One question per week: Polymers in everyday life
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This post was last edited by QXZ-1966 on 2009-7-20 at 18:47. Polymer materials are closely related to our daily lives; many things we know are made from polymer materials, but we may not be aware of the specific type of polymer used in their production. Even those who study polymer materials may not fully understand the great diversity of such materials. Please write down what products you know are made using which polymer materials. It could be considered an activity to promote polymer materials. It’s best not to repeat. Please have 138972950 post a reply here to claim the reward for one question.
What a great suggestion; why hasn’t anyone replied? Let me mention one: the most common type is the mineral water bottle, made of PET (polyethylene terephthalate). At that time, the teacher held up a plastic water bottle and asked me what material it was made of; I replied that it was PP, and the teacher scolded me harshly, saying it was shameful that someone who had studied polymers for four years didn’t even know such things. So I remembered it. . .
This post was last edited by xykhai on 2009-7-21 08:04. Space cups are made of PC plastic. PC is short for polycarbonate; the English term for polycarbonate is Polycarbonate, and it is also referred to as PC engineering plastic. PC material is actually one type of engineering plastic. PC is an amorphous thermoplastic resin with excellent comprehensive properties, featuring superior electrical insulation, ductility, dimensional stability, and chemical resistance, as well as high strength, heat resistance, and cold resistance ； It also has advantages such as self-extinguishing properties, flame retardancy, non-toxicity, and the ability to be colored. The downside is that its hardness is lower compared to metals, which means its surface is more prone to scratches (whereas metal kettles may lose their paint). Common plastic materials for mobile phones: mainly fall into three categories – PC, ABS, and PC+ABS.
Plastic bags: PE or PET; Medicine bottles: PP; Electrical appliance casings: ABS; Glass: PMMA
Hehe, I once gave a brief introductory talk on this topic to my colleagues, and only then did they realize that polymers are essential in every aspect of life. . Clothing: Fabric – cotton (natural polymer), synthetic fibers; Buttons – plastic. Shoes: Soles – polyurethane; Leather-like materials – polyurethane. Food: Rice – starch (polymer of glucose), proteins (polymers of amino acids). Meat: Animal proteins, animal fats (saturated fatty acids). Fruits and vegetables: Cellulose, plant proteins, vegetable oils (unsaturated fatty acids). Housing: Refrigerators, freezers, disinfection cabinets, water heaters, etc.; Insulation materials – polyurethane. Paints and coatings: Alkyd resins, amino resins, acrylic resins, epoxy resins, polyurethane. Waste bins (PE), plastic wrap, plastic bags (PE, PVC). Plastic cups, beverage bottles (PP, PET, PC). PVC pipes. Transportation: Tires – vulcanized cis-butadiene/styrene rubber. Interior components: PU, PVC, PP (seats, armrests, headrests, door panels, steering wheels, shock absorbers). Dashboards: Cheap ones made of PVC/ABS; more expensive ones made of PC/ABS. Mudguards: Cheap ones made of toughened PP; more expensive ones made of PPO/ABS. Radiator grills: Cheap ones made of ABS; more expensive ones made of modified POM. Fuel tanks: Cheap ones made by blow molding UHMWPE; more expensive ones made of HDPE/PA/HDPE. Door and window seals: EPDM rubber. Bumpers: Cheap ones made of PP; more expensive ones made of PC/PBT. Headlights: PBT/PET. Glass: Acrylic (PMMA). Commonly used biomedical polymers include polyethylene, polyurethane, polytetrafluoroethylene, polymethyl methacrylate, polyethylene terephthalate, silicone rubber, polysulfone, polylactic acid, polyhydroxyalkanoates, etc. Finally, there’s my previous research topic: OLED/PLED, organic/polymer light-emitting diodes. Some small-sized smartphones or displays are now using them, or they are employed as white-light OLEDs for lighting or backlighting purposes.
The artificial marble countertops that are commonly used in kitchen renovations these days are made from unsaturated polyester resin or acrylic resin
The sealing box currently in use: PP
Baby diapers. Although it is called paper, it is actually made of PP non-woven fabric, with the water-absorbing material being a polymer hydrogel.
Is the sealing tape made of polymers?
Yes. It is PTFE, polytetrafluoroethylene
Recently, there are towels on the market that have an extremely strong water-absorbing capacity and a particularly soft feel; they are made from polyester-cotton blended fibers. Extra durable!