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PLASTICS:
Plastic is a synthetic material which can be moulded into desired shape when soft and then
hardened to produce a durable article.
Plastic = Easy to Mould.
The starting materials for plastics are obtained from petroleum products called
‘petrochemicals’.
Some examples of plastics are: Polythene, Poly-Vinyl Chloride (PVC), Bakelite, Melamine
and Teflon.
Plastic is a polymer that can be recycled, coloured, reused, mould or drawn into wires or
various other shapes.
Units of some plastics have linear arrangement while some plastics are formed by the cross
linked arrangement of their units.
Thus, plastic is used in making toys, suitcase, bags, cabinets, brush, chairs, tables, and
many other countless items.
Polythene is one of the most famous types of plastic, which is used in manufacturing of
carry bags.
Types of Plastics:
Thermoplastic: Plastics which can be softened repeatedly and can be easily bent or
deformed into different shapes, on heating, are known as thermoplastic.
PVC and Polythene are the examples of thermoplastics.
Thermosetting plastic: Plastics which do not get deformed or softened on heating, when
moulded once, are called thermosetting plastics.
Bakelite and Melamine are the examples of thermosetting plastics.
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