Plastics are an ever growing category of the construction industry. They are highly flexible and durable, and play a big part in how buildings and other structures are built. A vast range of plastics exists, and the uses for each type of plastic are different. Plastics can be used in a huge variety of different ways in construction projects. Below is a look at some common plastics used in construction today.
Polyvinyl Choloride – This is the most commonly used plastic in construction. It consists of a combination of PVC (polyvinyl chloride) and chlorine. As its name suggests, this type of plastic includes two chemicals, namely PVC and chlorine.
Amorphous Polymers – These are the most common types of plastic, and they are found in everything from building materials to eyewear. Amorphous means ‘no polymer’ in Chemistry, and as the name suggests, these plastics do not contain any polymer molecules whatsoever. They are generally insoluble, but when heated in the heat bath used for forming parts, they release their bonds and become liquid. Some examples of amorphous plastics are polystyrene, thermoform, nylon and styrene.
Polyimide – This is another popular type of plastic. It is made through a chemical process called polyimide synthesis. This process involves putting the polymer pellets in a container, heating them up until they become soft, then forcing them through a process called freezing. Polyimide plastics have a high chemical composition of PVC and ethylene, and therefore low water absorption.
Polyvinyl Choloride and Amorphous Polymers: There are many other popular plastics containing the mentioned properties. Polyvinyl Choloride (PVC) is a plastic product that has been in use since the 1950s, and is still very widely used today. This material is popularly known as PVC lay-ups, as it is sometimes included in toys. PVC lay-ups or layers are made by combining different plastic materials to create new shapes and designs. Some common PVC lay-ups are PVC pipes, PVC elbows, PVC clamps, and PVC stripes. The most commonly found PVC specialty resins are PVC pipes, PVC sleeves, and PVC elbows.
Other Plastics: There are many other naturally occurring substances that make plastics. Some of the more common ones include polystyrene, polycarbonate, polystyrene beads, polyurethane, polyester, and polyvinyl chloride. A process called thermoforming is done to make polyurethane, which is a popular ingredient in toys. These substances are also often blended with other resins to produce new plastic products.
How Plastics Become Soft: The process of Thermoplasticization is done to change the molecular structure of plastics and change their properties, such as flexibility, to make them more bendable and malleable. When the thermoplastic resin is exposed to an electric current, the bonds between the molecules of the plastic become weak and they break away. As the plastic breaks, the crystals begin to grow, until they become soft, like jelly. This hard plastic then becomes malleable, according to polymer designers. Once this process is done, the plastic can now be reshaped into different shapes, like a ball or bottle. The change that has been made to the plastic through thermoplasticing does not only change its physical form but also changes its chemical makeup.
Thermoplasticization is also done to make plastics that are stronger than those that come from natural sources. Most people think that thermoplastic products are not as flexible as polyurethane or other synthetic resins, but recent developments have made plastic products that out-perform their synthetic counterparts in several ways. Some of these improvements include: resistance to ultraviolet light, better chemical properties, better thermal conductivity, flexibility, resistance to pressure, ability to form adhesives elastomers, and the ability to undergo thermoelastic deformation. Thermoplasticizing plastic products has become an important part of many processes.