Plastics Lesson Objectives 1 Understand the characteristics of

Plastics

Lesson Objectives 1. Understand the characteristics of different plastics 2. Be able to use a vacuum former to mould plastic 3. Be able to use a line bender to shape plastic

Materials have different properties that make them useful for different jobs. Here are some properties that materials have. Transparent – Transparent materials let light through Waterproof – Waterproof materials do not let water through and do not soak up water. Strong – Strong materials are very difficult to break. Weak materials break easily. What do you understand by the term ‘the properties of a material’. . ? What do we mean when we say the ‘properties of a material’. . ?

Property literacy words The property of a material is a description of the characteristics a materials has… They are adjectives which tell us about a material…

What are the properties of plastic. . ? Properties of plastic Some are strong Some are brittle Most are flexible Some are ridged Most are shiny Most are smooth Some are rough Plastics are malleable Some are transparent Some are opaque Most are solid in colour

Different types of plastic and uses Material Properties Uses Acrylic Stiff and brittle. Used to make signs and small 2 D and 3 D forms High Impact Polystyrene (HIPS) High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) Rigid, comes in variety of colours, comes in variety of thicknesses HDPE is a sturdy and reliable Detergent bottles, yoghurt tubs, milk bottles, bottle caps, hard hats non-leaching translucent plastic Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Strong, tough and resists scratching Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) Semi-rigid, translucent, very tough, weatherproof, good chemical resistance, low water absorption Plastic pipes, outdoor furniture, blister packaging, electrical wire Squeeze bottles, toys, carrier bags, bin bags, general packaging, gas and water pipes. Strong, tough, flexible Can be made with a ‘living hinge’. bottle caps, food containers, drinking straws Polystyrene (PS) Lightweight, hard, stiff, transparent and brittle. Good water resistance Used for vacuum-forming Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET or PETE) Strong, ductile, hard. It does not deform / lose its shape, at the temperatures reached in microwaves / domestic ovens. 2 -liter soda bottles, single-use water bottles, cooking oil bottles, microwavable trays, fruit packaging Polypropylene (PP)