This document discusses plastics, including polymers, the different types of plastics, their properties, how they are identified, how they are transformed, and their environmental impact. Polymers are large molecules made of repeating smaller molecules called monomers. There are natural polymers from plants and animals as well as synthetic polymers called plastics that are made from petroleum. Plastics are categorized as thermoplastics, which can be remolded, and thermosets, which can only be molded once. Plastics are lightweight, flexible, resistant to impact and moisture, and good insulators. They can be identified based on how easily they scratch, their density, and how they burn. Plastics are transformed using processes like

1. PLASTICS
SHEILA GUIJARRO

2.  Polymers and plastics
 Types of plastics
 The properties of plastics
 Identifying plastics
 The transformation of plastics
 plastics and the environment

3. POLYMERS& PLASTICS
 Polymers are very large molecules
made up of smaller ones called
monomers
 There are:
-Natural polymers: plant-based such
as latex,
cotton, cellulose..
-Animal based such as silk
 Synthetic polymers: mineral-based from
petroleum, globally these are called
plastics

4. Types of plastics
 Thermoplastics:
Can be moulded several
times. RECYCLED
 Thermostables:
Can be moulded just
once. NOT RECYCLED

5. THE PROPERTIES OF
PLASTICS
Plastics have certain common
characteristics:
 They are flexible and malleable.
 They are lightweight materials.
 They show good resistance to impact.
 They are good thermal and electrical
insulators.
 They are resistant to oxidation.
 They are resistant to moisture.

6. IDENTIFYING PLASTICS
 You can identify the hardest plastics
because they are more difficult to
scratch.
 Some plastics have more density than
water.
 Others plastics can be observed by
burning.

7. THE TRANSFORMATION OF
PLASTICS
extrusion
compression
blowing
thermoforming
injection
Heat rolling

8. PLASTICS AND THE
ENVIRONMENT
The high levels of pollution is caused by
plastics. To minimize the harmful effects
of this material you can apply the law of
the three R’s