ASSIGNMENT 1

ADVANTAGE AND DISADVANTAGE

“USE OF PLASTIC”

A. Advantage and Disadvantage

Advantage Disadvantage
High durability Make a non-renewable resource
Low cost Flimsy
Water resistant Hazard to wildlife animals
Lesser energy Plastic bags clog roadside drains
Easy to give color
Lightweight

B. Making a paragraph

Introduction “use of plastic”

Plastic is an organic compound that is very easily formed, has a very long chain because it is
formed from polymerization of organic materials and have a very large molecular weight.
Plastics are made of carbon, hydrogen and other atoms bound together in long molecular
chains called polymers. Plastics are not found in nature but are made from coal products,
petroleum, cotton, wood gas, salt, and water. The kind of plastic :
A. Commodity Plastic
 This plastic type is used for the electronic tool, food wrapping, and bottle.
 The mechanical properties are not too good and not heat-resistant
 Example: polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), and Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene
(ABS).
B. Engineering Plastics
 This plastic type is used for automotive components.
 It has good mechanical property and heat resistance (above 100 °C).
 Example: Polyamide (nylon), Polyoxymethylene (POM), and PolyCarbonate (PC).
 C. Special Engineering Plastics
 This plastic type is used for aircraft components.
 Operating temperature above 150 ° C and very good mechanical properties (tensile
strength above 500 Kgf/cm ²)
 example: Polyester Sulfone (PES), Polyamide-imide (PAI), PAR

Advantage
There are several obvious benefits, such as durable, low cost, water resistant, lesser energy, and
lightweight.

Water resistant makes a tool that forms by plastic material more safety and can be used in all
equipment without worried if the tool will be broken if water spill on the tool. It gives a big
impact for the example electronic equipment.

Lesser energy has a relation with a cost. The lesser energy it means that production raw material
until product only needs low energy such as low temperatures, low pressure, low electricity
and etc. Based on the source of the Scoot and Gilead, 1995, to produce plastic material only
takes the energy of 3.1 KWH/Kg. Compare with the following materials, aluminum (74.1
KWH/Kg), steel (13.9 KWH/Kg), cups (7.9 KWH/Kg), and paper (7.1 KWH/Kg).

Plastic easy given the color making it has more appeal and light weight make it easy molded
into various forms such us toys, bottle, pipe, the body of the vehicle and many other.

C. Question and Answers

1. Why do most people keep using a plastic in all equipment?
Because plastic has a low cost, water-resistant, and lightweight. In this era, plastic has
been widely used in household furnishing, wrapping food and as a bottle, equipment of
body vehicle, and etc.
2. How many kinds of plastic? mention it!
Three, commodity plastic, engineering plastics, special engineering plastics.
3. Do you think that plastic is safe as a lunch box?
Plastic for lunch box made from HDPE (high-density polyethylene) this plastic is heat
resistant and prevent chemical reaction occur.