Understanding Plastics and Their Different Types

Plastics play an important part in our everyday life. Plastic is used in almost every industry, including packaging, building and construction, textiles, consumer goods, transport, electrical and electronics, and industrial equipment. There are a variety of plastic materials that are used for different applications such as polyethylene, PVC, acrylic etc. Plastics are versatile and are used for different purposes. Here, in this article, we will discuss the most common types of plastics.

 

1. Polyethylene Terephthalate: PET or polyethylene terephthalate belongs to the polyester family which is a commonly used plastic material. PET is used for packaging beverages, food items, fibres, containers, first-aid blankets and polar fleece. PET is ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid polymer. The PET resins are heated to a molten liquid that can be easily moulded into any shape. Pet was first produced in the US in the mid-1940s by Dupont chemists. They are extremely strong and lightweight and are used for consumable packaging because it does not react with water or food. PET is not easily broken which makes this the ideal choice for packaging beverages or containers. It is a perfect glass replacement. Plastic PET bottle manufacturers fulfill all your packaging needs by providing the right solutions to package your products as per your requirements. 

 

2. High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE): It is a strong material that can withstand high temperatures and strong chemicals. HDPE is used frequently because it can be recycled and can be converted into many different things in many different ways. It is also used in a wide range of applications including plastic bottles, milk jugs, bleach bottles, shampoo bottles, pipes, insulation, protective helmets etc. Known for its excellent tensile strength, HDPE has a good melting point and a high-impact resistance.

 

3. Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC): PVC or polyvinyl chloride is the third-most commonly manufactured synthetic plastic polymer in the world (after polyethylene and polypropylene). Each year, approximately 40 million tons of PVC are made. There are two basic types of PVC: rigid and flexible. In pipe design and profile applications such as doors and windows, the rigid shape of PVC is used. PVC is cost-effective and highly resilient. They can be easily moulded into different shapes. Some common uses of PVC- furniture, medical containers, clothing, etc.

 

4. Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE): LDPE is a highly non-reactive material at general temperatures. It is one of the most common used plastic at present. It is more resilient. Compared to HDPE it is less strong. LDPE is used in trays, bin-bags, laundry bags, containers and computer hardware casings.

5. Polypropylene (PP): The thermoplastic polymer used in a wide range of applications is polypropylene (PP), also known as polypropene. It is generated from the monomer propylene through chain-growth polymerization. Polypropylene is part of the polyolefin group and is partly crystalline and non-polar in nature. It has similar properties to polyethylene but is slightly tougher and more resistant to heat. It is strong and flexible and extremely effective for injection moulding. PP is used for bottle caps, crisp bags, surgery tools & supplies, packing tape, food containers, kettles and clothing.

 

 

Author’s Bio: The article has been written by Atlanta Baruah. She is working as a trainee for Social Media Executive in Olive E Business a digital media agency. I am writing this article by doing an extensive research on this topic plastics and plastic pet bottles manufacturer through different articles. I enjoy writing and learning about new topics.