed for flooring, mobile home skirting.
PVC is the third most produced synthetic plastic polymer. PVC can be altered to possess both rigid and flexible properties. It is best known for its ability to blend with other materials. It is toxic so keep away from food. PVC can be recycled but you should call your recycler depending on the material.
4. LDPE
Also, know as Low- Density Polyethylene
LDPE is used in cling wrap, sandwich bags, squeezable bottle for condiments such as mustard, grocery bags, frozen food bags, and flexible container lids.
They can be reused to make garbage cans and lumber.
The density of LDPE is ductile, and has a low density, meaning it'll float in water. It has a high resistance to alcohol, acids, bases, and esters. It has good resistance to oils but it has poor resistance to aromatic oils and chemicals, it is not recommended to use with hydrocarbons. Yes LDPE can be recycled but you should contact your recycler first.
5. PP
Also known as polypropylene.
PP is used in plastic diapers, Tupperware, kitchenware, yogurt containers, margarine tubs, prescription bottles, stadium cups, take-out containers, disposable cups and plates and in bottle caps (more on that in THE TRUTH page)
It can be repurposed for ice scrapers, rakes, and battery cables.
PP is a thermoplastic polymer and is the worlds second most produced synthetic plastic. Its appeal comes from high flexibility, being the most flexible thermoplastic on the planet. PP is stronger than PE and is able to, like PE, maintain its flexibility. It is cheap, heat resistant, durable, and acid resistant. It can hold well under repeated stress and is heavily used. However, PP is not recyclable.
6. PS
Also known as Polystyrene or Styrofoam
It is used in disposable coffee cups, plastic food boxes, plastic utensils, packing foam, and packing peanuts.
It can be repurposed for insulation, license plate frames, and rulers.
PS is great for trapping heat because it is a thermoplastic. Its chemical compound makes it very difficult to recycle, near impossible, very few places accept PS. Polystyrene's popularity as a container stems from its low cost, strength, insulation, and feather-weight buoyancy. Those properties also made it a scourge of plastic waste because it easily breaks into tiny, often airborne particles that are difficult to clean up and is generally rejected by recycling centers as too much trouble to recyclable.
7. N/A
Also known as Other.
Plastic number 7 is considered miscellaneous plastics. The threshold for all of the plastics that do not fit neatly in categories one through six. Other plastics can consist of polycarbonate, polylactide, acrylic, acrylonitrile butadiene, styrene, fiberglass, and nylon. They can be used to make CDs, DVDs, baby bottles, eyeglasses, multi-gallon water bottles, lighting fixture, and medical storage containers. These often times cannot be recycled.
Definitions:
Thermoplastic: Has to do with a plastics response to heat. Thermoplastic materials have a high melting point (210-249 degrees Celsius). Thermoplastics are capable of locking in heat. A key attribute is their ability to liquify, solidify and then reliquify.
Polymers: Polymers are lengthy chain compounds made of monomers, a molecule that bonds to identical molecules. Polymers are large molecules made of smaller identical molecules. Polymers generally have different physical and chemical makeup then their monomers and their properties can be tailored depending on their purpose.
Plastic symbols:
https://battlethebottlecaps.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/resin-codes-poster.jpg
Curious about plastics? Take a look at these helpful links...
https://www.qualitylogoproducts.com/promo-university/different-types-of-plastic.htm
https://www.creativemechanisms.com/blog/polystyrene-ps-plastic
https://www.acplasticsinc.com/informationcenter/r/7-different-types-of-plastic-and-how-they-are-used
https://www.creativemechanisms.com/blog/everything-about-polyethylene-terephthalate-pet-polyester
https://www.creativemechanisms.com/blog/polyethylene-pe-for-prototypes-3d-printing-and-cnc
https://www.creativemechanisms.com/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-about-pvc-plastic
Do you have a link about plastic types or qualities that you want me to take a look at? Do you have some additional information you think this site can better from? Then head over to the comments section and send me a message! I look forward to hearing from you!