story of plastic
plastic
First of all, what is plastic?
Major types of plastics and examples of their use
Plastics are broadly divided into thermoplastic resins, which soften when heated and harden when cooled, and thermosetting resins, which harden when heated.
Thermoplastics soften when heated again, but thermosets, once hardened, do not soften when reheated.
Thermoplastic resin
Like chocolate, it softens and melts when heated and returns to its original hardness when cooled.
| resin name | Eur-lex.europa.eu eur-lex.europa.eu (℃) | Use case |
| Polyamide (PA) | 80 to 200 | stroller joint parts |
| Polycarbonate (PC) | 120 to 130 | mobile phone housing |
| Polyacetal (POM) | 80 to 120 | mobile phone small parts |
| Low density polyethylene (PE) | 70 to 90 | seal container lid |
| High density polyethylene (PE) | 90 to 110 | large storage |
| EVA resin (EVAC) | 70 to 90 | soft seat |
| Polypropylene (PP) | 100 to 140 | Daily necessities such as flower pots, hot tubs, and buckets |
| Vinyl chloride resin (PVC) | 60 to 80 | soft baby bath, egg pack, sucker |
| Polystyrene (PS) | 70 to 90 | Tabletop items, CD cases, trays |
| AS resin (SAN) | 80 to 100 | tabletop supplies |
| ABS resin (ABS) | 70 to 100 | clip, cutting masher |
| PET resin (PET) | ~85 | PET bottles |
| Methacrylic (acrylic) resin (PMMA) | 70 to 90 | tabletop supplies |
| Thermoplastic elastomer | 115 to 140 | Anti-slip, sucker |
Thermosetting resin
Cookies that harden when heated and do not soften or melt when heated again
| resin name | Eur-lex.europa.eu eur-lex.europa.eu (℃) | Use case |
| Phenolic resin (PF) | 150 | teapot, pot handle |
| Melamine resin (MF) | 110 to 130 | Tableware |
| Polyurethane resin | 90 to 130 | Cushion (outer skin such as seat, internal urethane foam) |