POLYMER INDUSTRY

POLYMER
INDUSTRY
POLYMERS
 POLYMERS

 It is a giant molecule built by repetitive

catenation of small chemical units called
monomers.
 Polymers are categorised into plastics,fibres

and elastomers.
PLASTICS

 It possess appreciable chemical

strength,non
breakability,energy
efficiency,flexibility and
plasticity.
 - coagulation of rubber and latex
and washings etc

:- High BOD,high suspended

solids and variable pH.
A Global Look at Plastics: Quantities, Uses
and Benefits
Plastic products improve our daily lives
and have made vast improvements in
areas such as:
 Transportation - Automotive, Aerospace, Space Exploration
 Medicines - helping us all live longer, healthier lives
 Electronics - information, communication, and entertainment
 Building and Construction - durability, aesthetics, and high
performance
 Personal protection - children, athletes, police and firefighters
 Innovative packaging - freshness, storage stability, and
protection from bacteria
 Recyclability and reuse (SPI created the international
recycling symbols/numbers to facilitate recycling)
Benefits of Plastics
Case Study: Transportation
 During the oil crisis in the 70’s, automakers found
that plastics made cars more energy efficient by
reducing weight.
 Plastics began finding their way into automobile
components (bumpers, fenders, doors, etc.)
 Plastics were also used for their
Durability
Corrosion Resistance
Toughness
Resiliency
Lightweight
Benefits of Plastics
Transportation cont…
 Plastics reduced the weight of the
average passenger car built in 1988 by
66 Kgs.
 That saves millions of gallons of fuel
each year and will save the energy
equivalent of 21 million barrels (2428
million litres) of oil over the average
lifetime of those cars.
 Range of Products
 Plastics Bags
 Plastic Packaging Film
and Sheet
 Non-packaging Film and
Sheet
 Plastics Profile Shapes
 Plastics Pipe & Pipe
Fittings
 Laminated Plate, Sheet
and Shape
 Polystyrene Foam
Products
 Urethane and Other
Foam Products
 Plastic Bottles
 Plastic Plumbing
Fixtures
 Resilient Floor Covering
 Plastics Products, Not
Classified Elsewhere
Uses of Plastics - Statistics
Today’s Reality
 Plastic products have become an
integral part of all our lives, and play an
irreplaceable role in our day-to-day
activities.
Comparison with Other Industries
United States
Plastics industry is the nation’s 4th largest
manufacturing industry (shipments):
1. Motor Vehicles and Equipment
2. Petroleum Refining
3. Electronic Components and Accessories
4. Plastics
 Plastics – Global Importance
Import and Export
 Plastic resins and plastic finished products are
imported and exported at a significant level
across the world, via the oceans and by other
means.
 Canada, Mexico, other Latin America and China
account for dominant percentages of U.S.
plastics industry exports and imports.
 PLASTIC’S ADVERSE EFFECTS ON OUR
ENVIRONMENT
Plastics pollute beaches & oceans
Garbage has been discarded into the oceans for as long as humans
have sailed the seven seas or lived on seashores or near
waterways flowing into the sea. Since the 1940s, plastic use has
increased dramatically, resulting in a huge quantity of nearly
indestructible, lightweight material floating in the oceans and
eventually deposited on
beaches worldwide.
 Plastic bags litter the
landscape
Once they are used, most plastic bags go into
landfill, or rubbish tips. Each year more and more
plastic bags are ending up littering the
environment. Once they become litter, plastic
bags find their way into our waterways, parks,
beaches, and streets. And, if they are burnt,
they infuse the air with toxic fumes.
Plastic bags kill animals
About 100,000 animals such as dolphins, turtles
whales, penguins are killed every year due to plastic
bags. Many animals ingest plastic bags, mistaking
them for food, and therefore die. And worse, the
ingested plastic bag remains intact even after the
death and decomposition of the animal. Thus, it lies
around in the landscape where another victim may
ingest it.
 Plastic bags are
non-biodegradable
And one of the worst environmental effects of
plastic bags is that they are non-
biodegradable. The decomposition of plastic
bags takes about 1000 years.
PLASTIC’S EFFECT ON HUMAN
LIFE
 Polyvinyl chloride is a significant source of dioxi
secondary hazardous waste.DIOXIN,the pers
pollutant,is carcinogenic and powerful hor
disrupter.it impairs immune system, reprodu
organs and cause genetic defects.

 Phthalates such as diethyl phthalate, dibuty

phthalate used in medical equipments, food
packaging and cosmetics may cause birth defects
damage liver and kidneys.
The softners viz phthalates like DINP,DEHP and
DNOP added to PVC toys are toxic to children.
 Burning of polyethylene or polypropylene generates
volatile carcinogens such as HCHO and CH3CHO.
 The plasticizer -DEHP added to stiff plastic for
flexibility may often leak out from Pvc bags into the
stored material cauing liver cancer.
 polyurethane is associated with asthma.
 Bfreathing styrene from polystyrene may cause
leukaemia.
PLASTIC'S EFFECT ON
ATMOSPHERE
Incineration of plastic produces
deadly poisonous gases like
chlorinated
dibenzofurans,chlorinated
dibenzodioxins,CFCs,HCL,HCN,CO
and SO2 etc. which criticallydeplete
ozone layer.
 MEASURES

1.Single-use plastic bags have become such a

ubiquitous way of life that it seems as if we
simply cannot do without them. However, if we
have the will, we can start reducing their use in
small ways.
2.A tote bag can make a good substitute for
holding the shopping. You can keep the bag
with the cashier, and then put your purchases
into it instead of the usual plastic bag.
 MEASURES

3.Recycling the plastic bags you already have is

another good idea. These can come into use for
various purposes, like holding your garbage,
instead of purchasing new ones.
4. While governments may be working out ways to
lessen the impact of plastic bags on the
environment, however, each of us should
shoulder some of the responsibility for this
problem, which ultimately harms us.