Plastics
Y11 Seating Design
Plastic Words!!!
You will find these words in the reading you are going to do on this document .
Match the meanings of them now, using arrows.
Word | | Meaning |
Resist | | Breaks easily |
Biodegradable | | To make into a shape |
Brittle | | To fight against something |
Molded | | Able to be kept at a certain level or amount |
Sustainable | | Easy to bend without breaking |
Flexible | | Able to be decomposed by bacteria or other living organisms and avoid pollution. |
Plastics in design
Plastics have had a significant impact on design across various industries due to their versatility, affordability, and ease of production.
They revolutionized product design by enabling the mass production of lightweight and innovative forms.
Plastics can be molded into intricate shapes, making them ideal for consumer products, electronics, automotive parts, packaging, and more.
However, the widespread use of plastics has also led to environmental concerns due to their non-biodegradable nature, contributing to pollution and harming ecosystems. In recent years, there's been a growing emphasis on sustainable design practices, including the use of recycled and biodegradable plastics, as well as a shift towards reducing plastic consumption and waste.
How has plastic been good for the design of products? | Plastics have been good for the design of products due to their versatility, affordability and ease of production. |
What kind of products can plastic be used for? | Products that plastics are ideal for electronics, automotive parts, packaging and consumer products. |
How are plastics affecting the environment? | Plastics are having a negative impact on the environment due to their non-biodegradable nature, contributing to pollution and harming ecosystems. |
What changes have been made to improve the effect of plastic on the environment? | In the recent years, there's been a growing emphasis on sustainable design practices, including the use of recycled and biodegradable plastics as well as a shift towards reducing plastic use and waste. |
List words you don't know here
intricate
Thermoforming polymer | Physical properties | Working properties |
Acrylic (PMMA) | Hard, brittle, shiny, available in a wide range of colours | Resists weather well, can be cut, folded and polished well, scratches easily, used for car lights, visors and baths |
High impact polystyrene (HIPS) | Rigid, cheap, available in a lot of colours | Can be cut and vacuum formed easily, food safe but toxic when burned, used for CD cases and yoghurt pots |
High density polythene (HDPE) | Stiff, strong, lightweight | Lightweight and flexible, can be recycled well, used for washing baskets, pipes and chairs |
Polypropylene (PP) | Easily coloured, available in sheets | Tough and flexible, used for plastic chairs and casings |
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) | Cheap, can be matt or high gloss | Brittle but durable, can be extruded or in flat sheets, used in blister packs and window frames |
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) | Clear, smooth finish | Light, strong and tough, used for clothing and drinks bottles |
Thermoforming polymers
Thermoforming polymers can be heated and formed repeatedly. They are pliable and recyclable.
List words you don't know here
Thermoforming polymers and the words under. Rigid.
matt
Thermosetting polymer | Physical properties | Working properties |
Epoxy resin (ER) | Supplied as two parts, one resin and one hardener (see image) - the resin and hardener combine to create an extra-strong adhesive | Rigid and durable, strong, expensive and heat resistant, used to bond materials, waterproof coatings and lamination |
Melamine formaldehyde (MF) | Hard, brittle | Food safe, printable surface, used for picnic wear |
Phenol formaldehyde (PF) | Rigid and brittle | Easily injection moulded, good insulator, used for snooker balls and bottle caps |
Polyester resin (PR) | A resin and a hardener, sets clear and smooth | Strong, heat resistant and good insulator, used as waterproofing and for encapsulating items |
Urea formaldehyde (UF) | Smooth finish, available in limited colours | Brittle but durable, can be extruded or in flat sheets, used in blister packs and window frames |
Thermosetting polymers
Thermosetting polymers are brittle and can only be formed once. They are hard to recycle. They are good insulators and are resistant to heat and chemicals.
List words you don't know here
Thermosetting polymer and all the words under it.
| Thermoforming | Thermosetting |
What applications is this type of plastic used for? | thermoforming polymers can be heated and formed repeatedly. They are pliable and recyclable. | Thermosetting polymers are brittle and can only be formed once. they are hard to recycle. they are good insulators and are resistant to heat and chemicals. |
What are the properties that are linked to the environmental impact? | Thermoforming polymers are recyclable but if they are outside and it’s really hot it may melt to the floor. | They are not as easy to recycle but they are heat resistant. |
What is good / not good for my design? | They are recyclable and flexile but they are not heat resistant and they wouldn’t be good for summer time. | Thermosetting polymers are brittle but are resistant to heat and chemicals they are not however easy to recycle. |
Compare and Contrast
Which is best? Thermoforming or Thermosetting?
Which would be the best plastic choice for your design and why?
Think about :
Write your answers here in full sentences with as much detail as you can add.
The seat I am designing will be outside for most of the time, thermoforming would not be good for the outside environment but thermosetting would have a better chance since it being resistant to heat. The seat would be used most likely by family members and friends coming over for a barbecue or a party. If there are any fat family members or friends coming over thermoforming would probably hold up better than thermosetting