PLASTICS

•THE WORD “PLASTIC” COMES FROM GREEK WORD “PLASTIKOS” THAT MEANS “TO FORM”.

•PLASTIC IS ALSO A POLYMER LIKE THE SYNTHETIC FIBRE.

•PLASTIC IS DEFINED AS A MATERIAL THAT CAN BE HEATED AND MOULDED IN ANY SHAPE AFTER COOLING.

•PLASTIC CAN BE-

RECYCLED,REUSED,COLOURED,MELTED,ROLLED INTO SHEETS OR MADE INTO WIRES.

ARRANGEMENT OF UNITS IN PLASTICS

• (a) LINEAR ARRANGEMENT OF UNITS IN PLASTICS

• (b) CROSS-LINKED ARRANGEMENTS OF UNITS IN PLASTICS

THERMOPLASTICS

• PLASTIC WHICH GETS DEFORMED EASILY ON HEATING AND CAN BE BENT EASILY ARE KNOWN AS THERMOPLASTICS.

• EXAMPLES-POLYTHENE AND PVC

• THESE ARE USED FOR MANUFACTURING TOYS,COMBS AND VARIOUS TYPES OF CONTAINERS.

ARTICLES MADE OF THERMOPLASTICS

THERMOSETTING PLASTICS

• PLASTICS WHICH WHEN MOULDED ONCE,CAN NOT BE SOFTENED BY HEATING ARE CALLED THERMOSETTING PLASTICS.

• EXAMPLES-BAKELITE AND MELAMINE

• BAKELITE IS USED FOR MAKING ELECTRICAL SWITCHES,HANDLES OF VARIOUS UTENSILS ETC.

• MELAMINE IS USED FOR MAKING FLOOR TILES ,KITCHENWARE AND FABRICS WHICH RESIST FIRE.

ARTICLES MADE OF THERMOSETTING PLASTICS

USEFUL PROPERTIES OF PLASTICS

• CHEMICALLY UNREACTIVE

• POOR CONDUCTORS OF HEAT AND ELECTRICITY

• MOULDED INTO DIFFERENT SHAPES

• QUITE CHEAP AND EASILY MADE

• LIGHT, STRONG AND DURABLE

PLASTICS AND ENVIRONMENT

BIODEGRADABLE

• A MATERIAL WHICH GETS DECOMPOSED THROUGH NATURAL PROCESSES,SUCH AS- ACTION BY BACTERIA ,IS CALLED BIODEGRADABLE.

• EXAMPLES: PAPER,COTTON CLOTH,WOOD,WOOLLEN CLOTHES,PEELS OF VEGETABLE AND FRUITS,LEFTOVER FOODSTUFF,ETC

NON-BIODEGRADABLE

• A MATERIAL WHICH IS NOT EASILY DECOMPOSED BY NATURAL PROCESSES IS TERMED NON BIODEGRADABLE.

• EXAMPLE: TIN,ALUMINIUM ,OTHER METAL CANS ,PLASTIC BAGS, ETC.

HARMFUL EFFECTS OF PLASTICS ON THE ENVIRONMENT

• PLASTICS ARE NON-BIODEGRADABLE AND DO NOT DECOMPOSE FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

• WHEN PLASTICS ARE BURNT, TOXIC FUMES ARE RELEASED INTO THE ATMOSPHERE CAUSING POLLUTION.

• THEY HAVE CAUSED MANY HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS.

Harmful effects of plastics

STEPS THAT ARE REQUIRED TO PROTECT ENVIRONMENT

• WE SHOULD NEVER THROW PLASTIC BAGS OR OTHER PLASTIC ARTICLES INTO WATER BODIES,DRAINS OR ROADS.

• WE SHOULD CARRY COTTON OR JUTE BAGS FOR SHOPPING.

• WE SHOULD BUY PRODUCTS WITH LESS PLASTIC PACKAGING.

• WE SHOULD ENCOURAGE THE PEOPLE TO RECYCLE AND REUSE THE PLASTIC.

AS A RESPONSIBLE CITIZEN REMEMBER

THE 5R PRINCIPLE.

•REDUCE •REUSE •RECYCLE •RECOVER •REFUSE

5R

REDUCE

REUSE

RECYCLE RECOVER

REFUSE

REDUCE

• THIS MEANS THAT WE SHOULD USE LESS.

• FOR EXAMPLE-

• SAVE ELECTRICITY BY SWITCHING OFF UNNECESSARY LIGHTS AND FANS.

• SAVE WATER BY REPAIRING LEAKY TAPS.

• DO NOT WASTE FOOD.

REUSE

• REUSING MEANS USING THE SAME THINGS AGAIN AND AGAIN.

• INSTEAD OF THROWING PAPERS,WE CAN REVERSE IT AND USE IT AGAIN.

• PLASTIC BOTTLES CAN BE USED TO STORE ITEMS.

RECYCLE

• THIS MEANS WE SHOULD COLLECT ITEMS LIKE PLASTICS,PAPER,GLASS,METAL AND USE THESE MATERIALS TOMAKE NEW PRODUCTS INSTEAD OF USING NEW PLASTIC OR METALS.

• EXAMPLE-

• WE SHOULD USE THE KIND OF PLASTIC WHICH CAN BE RECYCLED TO MAKE NEW PRODUCTS,LIKE THERMOPLASTICS.

RECOVER

• MEANS CONVERTING WASTE INTO RESOURCES

• WASTE PLASTIC BOTTLES OR CUPS WITHOUT HANDLES CAN BE USED FOR GROWING PLANTS.

REFUSE

• IT IS SIMPLY SAYING NO AND LOOKING INTO REUSABLE ALTERNATIVES.

• REFUSE SINGLE USE PLASTICS LIKE

DISPOSABLE COFFE CUPS,UTENSILS AND STRAWS.

IT WILL HELP YOU TO ELIMINATE A LOT OF WASTE FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.