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.