Types of plastic, properties, photo. Choice of plastic Plastic brittle or ductile

What kind of material is used in the production of plastic containers. How are plastics different from each other? Plastic

It is quite easy to determine the type of plastic if there is a marking - but what if there is no marking, but it is necessary to find out what the thing is made of ?! For quick and high-quality recognition of various types of plastics, a little desire and practical experience are enough. The technique is quite simple: the physical and mechanical properties of plastics are analyzed (hardness, smoothness, elasticity, etc.) and their behavior in the flame of a match (lighter). It may seem strange, but different types of plastics burn differently! For example, some flare up brightly and burn intensely (almost without soot), while others, on the contrary, smoke heavily. Plastic even makes different sounds when it burns! Therefore, it is so important to accurately identify the type of plastic, its brand by a set of indirect signs.

How to determine LDPE (polyethylene high pressure, low density). Burns with a bluish, luminous flame with melting and burning streaks of polymer. When burning, it becomes transparent, this property persists for a long time after the flame is extinguished. Burns without soot. Burning drops, when falling from a sufficient height (about one and a half meters), make a characteristic sound. When cooling, the polymer drops look like frozen paraffin, very soft, when rubbed between the fingers, they are greasy to the touch. Extinct polyethylene smoke has the smell of paraffin. Density of LDPE: 0.91-0.92 g/cm. cube

How to identify HDPE (polyethylene low pressure, high density) . More rigid and dense than LDPE, fragile. Combustion test - similar to LDPE. Density: 0.94-0.95 g/cm. cube

How to identify Polypropylene. When introduced into a flame, polypropylene burns with a brightly glowing flame. Burning is similar to burning LDPE, but the smell is more pungent and sweetish. During combustion, streaks of the polymer are formed. When molten, it is transparent; when cooled, it becomes cloudy. If you touch the melt with a match, you can pull out a long, fairly strong thread. Drops of the cooled melt are harder than those of LDPE, they crush with a crunch with a solid object. Smoke with a sharp smell of burnt rubber, sealing wax.

How to identify Polyethylene teraphthalate (PET). Durable, tough and lightweight material. The density of PET is 1.36 g/cm3. It has good thermal stability (resistance to thermal degradation) in the temperature range from - 40° to + 200°. PET is resistant to dilute acids, oils, alcohols, mineral salts and most organic compounds, except for strong alkalis and some solvents. When burning, a very smoky flame. When removed from the flame, it self-extinguishes.

Polystyrene. When bending a strip of polystyrene, it bends easily, then breaks sharply with a characteristic crack. A fine-grained structure is observed at the break. It burns with a bright, strongly smoky flame (flakes of soot soar up in thin cobwebs!). The smell is sweetish, floral. Polystyrene dissolves well in organic solvents (styrene, acetone, benzene).

How to identify polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Elastic. Slowly combustible (when removed from the flame, self-extinguishes). When burning, it smokes strongly, a bright bluish-green glow can be observed at the base of the flame. Very strong, pungent odor of smoke. During combustion, a black, carbon-like substance is formed (it is easily rubbed between the fingers into soot). Let's dissolve in carbon tetrachloride, dichloroethane. Density: 1.38-1.45 g/cm. cube

How to identify Polyacrylate (organic glass). Transparent, fragile material. It burns with a bluish-luminous flame with a slight crackle. The smoke has a sharp fruity smell (of ether). Easily soluble in dichloroethane.

How to identify Polyamide (PA). The material has excellent oil-petrol resistance and resistance to hydrocarbon products, which provide a wide application of PA in the automotive and oil industries (manufacturing of gears, artificial fibers ...). Polyamide has a relatively high moisture absorption, which limits its use in humid environments for the manufacture of critical products. Burns with a bluish flame. When burning, it swells, “puffs”, forms burning streaks. Smoke with the smell of burning hair. Solidified droplets are very hard and brittle. Polyamides are soluble in phenol solution, concentrated sulfuric acid. Density: 1.1-1.13 g/cm. cube Drowning in water.

How to identify Polyurethane. The main area of ​​application is shoe soles. Very flexible and elastic material room temperature). In the cold - fragile. Burns with a smoky, glowing flame. At the base, the flame is blue. When burning, burning droplets-streaks are formed. After cooling, these drops are a sticky, greasy substance to the touch. Polyurethane is soluble in glacial acetic acid.

How to identify Plastic ABC. All combustion properties are similar to polystyrene. It is quite difficult to distinguish from polystyrene. ABS plastic is stronger, tougher and more viscous. Unlike polystyrene, it is more resistant to gasoline.

How to determine Fluoroplast-3. Used in the form of suspensions for application anti-corrosion coatings. Not flammable, charred when heated. When removed from the flame, it immediately extinguishes. Density: 2.09-2.16 g / cm3

How to determine Fluoroplast-4. Non-porous material white color, slightly translucent, with a smooth, slippery surface. One of the best dielectrics! Not combustible, melts when heated. It is insoluble in virtually all solvents. The most resistant of all known materials. Density: 2.12-2.28 g / cm3 (depending on the degree of crystallinity - 40-89%).

Physical and chemical properties of waste plastics in relation to acids

Physical and chemical properties of plastic waste plastic waste in relation to alkalis

ANY plastic releases chemicals into the contents of the bottle varying degrees danger.

Plastic, or plastic, is an organic material based on macromolecular compounds - polymers. The opinion that plastic is more durable and quality material than plastic is erroneous. The difference between these concepts is only in their name. Types of plastic, its types, classification, labeling, areas of use are huge.

What it is

Plastic products have firmly entered our lives. Particularly widely used are plastics based. The manufacturing process is the transition of a material under the influence of heat and pressure from a fluid state to a solid state. The development of plastics began with the use of natural ingredients. Later they were replaced with chemically modified materials. Now for the manufacture of plastics, fully synthetic molecules are used - polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, epoxy resin. And the secret of popularity is as follows: ease of production, practicality, affordable price.

Main characteristics

The types and properties of plastic, its weldability primarily depend on the polymer from which it is made. For physical and mechanical characteristics plastics are also affected by all sorts of additives, additives, stabilizers, pigments, organic and inorganic fibers. Some, for example, protect plastic from ultraviolet radiation.

The material is mostly white or transparent. With the addition of dyes, plastic can acquire any color. In this way, a mirror plastic can be produced. Most plastics are multi-component and composite materials. Plastic has a low density. Resistant to acids and alkalis. It has low thermal and electrical conductivity. Most species are easy to process. This allows the production of molded products from raw materials, as well as the use of sheet plastic, combining thermoforming with mechanical processing.

Areas of use for plastics

The scope of plastics is huge. Starting with use in shipbuilding, aircraft building, ending with agriculture, medicine and everyday life. The types of plastic are amazing. Photos show only a small fraction of the products:

• Plastics are widely used in the manufacture of parts for large vehicles, as well as for interior decoration salons.
• Development Agriculture involves the use of plastic in land reclamation, manufacturing packaging materials for the storage of agricultural products, the construction of film shelters and greenhouses.
• Lots of medical instruments special dishes, drug packaging are made from
• In construction it metal-plastic pipes and connecting parts. An alternative to glass is designs made of light or transparent plastics.
• In everyday life - the use of all kinds of containers, bottles, packages, children's toys and much more.

transparent plastic

Plastic types include thermoplastic PVC, which is mainly used for sheet materials. It is used in construction, outdoor advertising and other fields. Variety sheet material is an transparent plastic. Depending on the light transmittance, the material can both delay and let through some part of the light. ultraviolet rays. It can be transparent and translucent colored sheet materials.

Types of transparent plastic are represented by plexiglass, polycarbonate, polystyrene, polyester glass, transparent PVC sheets. First of all, they are impact resistant. More durable is polycarbonate. Polyester glass is considered the most elastic. The light transmission capacity is higher for plexiglass, it is the most transparent and clear, it is well processed. Transparent plastic is used for glazing windows, goggles and police shields, making plastic bottles. Transparent plastic can have different shades.

Plastic facades

Types of plastic for facades are divided into sheet and roll. The hard and solid sheet of material is high pressure plastic. Cold or medium pressure roll plastic is of lower quality and cheaper than sheet plastic. This material in rolls resembles It is used, among other things, in the manufacture of furniture facades.

Types of plastic for the kitchen have a different basis. Some are made on the basis of chipboard, and it is cheaper than the base of MDF. Sheet plastic is thermally stable, it is not subject to scratches, chips, impacts, does not deform, does not fade or fade. The material does not peel off from the base, is not afraid of moisture, and is easy to clean. The disadvantage of facade details is that they can only be even, without milling, and smooth in texture.

Finishing

Today, plastic remains a popular building material. Mainly used different types plastic for finishing offices. But in the presence of imagination and with competent design similar material will look great in the decoration of the apartment. Plastic can be sheathed on any surface, whether it be a ceiling or walls. The main type of material for ceiling surfaces- it varies widely. Separate elements are interconnected with the help of stiffening ribs (the panel has a groove on one side, and a spike on the other). The material is light and safe. Convenient for transportation and easy to assemble.

Plastic, having moisture resistance, is used in bathrooms and when facing balconies. It is used for arranging slopes and finishing ceilings. With a successful and competent choice of plastic, it will turn out great entrance hall. Plastic panels can be matte or glossy, imitate wood or stone.

Advantages and disadvantages

In some areas of human activity, many types of plastic are approved for use by the Ministry of Health:

• Weather resistant material. It has good electrical insulation and
• Easy to process. Easy to weld and glue. You can cut and form the necessary structures.
• The material is inexpensive. long time retains its original appearance. Not afraid of moisture.
• Has a rich color range. Sheet transparent plastic possesses shock-resistant and fire-resistant properties. From it you can get products of various shapes.
• resistant to temperature changes. When finishing the room, it plays the role of a sound and heat insulator. Suitable for arranging awnings, street signs, signs, advertising objects.

Like any material, plastic has some disadvantages:

• Resistant to many organic solvents.
• Plastic parts can deform under heavy loads or high temperature.

The world around us is still fraught with many mysteries, but even phenomena and substances known to scientists for a long time do not cease to amaze and delight. We admire bright colors, enjoy the tastes and use the properties of all kinds of substances that make our life more comfortable, safer and more enjoyable. In search of the most reliable and strong materials, man has made many exciting discoveries, and in front of you is a selection of just 25 such unique compounds!

25. Diamonds

If not everyone, then almost everyone knows this for sure. Diamonds are not only one of the most revered precious stones, but also one of the hardest minerals on Earth. On the Mohs scale (a scale of hardness in which an assessment is given by the reaction of a mineral to scratching), diamond is listed on the 10th line. There are 10 positions in the scale, and the 10th is the last and hardest degree. Diamonds are so hard that they can only be scratched with other diamonds.

24. Trapping webs of the spider species Caaerostris darwini


Photo: pixabay

It's hard to believe, but the network of the spider Caerostris darwini (or Darwin's spider) is stronger than steel and harder than Kevlar. This web was recognized as the hardest biological material in the world, although now it has a potential competitor, but the data has not yet been confirmed. Spider fiber was tested for characteristics such as breaking strain, impact strength, tensile strength and Young's modulus (the property of a material to resist stretching, compression under elastic deformation), and in all these indicators, the web showed itself in an amazing way. In addition, the trapping web of the Darwin spider is incredibly light. For example, if we wrap our planet with Caaerostris darwini fiber, the weight of such a long thread will be only 500 grams. Such long networks do not exist, but the theoretical calculations are simply amazing!

23. Aerographite


Photo: BrokenSphere

This synthetic foam is one of the lightest fibrous materials in the world and is a network of carbon tubes only a few microns in diameter. Aerographite is 75 times lighter than polystyrene, but at the same time much stronger and more ductile. It can be compressed to a size 30 times smaller original form, without any harm to its extremely elastic structure. Thanks to this property, airgraphite foam can withstand loads up to 40,000 times its own weight.

22. Palladium metallic glass


Photo: pixabay

A team of scientists from the California Institute of Technology and Berkeley Lab (California Institute of Technology, Berkeley Lab) has developed the new kind metal glass, combining an almost perfect combination of strength and ductility. The reason for the uniqueness of the new material lies in the fact that its chemical structure successfully masks the brittleness of existing glassy materials while maintaining a high endurance threshold, which ultimately significantly increases the fatigue strength of this synthetic structure.

21. Tungsten carbide


Photo: pixabay

Tungsten carbide is incredible solid material with high wear resistance. AT certain conditions this joint is considered to be very brittle, but under heavy load it exhibits unique plastic properties, manifesting itself in the form of slip bands. Thanks to all these qualities, tungsten carbide is used in the manufacture of armor-piercing tips and various equipment, including all kinds of cutters, abrasive discs, drills, cutters, drill bits and other cutting tools.

20. Silicon carbide


Photo: Tiia Monto

Silicon carbide is one of the main materials used to make battle tanks. This compound is known for its low cost, outstanding refractoriness, and high hardness, and is therefore often used in the manufacture of equipment or gear that must deflect bullets, cut, or grind other hard materials. Silicon carbide makes excellent abrasives, semiconductors, and even inlays in jewelry that mimic diamonds.

19. Cubic boron nitride


Photo: wikimedia commons

Cubic boron nitride is a superhard material, similar in hardness to diamond, but also has a number of distinctive advantages - high temperature stability and chemical resistance. Cubic boron nitride does not dissolve in iron and nickel even under the influence of high temperatures, while diamond under the same conditions enters into chemical reactions rather quickly. In fact, this is beneficial for its use in industrial grinding tools.

18. Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE), Dyneema fiber brand


Photo: Justsail

High modulus polyethylene has extremely high wear resistance, low coefficient of friction and high fracture toughness (low temperature reliability). Today it is considered the strongest fibrous substance in the world. The most amazing thing about this polyethylene is that it is lighter than water and can stop bullets at the same time! Cables and ropes made of Dyneema fibers do not sink in water, do not need lubrication and do not change their properties when wet, which is very important for shipbuilding.

17. Titanium alloys


Photo: Alchemist-hp (pse-mendelejew.de)

Titanium alloys are incredibly ductile and show amazing strength when stretched. In addition, they have high heat resistance and corrosion resistance, which makes them extremely useful in areas such as aircraft, rocketry, shipbuilding, chemical, food and transport engineering.

16. Liquid metal alloy


Photo: pixabay

Developed in 2003 at the California Institute of Technology, this material is renowned for its strength and durability. The name of the compound is associated with something brittle and liquid, but at room temperature it is actually unusually hard, wear-resistant, not afraid of corrosion and transforms when heated, like thermoplastics. The main areas of application so far are the manufacture of watches, golf clubs and coatings for mobile phones(Vertu, iPhone).

15. Nanocellulose


Photo: pixabay

Nanocellulose is isolated from wood fiber and is a new species wooden material which is even stronger than steel! In addition, nanocellulose is also cheaper. The innovation has great potential and could seriously compete with glass and carbon fiber in the future. The developers believe that this material will soon be in great demand in the production of army armor, super-flexible screens, filters, flexible batteries, absorbent aerogels and biofuels.

14. Teeth of snails of the "sea saucer" type


Photo: pixabay

Earlier, we already told you about the trapping web of Darwin's spider, which was once recognized as the most durable biological material on the planet. However, a recent study showed that the limpet is the most durable biological substance known to science. Yes, these teeth are stronger than the web of Caaerostris darwini. And this is not surprising, because tiny sea ​​creatures feed on algae growing on the surface of harsh rocks, and to separate food from rock, these animals have to work hard. Scientists believe that in the future we will be able to use the example of the fibrous structure of the teeth of marine limpets in the engineering industry and begin to build cars, boats, and even aircraft increased strength, inspired by the example of simple snails.

13. Maraging steel


Photo: pixabay

Maraging steel is a high strength and high alloy alloy with excellent ductility and toughness. The material is widely used in rocket science and is used to make all kinds of tools.

12. Osmium


Photo: Periodictableru / www.periodictable.ru

Osmium is an incredibly dense element, and due to its hardness and high melting point, it is difficult to machining. That is why osmium is used where durability and strength are most valued. Osmium alloys are found in electrical contacts, rocketry, military projectiles, surgical implants, and many other applications.

11. Kevlar


Photo: wikimedia commons

Kevlar is a high tenacity fiber found in car tires, brake pads, cables, prosthetic and orthopedic products, body armor, protective clothing fabrics, shipbuilding and parts of unmanned aerial vehicles aircraft. The material has become almost synonymous with strength and is a type of plastic with incredibly high strength and elasticity. The tensile strength of Kevlar is 8 times higher than that of steel wire, and it begins to melt at a temperature of 450℃.

10. Ultra high molecular weight polyethylene of high density, brand of fibers "Spectra" (Spectra)


Photo: Tomas Castelazo, www.tomascastelazo.com / Wikimedia Commons

UHMWPE is essentially a very durable plastic. Spectra, the UHMWPE brand, is, in turn, a light fiber of the highest wear resistance, 10 times superior to steel in this indicator. Like Kevlar, spectrum is used in the manufacture of body armor and protective helmets. Along with UHMWPE, dainimo spectrum is popular in the shipbuilding and transport industries.

9. Graphene


Photo: pixabay

Graphene is an allotropic modification of carbon, and its crystal cell only one atom thick is so strong that it is 200 times harder than steel. Graphene looks like cling film, but breaking it is an almost impossible task. To punch through a graphene sheet, you have to stick a pencil into it, on which you will have to balance a load with the weight of an entire school bus. Good luck!

8. Carbon nanotube paper


Photo: pixabay

Thanks to nanotechnology, scientists have managed to make paper that is 50,000 times thinner than a human hair. Sheets of carbon nanotubes are 10 times lighter than steel, but the most amazing thing is that they are as much as 500 times stronger! Macroscopic nanotube plates are the most promising for the manufacture of supercapacitor electrodes.

7. Metal microgrid


Photo: pixabay

Here is the lightest metal in the world! The metal microgrid is a synthetic porous material that is 100 times lighter than foam. But let him appearance Don't be fooled, these microgrids are also incredibly strong, making them great potential for use in all sorts of engineering applications. They can be used to make excellent shock absorbers and thermal insulators, and the amazing ability of this metal to shrink and return to its original state allows it to be used to store energy. Metal microgrids are also actively used in the production of various parts for the aircraft of the American company Boeing.

6. Carbon nanotubes


Photo: User Mstroeck / en.wikipedia

Above, we have already talked about ultra-strong macroscopic carbon nanotube plates. But what kind of material is this? In fact, these are graphene planes rolled into a tube (9th point). The result is an incredibly light, resilient and durable material for a wide range of applications.

5. Airbrush


Photo: wikimedia commons

Also known as graphene airgel, this material is extremely light and strong at the same time. The new type of gel has completely replaced the liquid phase with a gaseous one, and it is characterized by sensational hardness, heat resistance, low density and low thermal conductivity. Incredibly, graphene airgel is 7 times lighter than air! The unique compound is able to regain its original shape even after 90% compression and can absorb up to 900 times the weight of oil used to absorb airbrush. Perhaps in the future this class of materials will help in the fight against such environmental disasters like oil spills.

4. Material without a name, the development of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)


Photo: pixabay

As you read this, a team of scientists at MIT is working to improve the properties of graphene. The researchers said that they have already managed to convert the two-dimensional structure of this material into three-dimensional. The new graphene substance has not yet received its name, but it is already known that its density is 20 times less than that of steel, and its strength is 10 times higher than that of steel.

3. Carbin


Photo: Smokefoot

Even though it's just linear chains of carbon atoms, carbyne has 2x the tensile strength of graphene and is 3x harder than diamond!

2. Boron nitride wurtzite modification


Photo: pixabay

This newly discovered natural substance is formed during volcanic eruptions and is 18% harder than diamonds. However, it surpasses diamonds in a number of other parameters. Wurtzite boron nitride is one of only 2 natural substances found on Earth that is harder than diamond. The problem is that there are very few such nitrides in nature, and therefore they are not easy to study or apply in practice.

1. Lonsdaleite


Photo: pixabay

Also known as hexagonal diamond, lonsdaleite is made up of carbon atoms, but in this modification, the atoms are arranged slightly differently. Like wurtzite boron nitride, lonsdaleite is a natural substance that is harder than diamond. Moreover, this amazing mineral is harder than diamond by as much as 58%! Like wurtzite boron nitride, this compound is extremely rare. Sometimes lonsdaleite is formed during a collision with the Earth of meteorites, which include graphite.

Currently, engineers around the world are looking for ways to make our vehicles more fuel efficient. This can be achieved with many different ways including the development of more efficient engines. However, the weight that these engines have to move also plays a significant role. The lighter the car, the less fuel is required to move it. That is why Sekisui Chemical has concentrated its efforts and created a new resin that has the strength of steel - but is much lighter than it.

This resin consists of three layers: In it, polyolefin foam is enclosed between thermoplastic sheets, in the structure of which graphene-like carbon components are integrated. Together, this results in an incredibly strong and tough plastic that is easy to heat treat while retaining its specific properties.

Sekisui Chemical says the plastic, which can be stamped into sheets up to 10mm thick, is currently available in two forms. One of them has increased rigidity and weighs 3500 g/m2. The second has a reduced weight due to less rigidity, and weighs only 2200 g/m2. For comparison, a steel sheet of similar stiffness weighs 10,100 g/m2.

The combination of low weight, thermoplasticity and enormous strength makes the new plastic ideal material for the production of cars, trains, ships and even aircraft, and Sekisui Chemical intends to focus on these markets. The company also has plans to test new plastic in construction. And, of course, do not forget that plastic has another huge advantage over steel - it is completely resistant to corrosion and does not require careful protective treatment. This allows you to significantly save not only on production and weight, but also on its maintenance.

The first industrial samples of the new material will be available this summer. If plastic really turns out to be as good as reports say, it could revolutionize several industries at the same time.

Our company is engaged in the supply of semi-finished products of engineering plastics in the form of sheets, rods, plates, bushings, pipes, as well as the manufacture of industrial capacitive equipment, chemical-resistant air ducts, galvanic baths, pools, fonts, cages and linings for different kind tasks.

In addition, with the help of CNC, molding and injection molding, we will produce both piece and serial production of plastic products of any complexity!

This article is intended to acquaint our visitors with the capabilities of the company and talk about our capabilities, services, as well as help in choosing the material for your task.

So, what are polymers and in what cases they are used.

If you need to choose a plastic for any task, you need to determine the most important performance characteristics:

• temperature - constant operating, minimum and maximum
• plastic environment
• mechanical influences on it.
• environmental requirements

Having outlined the requirements for operating conditions, one more important parameter can be determined - price on plastic! The price of materials can differ by tens or even hundreds of times, since operating conditions affect not only the type of plastic, but also the choice thickness. The thickness, in turn, affects the amount of material that will need to be purchased, since the cost of sheets, rods and plates is measured based on weight per kilogram.

Depending on the upper limit operating temperature It is possible to carry out a conditional division of plastics into several groups:

• Industrial (standard) plastics - up to 100°С
• Engineering (structural) plastics - from 100°С to 130°С
• Plastics high level, high temperature - from 130°С to 300°С

The higher the operating temperature of the material, the more perfect the molecular structure of the material and the stronger the intermolecular bonds, the higher its cost will be and at the same time its consumption volume will decrease. For example, the volume of consumption of polyvinyl chloride (PVC, PVC) is three to four orders of magnitude greater than the volume of consumption of polyetheretherketone (PEEK), the unit cost of which is two orders of magnitude greater than that of PVC.

Work environment influences choice chemical resistance material. AT chemical production components are used that require both proper storage in tanks or containers, directly participating in the technological process, and proper disposal.

And depending on the operating criteria mentioned above, thermoplastics are used to create capacitive equipment - PP (polypropylene), PE (polyethylene), PVC (polyvinyl chloride or vinyl plastic), PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride). Each of these polymers has its own advantages and application possibilities, and also has the ability to fully replace capacitive equipment made of metal or of stainless steel, they are simply indispensable in the production of modern electroplating equipment and chemical-resistant air duct systems. Replacing metal containers with plastic ones allows you to increase the shelf life of the equipment, reduce its cost and weight, and in most cases it is the only possible solution.

Speaking of impact environment on plastic it is impossible not to mention this important parameter, as radiation resistance. Operation on nuclear power plants, X-ray equipment, medical equipment, satellites, military equipment and special-purpose equipment - this and many other equipment require resistance to X-ray and Gamma radiation from plastic. And here materials such as PVDF (PVDF, polyvinylidene fluoride), PEEK (polyetheretherketone), PEI (polyetheramide), PAI (Torlon, Polyamide-imide), PI (Polyimide) are widely used.

Mechanical influences consist of several characteristics:

Strength matters at static voltages, i.e. under constant tensile load (for example, in capacitive equipment). Plastics with high tensile and tear strength tend to have poor elasticity and vice versa. This makes it possible to divide plastics into “strong” (hard) ones that can withstand high mechanical loads, but quickly break when deformations occur; and elastic (flexible), which are not so strong, but are able to maintain their strength properties during deformation.

impact resistance characterizes the resistance of materials to dynamic loads.

Hardness and wear resistance mean the resistance of the material to punctures, cuts, etc., resistance to abrasion, which is important, in particular, for the lining of process equipment.

In some cases, strong and hard plastics are chosen that can withstand loads of tens of tons, such as PA (polyamide), POM (polyoxymethylene), PET (polyethylene terephthalate).

In other cases - flexible and at the same time impact resistant, such as polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) .

Consider some of the most popular properties of plastics on the market.

Heat resistance, as mentioned above, depends on the operating temperature of the material. The most heat-resistant plastics from the category of high-temperature ones, they, due to their high technology, have the highest cost. The most popular plastics from this category are polyetheretherketone (PEEK, PEEK), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE, PTFE), fluoroplastic (f4), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF, PVDF).

Frost resistance for plastics it is characterized by brittleness temperature. The brittleness temperature is the temperature at which the destruction of a material or product occurs under conditions of a constantly acting load. For plastics, it is in the negative zone and for each of them it has its own value, which is below the minimum operating temperature. For example, for high density polyethylene PE 300 it is lower than -50°C; high molecular weight polyethylene PE 500 - -100° C; ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene PE 1000, lower than - 250 ° C. At the same time, brittleness of polypropylene homopolymer PP-H appears even at temperatures below 0 ° C

When selecting sheet plastic, the question arises as to the choice thickness sheet.
The most popular plastics on the market are available in the following thicknesses: