1. SyntheticFibresandPlastics
Typesof Fibres
There are twotypesof fibre – One whichare obtainedfromnatural sourcesandotherwhichare
man-made.
Fibreswhichare obtainedfromnatural sourcesare callednatural fibres.Forexample –cotton, silk,
wool,etc.
Fibreswhichare man-made are calledman-made orsyntheticfibres.Forexample –rayon,nylon,
acrylic,etc.
SyntheticFibres:
Syntheticfibresare small unitsof chemicalsjoinedtogetherinthe formof chain.The chain so
formediscalledpolymer.PolymerisaGreekwork inwhich‘poly’meansmanyand‘mer’means
units.Thus,polymermeans‘made of manyunitsjoinedtogether’.
Typesof SyntheticFibres:
Rayon:-
Rayonis sythesiedfromwoodpulp.Rayonresemblessilk,soitisalsoknownasartificial silk.Rayon
fibre can be dyedindifferentcolours.Rayonisverycheapcomparedtosilk.
Bedsheets,shirts,sarees,andmanyotherclothesare made fromrayon.
Nylon:-
Nylonwasfirstcommerciallysynthesizedfibre.The productionof nylonwasstartedalmost
simultaneouslyinNewYorkandLondon,thusit got itsname (NY forNew York and Lonfor London)

2. as nylon.Nylonissynthesizedfromcoal,waterandair.Fibre of nylonisverystrong and italso
resemblessilk.
For the firsttime,nylonwasusedinmakingbristle of toothbrushcommercially.Afterthat,itwas
startedusedas fabrics.
Nylonisusedinmakingof differenttypesof clothes,ropes,socks,curtains,sleepingbags,
parachutes,etc.The fibre of nylonisstrongerthan a steel wire of same thickness.
Polyester
Polyesterisone of the mostpopularman-made fibreswhichare usedinmakingclothes.Itismade
of repeatingunitof achemical calledester.Teryleneisone of the mostfamoustypesof polyester.
Polyesterisusedinmakingdifferenttypesof apparel;suchasshirts,pants,jacket,bedsheets,
curtains,sarees,mouse-pad,etc.Polyesterisusedinmakingropes,fabricsforconveyorbelt,
cushioningandinsulatingmaterial inpillow,etc.
Fabricsmade from polyesterfibre are almostwrinkle-free,easytowashandhave shinyappearance.
It isthe polyesterwhichmade the fabriccheaperinIndiaaswell asinthe whole world.
Terrycot isa fabricmade aftermixingof terylene andcotton.Polycot,polywool,etc. are other
fabricswhichare made bythe mixingof polyesterwithothernatural fibres.
PET (Polyethylene terepthalate) isveryfamoustermforpolyester.Waterbottlesandmany
containers(usedinkitchen),films,wires,andmanyotheruseful productsare made usingPET
(polyester).
Acrylic:
Acrylicisman-made fibre.Since,acrylicresembleswool soitisalsoknownas artificial wool or
syntheticwool.Acrylicischeaperthannatural wool andcan be dyedinvariouscolour.Thusacrylicis
verypopularandtakingthe place of wool today.
Acrylicisusedinmakingsweaters,blanket,andothermanyclothes.

3. Characteristicof SyntheticFibre
Syntheticfibresare cheaperthannatural fibre.
Syntheticfibresare strongerthannatural fibre.
Syntheticfibresare more durable thannatural fibre.
It iseasyto maintainthe syntheticfibres.
It iseasyto wash the syntheticfabrics.
Syntheticfabricsare driedupinlesstime.
Syntheticfibresare readilyavailable.
Plastics
Plasticisalsoa polymer.Unitsof some plasticshave lineararrangementwhilesome plasticsare
formedbythe cross linkedarrangementof theirunits.
Plasticcan be mouldinall typesof possible shapes.Plasticcanbe recycled,coloured,reused,mould
or drawn intowires.Thus,plasticisusedinmakingtoys,suitcase,bags,cabinets,brush,chairs,
tables,andmanyothercountlessitems.Polythene isone of the mostfamoustypesof plastic,which
isusedin manufacturingof carrybags.
Typesof Plastic:Plasticcan be dividedintotwo maintypes –ThermoplasticsandThermosetting.
Thermoplastic:Plasticswhichcanbe easilybentordeformonheatingare knownas thermoplastic.
PVCand Polytheneare the examplesof thermoplastics.Thermoplasticsare usedinmakingtoys,
bottles,combs, containers,etc.
Thermosettingplastic:Plasticswhichdonotgetdeformedorsoftenedonheatingwhenmoldonce,
are calledthermosettingplastics.Bakelite andmelamine are the examplesof thermosettingplastics.
Thermosettingplasticsare usedinmakinghardboard,electricswitch,handlesof electrical
appliances,handlesof kitchenutensils,floortiles,etc.
Melamine ispoorconductorof heatand resistsfire,thusitisusedinmakingfloortiles,kitchen
materials,etc.

4. Bakelite ispoorconductorof electricityandheat,thusitisusedinmakingelectrical switches,and
otherelectrical appliances.
Plasticas a material of choice:
Characteristicsof Plastic
Poorconductor – Plasticisa poorconductor of heat andelectricity.Thismakesitsuitabletomake
the coveringof electricwires,handlesof electrical appliances,handlesof utensils,kitchenware,floor
tiles,etc.
Plasticisnon-reactive:Plasticdoesnotreactwithairand waterand withmanyof the chemicals.
Since,plasticdoesnot reactwithair and waterhence itdoesnot getrustedlike iron.Thischaracter
makesplasticsuitable formakingof container,watertank,waterbottle,plasticpipes,taps,chair,
table andother manytypesof furniture.
Plasticisstrongand durable: Plasticsare lightweight,durable,cheapandverystrong.These
qualitiesof plasticmade itthe needof today.Whetheritispolythene bagsorpencil box,water
bottle orumbrella,furnitureoraircraft, the use of plasticcan be seeneverywhere.
Biodegradable andNon-biodegradable:
Substanceswhichgetdecomposedthroughthe natural processes,suchasactionof bacteria,etc.are
calledbiodegradable substances.Forexample;potatopeels,peelsof othervegetable,foodstuffs,
fruit,paper,cottoncloths,wood,etc.
Substanceswhicheitherdonotdecompose ortake manyyearsto getdecomposedthroughthe
natural process,are callednon-biodegradable substance,e.g.tin,aluminium,plastics,etc.
Plasticandthe Environment:
Plasticisa non-biodegradablesubstance.If itisleftorthrown,it takesmanyyearsto get
decomposedoreitherdoesnotgetdecomposed.The non-biodegradable nature of plastichasmade
it a verymajorproblemforenvironment.
Problems:

5. Plastichasbecome verypopularandisbeingusedformany purposes.Asaresult,we are generating
a large amount of plasticwaste.Since plasticisnon-biodegradable,soplasticwaste isgetting
accumulatedaroundus.Disposal of plasticwaste isa majorconcern as itcannot be evenburnt.
Burningthe plasticcan resultinrelease of manyharmful gasesinthe atmosphere.Thiscanleadto
air pollution.
Preventivemeasures:
For dealingwiththe menace of plasticwaste,we needtofollow the three Rs,i.e.Reduce,Reuseand
Recycle.
Reduce:We shouldreduce the use of plastic.Forexamples;insteadof usingplasticbags,we should
use clothor jute bag for shopping.
Reuse:We shouldreuse some plasticcontainers,wheneverpossible.Forexample;emptybottles
and jarscan be usedforkeepingotheritemsinthe home andkitchen.
Recycle:Thermoplasticcanbe recycled.So,itemsmade of thermoplasticshouldbe senttothe
recyclingindustry.Toys,buckets,mugs,etc.are made fromthermoplastic.