Polymers

Question 1

what are plastics made of

Answer 1

polymers

Question 2

What are thermoforming plastics

Answer 2

Plastics that are recyclable and bendy, can be heated and reformed because of the way the molecules are joined together

Question 3

Examples of thermoforming plastics

Answer 3

• Acrylic (PMMA)
• High density polyethylene (HDPE)
• Polyethylene terephthalate ( PET)
• High impact polystyrene (HIPS)
• Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
• Polypropylene (PP)

Question 4

Properties and uses of acrylic (PMMA)

Answer 4

• Hard
• Stiff
• shiny
• resists weather well
• used to make baths, signs etc
• quite brittle

Question 5

Properties and uses of High density polyethylene (HDPE)

Answer 5

• Stiff
• Strong
• Lightweight
• Used for baskets, folding chairs, water pipes

Question 6

Properties and uses of Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)

Answer 6

• polyester which is light, strong, tough
• used in transparent water bottles
• used in clothes fibres

Question 7

Properties and uses of High impact polystyrene (HIPS)

Answer 7

• Rigid
• Fairly cheap
• Used for smoke detector cases, vacuum forming

Question 8

Properties and uses of polyvinyl chloride (PVC)

Answer 8

• Quite brittle
• Cheap
• Durable
• Used for window frames

Question 9

Properties and uses of polypropylene

Answer 9

• Quite tough and flexible

- Used for plastic chairs, the flexibility makes it comfortable

Question 10

What are thermosetting plastics

Answer 10

Plastics which set with heat and permanently stay ridgid. They are non- recyclable and cannot be reshaped

Question 11

Examples of thermosetting plastics

Answer 11

• Epoxy Resin (ER)
• Urea- Formaldehyde (UF)
• Melamine- Formaldehyde (MF)
• Phenol- Formaldehyde (PF)
• Polyester Resin (PR)

Question 12

Properties and uses of Epoxy Resin (ER)

Answer 12

• Rigid
• Durable
• Corrosion resistant
• Good electrical insulator
• Used for circuit boards and wind turbine rotor blades

Question 13

Properties and uses of Urea- Formaldehyde (UF)

Answer 13

• Hard
• Brittle
• Good electrical insulator
• Used for plug sockets and cupboard handles

Question 14

Properties and uses of Melamine- Formaldehyde (MF)

Answer 14

• Strong
• Scratch resistant
• Used to laminate chipboard and for plates and bowls

Question 15

Properties and uses of Phenol-Formaldehyde (PF)

Answer 15

Hard
Heat resistant
Easily moulded into bottle caps, snooker balls

Question 16

Properties and uses of Polyester Resin

Answer 16

• Hard
• Stiff
• Cheap
• Good electrical insulator
• Added to glass fibres to form glass- reinforced plastic, e.g- for kayaks
• waterproof, so used in shower stalls and garden furniture