Plastic has been an integral part of modern life for several decades. From household storage containers to auto parts and accessories to casual furniture, plastic has provided an affordable yet sturdy material for many of the items people use every day. Still, many people wonder just how plastic is made. While the process will vary somewhat depending on the final end product that is under production, there are a few basic steps that are included in the manufacturing of plastic goods of all types.
In order to answer the question of “how is plastic made”, it is important to define plastic itself. Plastic is one form of polymers that are composed of a long chain or line of smaller molecules that are known as monomers. Monomers themselves are made of atoms that are usually extracted from natural or organic substances, and are generally classified as petrochemicals. All sorts of monomers can be utilized in the creation of plastic. Crude oil and natural gas are often the source of some of these elements, which include monomers such as styrene, vinyl chloride, and vinyl acetate.
Polymers are created by forming a series of chains or strings of monomers. Processing the polymers in one of two methods results in the formation of plastic. With the thermosetting method, liquid monomers are poured into a mold and allowed to cool. The liquefied monomers are permanent in shape, producing durable goods. With the thermoplastic approach, the liquid monomers are heated and slowly molded into shape. After the heating and manipulation into the desired shape, the product is cooled and allowed to set into a solid. Both the thermoplastic and the thermosetting approaches are referred to as polymerization.
While plastic was once considered a product that was cheap in both price and in quality, modern plastics are utilized for a number of purposes. Many forms of plastic goods contain properties that are both heat and cold resistant. Today, there are plastics that can be used in both conventional ovens as well as in a microwave. Plastic is used to form lightweight patio furniture, durable upholstery, protective coatings on cookware, water piping for the home and other buildings, and a wide range of other products.
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anon220026
Post 79 |
If we grew industrial hemp, it would replace wood an save the forests, and the seed of the hemp used to make plastics safe. Industrial hemp could help protect against deforestation and the oil used to make plastic packaging. It is a multi-use resource. Industrial hemp could even be used to replace steel and concrete. The news of hemp has been historically and systemically suppressed to avoid competition. |
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anon178298
Post 77 |
Several points that people need to keep in mind: 1. Just because you're "green" doesn't mean that you have given up all your worldly possessions and taken to eating mushrooms in the forest. There is more to people's opinions than just black and white. There are more political parties than just democrats and republicans, and there are more viewpoints than just "green or not green". 2. The problem is not that world oil supplies are running low; the problem is that we consume so many resources so damn fast in modern day western society (more particularly American society). All ecosystems are designed to give an organism more or less of what it needs, without giving too much of an edge to any one species. Our unfathomably large resource consumption on a daily basis is a castle made of sand quickly melting into the sea (rest in peace jimi hendrix). Our (humanity's) primary concern should be reducing waste, reusing disposable objects, and recycling everything no longer of use. 3. Lets face it. Very few people in the United States could actually survive in the woods. We (Americans) have adapted so well to modern technology that we can no longer live without it. The reality of it is that unless you move somewhere far far far away, you are dependent upon societies systems. That in mind, people should remember that abandoning all of our modern conveniences all at once is literally impossible. Convincing people to become more ecologically considerate will take time, and so will giving up harmful practices against the earth. 4. Plastic does not harm animals. Idiots who throw plastic into the bushes because they are too lazy to go to a trash can do. Plastics are not the enemy here, friends. Our own behavior and inability to responsibly manage our resources is what will inevitably kill us. Please, just think about it for a bit and together we can make the world a slightly better place one step at a time. --Jacob S. |
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anon122256
Post 69 |
It is really hard to make plastic but it can be defined. Look at the top og the page for 'plastics' definition. From Gregg S., age 24 |
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anon118198
Post 68 |
@post number 67: People aren't saying "John, stop using you're TV it's made of plastic!" They are simply saying, for example to the people who made John's TV, "Can you make it out of something else please?" |
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anon110094
Post 67 |
All these "green people" should stop complaining. if you don't want to use plastic, fine. means more for the rest of the world. I'd love to see you wear leaves, not use cookers, not drive not use lic transport, not touch any plastic products, not watch tv or use the internet and you should stop saying we should stop using plastic and stop using it yourself. If you're going to say something about plastics or whatever, do it yourself. apply it to your own lives. |
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anon108315
Post 66 |
There is a new world coming so let's manage this one as best we can, without getting all wacky about it. |
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anon89780
Post 63 |
in answer to post 52, it doesn't matter about us getting behind it, you have to get the people who can change things to get behind it. otherwise nothing happens. |
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anon82992
Post 59 |
"green people" and "not green people" classification. step one of genocide. |
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anon81547
Post 58 |
In answer to comment 24: If we use too much plastic we would run out of fossil fuels and there will be no plastic but there would most likely be no stopping of animals dying from the plastic for a long time. |
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anon81544
Post 57 |
In answer to poster 24: Even if it comes from the earth we could still use up all of the fossil fuel and we won't have plastic but there will be no stopping of harming the earth. |
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manny65
Post 52 |
No person should even be allowed to say they don't care about the environment. We are creating a major problem today that our kids and their kids will have to face tomorrow. Wasteful and harmful habits do not affect the individual doing it, but others will be affected down the line. I'm sure in old days the Greeks and Romans killed people who had similar mentalities. Think of it like this: In America we have the liberty of free speech, but, if you say the wrong thing to the wrong person in the wrong place then guess what? you're going to pay something for it! Of course plastics are highly useful and cheap and we cannot escape them today. But we must recycle, mitigate our use of certain kinds, and develop new materials with less risk and environmental impact. A smart plastic company today would definitely invest in such development. And to the guy who doesn't give a crap about the "stinking' dolphins" -- a pack of dolphins once saved a man's life from a great white shark simply because they knew he was in distress. He was attacked from below while on his surfboard. It was on t.v.; you can find it. The Earth will be fine forever; it's people who are doomed the way we are headed. We all need to be jointly intelligent and proactive on this one; it's a must. |
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anon66972
Post 49 |
The first step to improvement is recognition of a problem. I do not insist that we rid the earth of plastic, but rather that we recognize that it has a negative effect and that we have the capability to innovate and change. For those who would rather be right than compassionate, calling someone a hypocrite for being critical and honest does not help the situation. In conclusion, I would say that the root of the problem is not plastic, but rather humanity's wasteful, self centered, and ignorant mentality. Peace. |
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anon65663
Post 48 |
Can't we all find a middle ground? Let's face it, we are not going to rid our lives of plastic; it is irreplaceable in our lives. However, the quantity and types are what need to be considered. Not all plastic is recyclable, especially when manufacturers create chemical bonds between HDPE and PS for no reason. There are plastics that do, in fact, decompose, and we should be making a shift in that direction. In re to guy who says screw the dolphins: Do you not realize that we live in an interconnected web of life? We have a symbiotic relationship with the species on this earth. The loss of a species leads to the loss of an ecosystem, which creates a shift in the biosphere. We will make this world unlivable for ourselves if we continue on this path of consumption and destruction. On the other hand, for those more eco conscious people out there: Being overly preachy while participating in hypocritical practices does nothing to sway the masses; it solely leads to more incessant bickering. Let us all practice a little tolerance with one another, and a little discretion in our purchases. Jen- Tampa, FL |
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anon62037
Post 46 |
The problem is not plastic. The problem is not any particular resource, for that matter. The biggest problem plaguing human interaction with the environment is our supply and demand global economy. We can manage our resources and create better alloys, for humans and earth, but this is not as profitable as producing low scale, readily available materials. Research costs time, money and resources. If our economy was focused on the availability and usability of resources, rather than profit gained by said resources, we would be better off. Please think about this. |
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anon60946
Post 45 |
I think that if you don't care what happens to our planet then you don't deserve to live in it. We all use plastics in our everyday life but if everyone could just try a little harder to stop using as much plastic it would make the world a much better place. Then all the "green people" can stop complaining and all the "non green people" can still use a bit of plastic without being completely arrogant. |
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anon60244
Post 44 |
to comment poster no. 31: you don't care about environment? you don't care if it turns into a toilet? well news for you buddy. You're gonna be living in that toilet one day. yeah. news flash: dolphins actually are smart. if they had opposable thumbs, they would have built buildings by now. |
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anon59881
Post 43 |
First of all, plastic has positive and negative effects on the environment. It can be made from pig urine for Pete's sake, turning toxic waste into something useful. Plastic does decompose, and can be decomposed within thre months with the right microbe bacteria. Yes, it is bioaccumulation in animals everywhere and poisoning them. But who can live without it anymore? Also, people that say we should be without plastic, I dare you not to use it. You wouldn't even have your computer to type this nonsense on. The whole cause of "destroying the environment" via burning fossil fuels, littering/dumping, hunting etc. is solely caused by humans. If all the humans were gone, we'd have no environmental problems.
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anon56780
Post 41 |
as my good friend george carlin said, the earth is fine, the people are effed, but the planet will be here a long time. |
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anon55520
Post 38 |
I think the environment is extremely important and if someone wants to die and for the planet to die out then they are stupid. it's people like them who destroy our planet! Anon age 12 |
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anon55387
Post 36 |
people should recycle plastic as much as possible. kitt. |
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anon55228
Post 34 |
all you people should want to save the environment. it will save us and the dying animals!! please help! |
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anon54716
Post 33 |
Plastic needs to go. At least make it recyclable. |
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anon53338
Post 32 |
no matter what anyone does we still can't save this world from anything that anyone thinks is bad because everything around us is made to fail one way or another. |
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anon52612
Post 31 |
I really can care less about the environment. I don't care about the stinking dolphins, turtles or anything else. And I really don't care if they go instinct.
I think it's funny that the green people use most all the these products more so than someone like me who takes my own bags to the grocery store. Not because I give a crap about the environment, just it's more convenient for me. The plastic bags are a pain and always break and then take up too much room in my garbage can. However if the entire world turns into a toilet, so what? |
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anon52506
Post 30 |
Perhaps all of these anti-plastic, green people would kindly stop using their PC's (which contain plastic) so we don't have to put up with their lunatic ramblings on the internet. :) |
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anon50930
Post 29 |
From food-storage containers to disposable silverware, plastic products are such a part of our lives that it's easy to forget they contain chemicals that could harm the environment, and even us. More than 200 billion pounds of plastic, is produced each year, 10 percent ends up in the ocean. Eventually 70 percent of that ends up sinking, which does damage to ocean floor life, and the rest of the plastic floats. About 100,000 animals, such as dolphins, turtles, whales, penguins, are killed every year due to plastic bags. Many animals consume plastic bags, mistaking them for food, and die soon after. The ingested plastic bag remains unbroken even after the death and decomposition of the animal. It lies around in the landscape where another victim may ingest it.
~Elayna, age 16. I wrote a 6 page paper on plastic. |
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anon50315
Post 26 |
i can't believe how much plastic we use. |
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anon47157
Post 24 |
you try living without the things that modern society provides then talk to me about being so green. plastic comes from the earth, therefore there is no harm in using it if you know how and when to use it. it's certainly better than using light metals. if you compare the process of making them the differences in pollution output are enormous. look at a steel mill then look at a petrol processing plant. i'll bet the steel mill produces more pollution. thanks greenie. that's the problem with you green people. you speak without facts and you don't even take the time to check before saying something is so bad. |
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anon43842
Post 23 |
We all should think very hard before we start using food sources for fuel and plastics. It's a recipe for famine. |
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anon43512
Post 21 |
some of this stuff is wierd. |
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anon42121
Post 20 |
"Green Person": someone who realizes our collective choices have a profound effect on the ecosystem that we are all a part of and depend on.
Anti "Green Person": Someone who hasn't realized this fact yet. |
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anon38051
Post 18 |
America should make plastic monuments to represent numerous elements of its culture. From grotesque surgery to the credit debts.
A plastic civilization.
The monuments would last a lot longer than the traditional bronzes. |
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anon36904
Post 17 |
Plastic is so green all you have to do is recycle it! |
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anon31241
Post 14 |
If plastic is melted down and poured into a mold, why then does plastic partially burn when held up to a flame? Is it possible to re-melt plastic? |
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anon29027
Post 12 |
First off its quite obvious that we cannot avoid the use of oil in the society that we live in, but that's not the challenge. The point is that we need to find more sustainable methods of producing plastics, or more renewable materials, such as corn or soy plastic, to move away from the routines we have all created. The aim of 'green people' is to become more conscious of our daily routines and impact on the environment. The shift away from oil/oil based plastics isn't going to be instant. But it has become popular/profitable to be more aware of your actions. Companies are starting to spring up faster and faster that recycle plastics for uses such as plastic lumber, and companies that provide safer and more renewable materials because they see the market for those materials opening up. Just try not to actually do your part to help the movement; be positive and supportive rather than un-knowledgeable; be conscious and aware because oil/plastics are a huge problem in the ways they're used now, but the shift away from that is happening, just be a part of it. |
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anon28998
Post 11 |
anon28972- Before you start going off on the "green people" for their ignorance, check up on yours. Wood splinters and metals don't cause cancer in children. The fact that plastic does not rot is the whole problem, because it takes hundreds of years to biodegrade. Billions of plastic items end up in landfills every year and that is an obvious negative. Nobody is suggesting we eliminate plastic but making improvements on it and cutting back use could only benefit everybody (except companies). |
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anon28972
Post 10 |
*We certainly wouldn't* be better off. All you 'green people' can't see past your own noses. Look at all the things made out of plastic here. If we couldn't use plastic, you green people would start whining that people were chopping down too many trees and harming the environment. Then, when we use metal, you would be whining about how mining was damaging 'beautiful nature.' If you really are so green, why don't you live your life *naked* outside in the freezing cold? Now *that* would be green. Conventional plastics are a marvelous invention, and metal/plastic alloys are being researched. What makes plastic so 'unhealthy'? Won't your kids get harmed by wood splinters and harmful metals? Everything comes with a price, and the price for using plastic is relatively small compared to the amounts of deforestation you would have to put up with if you want to use unconventional organic methods. Plastics don't rot, and therefore are hugely useful, unlike wood. |
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anon27928
Post 9 |
I think if it were illegal too have plastic then substitutes for plastics would be much cheaper. This would then mean we could have more durable items and re-use them, like metal and wood. It would be good for our environment *and* for the health of our children. I say about their health because 75% of plastics have harmful chemicals which can Leach out and our children have a high risk of Cancer and Hormonal disruption. From Martha age 12. |
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anon27306
Post 8 |
To Not use any oil? - One being, a Human that is, can't escape oil in his/her everyday life. To escape the use of oil one would have to not get dressed - oil, coal, natural gas after all power even the cotton fabric plants. One would not be able to drive to work on Rubberized/Oil tires, or for that matter even touch the steering wheel - plastic. One would not be able to surf the internet(plastic keyboards) or for that matter use *any* electricity for anything ever. One would have to be naked, own nothing made from any polymers, or use any oil/coal/Nat. Gas in any way to make the items get up with the sun and go to bed with the dark, live in a cave, use leaves and twigs to make clothes. I'd like to see all the "do-gooders" protesting plastic to live like that and report back to this blog telling me how it went. |
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anon22204
Post 7 |
Posted By: Crystal Sempre, 15 But there's new corn plastic out now that's biodegradable!! |
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eastwest
Post 2 |
We would be SO MUCH better off if plastic wasn't so easy to make. It is causing so many problems with chemicals it gives off, how long it takes to break down in landfills, etc. It seemed to be the stuff of miracles when it first came out but that is obviously not true now. |