Synthetic Plastics We Encounter Every Day
Plastics have become one of society’s most important materials in the late twentieth century. From medicine, telecommunications, transportation and even warfare, plastics have transformed how we do things and how well we can to do them. From the time humanity discovered how to harness fire, we have continually developed stronger and better materials, from fabrics, wood, metals and now plastics and synthetic polymers. These materials are paving the way to even greater achievements. What are synthetic plastics? Plastics are a classification of polymers shaped into hard and tough utility articles through heat and pressure. These molecules are made up of long chains of repeating units called monomers. The arrangement of these monomers determines the plastic’s properties. Since these units can be arranged in many different ways, plastics are one of the most adaptable materials used across industries. Not yet convinced of plastic’s impact on society? Here are five plastics you...