Flexible plastics that are widely used as household appliances are usually made from polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene (PE) plastic. These plastics are chosen because they are flexible, lightweight, resistant to water, and relatively cheap. Some household appliances that are generally made of flexible plastic include:
Beverage bottles: Beverage bottles, such as mineral water bottles, are often made of polyethylene plastic due to its ability to maintain its flexible shape and light weight.
Food containers: Food storage containers such as plastic containers for storing food in the refrigerator are generally made of polypropylene plastic due to its resistance to low temperatures and easy moldability in various sizes and shapes.
Garbage containers: Some garbage containers, especially those used in the home, are often made of polyethylene plastic due to its resistance to moisture and ability to cope with outdoor conditions.
Buckets and dippers: Plastic buckets are often used for various purposes, both indoors and outdoors, as polypropylene plastic has good resistance to various environmental conditions.
Cleaning tools: Various cleaning tools, such as brushes, erasers, and handkerchiefs, are often made of flexible plastic for easy use and affordability.
Storage bins: Flexible plastic is also used to make storage bins such as storage boxes, plastic shelves, and toy boxes.
It is important to remember that the use of plastics should be done wisely and the priority should be to reduce the use of single-use plastics. Overuse of plastic can cause negative impacts on the environment, including plastic pollution in the oceans and health issues. Always prioritize the use of eco-friendly items and recycle as much plastic as possible.
Plastic polymers can be divided into - Plastic polymers can be divided based on their molecular structure and physical characteristics. In general, plastic polymers can be divided into two main categories: thermoplastic polymers and thermoset polymers.
Thermoplastic Polymers:
Thermoplastic polymers can melt when heated and re-harden when cooled without undergoing permanent structural changes.
This process can be repeated many times, so thermoplastic polymers can be recycled and remolded into other products.
These characteristics make thermoplastic polymers more flexible and easy to process.
Examples of commonly used thermoplastic polymers are polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polystyrene (PS), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
Thermoset Polymers:
Thermoset polymers undergo irreversible chemical changes when heated. Once hardened (shrinkage and crosslinking), they cannot be remelted.
Thus, thermoset polymers cannot be recycled in the same way as thermoplastic polymers.
Thermoset polymers generally have stronger mechanical and thermal properties than thermoplastic polymers.
Examples of thermoset polymers include epoxy, unsaturated polyester, and polyurethane.
It is important to understand that while these two categories are the main ones, there are many different types of plastics within each category that have unique characteristics and are used for various applications. In addition, the judicious use of plastics, recycling, and efforts to reduce plastic waste are important to safeguard our environment from the negative impacts that result from the overuse of plastics.