PLASTIC CHAIR

1.Types of plastic material selected

Seven of the most popular and commonly used plastics:
 Acrylic or Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA)
 Polycarbonate (PC)
 Polyethylene (PE)
 Polypropylene (PP)
 Polyethylene Terephthalate (PETE or PET)
 Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
 Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS)

1. Acrylic or Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA)

Well-known for its use in optical devices and products, acrylic is a transparent
thermoplastic used as a lightweight, shatter-resistant alternative to glass. Acrylic is
typically used in sheet form create products such as acrylic mirrors and acrylic
plexiglass. The transparent plastic can be made colored and fluorescent, abrasion-
resistant, bullet-resistant, UV-tolerant, non-glare, anti-static and many more. In
addition to being than glass and polycarbonate sheeting, acrylic is seventeen times
more impact resistant than glass, easier to handle and process, and has endless
applications.

2. Polycarbonate (PC)
Tough, stable, and transparent, polycarbonate is an excellent engineering plastic that
is as clear as glass and two hundred and fifty times stronger. Thirty times stronger
than acrylic, clear polycarbonate sheets are also easily worked, molded, and thermo-
formed or cold-formed. Although extremely strong and impact-
resistant, polycarbonate plastic possesses inherent design flexibility. Unlike glass or
acrylic, polycarbonate plastic sheets can be cut or cold-formed on site without pre-
forming and fabrication. Polycarbonate plastic is in a wide variety of products
including greenhouses, DVDs, sunglasses, police riot gear, and more.
3. Polyethylene (PE)
The most common plastic on earth, polyethylene can be manufactured in varying
densities. Each different density of polyethylene gives the final plastic unique physical
properties. As a result, polyethylene is in a wide variety of products.

Here are the four common polyethylene densities:

 Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE)

This density of polyethylene is ductile and used to make products like shopping bags,
plastic bags, clear food containers, disposable packaging, etc.

 Medium-Density Polyethylene (MDPE)

Possessing more polymer chains and, thus, greater density, MDPE is typically in gas
pipes, shrink film, carrier bags, screw closures, and more.

 High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE)

More rigid than both LDPE and MDPE, HDPE plastic sheeting is in products such as
plastic bottles, piping for water and sewer, snowboards, boats, and folding chairs.
 Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE)

UHMWPE is not much denser than HDPE. Compared to HDPE, this polyethylene
plastic much more abrasion resistant due to the extreme length of its polymer chains.
Possessing high density and low friction properties, UHMWPE is in military body
armor, hydraulic seals and bearings, biomaterial for hip, knee, and spine implants, and
artificial ice skating rinks.

4. Polypropylene (PP)
This plastic material is a thermoplastic polymer and the world’s second-most widely
produced synthetic plastic. Its widespread use and popularity are undoubted because
polypropylene is one of the most flexible thermoplastics on the planet. Although PP is
stronger than PE, it still retains flexibility. It will not crack under repeated stress.
Durable, flexible, heat resistant, acid resistance, and cheap, polypropylene sheets are
used to make laboratory equipment, automotive parts, medical devices, and food
containers. Just to name a few.

5. Polyethylene Terephthalate (PETE or PET)

The most common thermoplastic resin of the polyester family, PET is the fourth-most
produced synthetic plastic. Polyethylene Terephthalate has excellent chemical
resistance to organic materials and water and is easily recyclable. It is practically
shatterproof and possesses an impressive high strength to weight ratio. This plastic
material is in fibers for clothing, containers for foods and liquid, glass fiber for
engineering resins, carbon nanotubes, and many other products that we use on a daily
basis.

6. Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)

The third-most produced synthetic plastic polymer, PVC can be manufactured to
possess rigid or flexible properties. It is well-known for its ability to blend with other
materials. For example, expanded PVC sheets are a foamed polyvinyl chloride
material that is ideal products like kiosks, store displays, and exhibits. The rigid form
of PVC is commonly in construction materials, doors, windows, bottles, non-food
packaging, and more. With the addition of plasticizers such as phthalates, the softer
and more flexible form of PVC is in plumbing products, electrical cable insulation,
clothing, medical tubing, and other similar products.

7. Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS)
Created by polymerizing styrene and acrylonitrile in the presence of polybutadiene,
ABS is robust, flexible, glossy, highly processable, and impact resistant. It can be
manufactured in a range of thicknesses from 200 microns to 5mm with a maximum
width of 1600mm. With a relatively low manufacturing cost, ABS plastic sheeting is
typically used in the automotive and refrigeration industries but is also in products
such as boxes, gauges, protective headgear, luggage, and children’s toys.
2. INCREASE THE STRENGTH OF THE MATERIAL AND
OUTDOOR CHAIR SUSTAINABILITY OVER SUNLIGHT.

1.Anti Counterfeiting

Function:
There are a number of ways manufacturers and brand owners
can combat counterfeiting by employing one of several or indeed
multilayer anti-counterfeiting technologies. Optical brighteners
absorb ultraviolet and violet light then re-emit this energy at a
higher wavelength, normally as a blue glow.

2.Antimicrobial/Biostabilisers

Function:
Help prevent deterioration of plastic materials where part of the
material might be susceptible to microbiological attack. Such
attacks can cause staining, discolouration, odour and loss of
aesthetics but more importantly, loss of electrical insulating
properties, hygiene and overall loss of mechanical properties in
the material.

3. Antioxidants

Function:
Help prevent "oxidation", the polymer reacting with oxygen.
Oxidation can cause loss of impact strength, elongation, surface
cracks and discolouration. Antioxidants help prevent thermal
oxidation reactions when plastics are processed at high
temperatures and light-assisted oxidation when plastics are
exposed to UV light.

4.Antistatic Agents

Function:
Help to prevent the build up of static electric charge. Plastics are
generally insulating and so have the capacity to build up static
charges on the surface which greatly disturb processing
procedures and can be an issue for hygiene and aesthetics

5.Biodegradable Plasticizers

Function:
Used to make plastics softer and more flexible and to enhance
the degradability of the product.

6.Blowing Agents

Function:
Form gases in the plastic to produce a foam material. The
blowing agents form gases by breaking down on heating at a pre-
determined temperature and form a foam structure within the
plastic's polymer matrix.

7.External Lubricants

Function:
To prevent damage to plastics or the mould during processing.
Applied to the material or directly to the machine to allow
processing without damage.

8. Fillers/Extenders

Function:
Natural substances used to improve strength and lower the cost
of the material. Usually mineral-based, fillers/extenders literally
increase the overall "bulk" of the plastic.
9. Flame Retardants

Function:
To prevent ignition or spread of flame in plastic material. Plastics
see substantial use in critical construction, electrical and transport
applications which have to meet fire safety standards either by
mandatory regulations or voluntary standards. Flame retardants
are added to plastics to meet these requirements.

10.Fragrances

Function:
Fragrances and deodorants for plastics are used in a variety of
applications and arer products for the home

11. Heat Stabilizers’

Function:
To prevent decomposition of the polymer during processing.
Processing usually results in temperatures well above 180 deg
celsius, which without the addition of heat stabilisers would result
in the plastic material literally falling apart

12. Impact Modifiers

Function:
Enables plastic products to absorb shocks and resist impact
without cracking. Particularly relevant for polyvinyl chloride (PVC),
polystyrene (PS) and polypropylene (PP) materials.
13.Internal Lubricants

Function:
Used to improve processability of plastics by increasing the
flowability. Internal lubricants improve the melt flow of material by
lowering the viscosity and heat dissipation (also see Processing
Aids)

14.Light Stabilizers’

Function:
Used to inhibit the reactions in plastics which cause undesirable
chemical degradation from exposure to UV light.

15. Pigments

Function:
Tiny particles used to create a particular colour.

16. Plasticisers

Function:
Used to make plastics softer and more flexible.

17. Process Aids

Function:
Used to improve processability of plastics by increasing the
flowability. Internal lubricants improve the melt flow of material by
lowering the viscosity and heat dissipation (Also see Internal
Lubricants) High-polymeric processing aids also improve
flowability of PVC compounds.

18. Reinforcements

Function:
Used to reinforce or improve tensile strength, flexural strength
and stiffness of the material. Often fibre-based

3. RECYCLING PROCESS AND BENEFITS

Plastic recycling is the process of recovering different types of

plastic material in order to reprocess them into varied other
products, unlike their original form. An item made out of plastic is
recycled into a different product, which usually cannot be recycled
again.

Stages in Plastic Recycling

Before any plastic waste is recycled, it needs to go through five
different stages so that it can be further used for making various
types of products.

 Sorting: It is necessary that every plastic item is separated

according to its make and type so that it can be processed
accordingly in the shredding machine.
 Washing: Once the sorting has been done, the plastic waste
needs to be washed properly to remove impurities such as
labels and adhesives. This enhances the quality of the
finished product.
  Shredding: After washing, the plastic waste is loaded into
different conveyer belts that run the waste through the
different shredders. These shredders tear up the plastic into
small pellets, preparing them for recycling into other
products.
 Identification and Classification of Plastic: After
shredding, a proper testing of the plastic pellets is conducted
in order to ascertain their quality and class.
 Extruding: This involves melting the shredded plastic so
that it can be extruded into pellets, which are then used for
making different types of plastic products.
Processes of Plastic Recycling
Among the many processes of recycling plastic waste, the
following two are the most popular in the industry.

 Heat Compression: This type of plastic recycling is gaining

special demand in the United States, Australia, and Japan
because of its ability to recycle all types of plastic at once. It
takes unsorted and cleaned plastic waste and mixes it in
huge tumblers that churn the entire mixture. The major
advantage of this process is that it does not require matching
forms of plastic to be recycled together.
 Monomer: Through the elaborate and accurate monomer
recycling process, major challenges of plastic recycling can
be overcome. This process actually reverses the
polymerization reaction in order to recycle the same type of
condensed polymer. This process not only purifies but also
cleans the plastic waste to create a new polymer.
Benefits of Plastic Recycling
After knowing the processes and stages of plastic recycling, it is
also important to know its various benefits. A few of them are:
 There’s A Ton of Plastic: One of the biggest reasons for
recycling plastic is its huge quantity. It has been observed
that 90% of the waste accumulated by the municipal
corporation is a plastic waste. Apart from this, plastic is used
for manufacturing various types of goods and items that are
being used on a daily basis. This will not only help increase
the production of plastic but will also take care of the
environment.
 Conservation of Energy and Natural Resources: The
recycling of plastic helps save a lot of energy and natural
resources as these are the main ingredients required for
making virgin plastic. Saving petroleum, water, and other
natural resources help conserve the balance in nature.
 Clears Landfill Space: Plastic waste is accumulated on
land that should be used for other purposes. The only way
this plastic waste can be removed from these areas is by
recycling it. Also, various experiments have proven that
when another waste material is thrown on the same ground
as plastic waste, it decomposes faster and emits hazardous
toxic fumes after a certain period. These fumes are
extremely harmful to the surrounding area as they can cause
different types of lung and skin diseases.