Composition& Additives

Plastic is made of organic polymer, which is a mixture of different chemicals. The chemicals in organic polymer consists of oxygen, sulfur, or nitrogen.

Most plastics contain organic polymers. The structure of these polymers are based on chains of carbon atoms itself or with oxygen, sulfur, or nitrogen as well. The backbone is a part of the chain on the main "path" linking a large number of repeat units together. To customize the properties of a plastic, different molecular groups "hang" from the backbone (usually they are "hung" as part of the monomers before linking monomers together to form the polymer chain). The structure of these "side chains" influence the properties of the polymer. This fine tuning of the properties of the polymer by repeating unit's molecular structure has allowed plastics to become an indispensable part of the world in the twenty-first century.

Structure of Polymer

Most plastics contains of organic or inorganic materials which is blended. The amount of additives ranged from 0% until 20% for polymer are used to wrap foods and 50% for electronic application. The average polymer contains of additives were 20% of polymer weight. It can decrease production costs. Fillers improve the performance and/or reduce production costs. Stabilizing additives are included fire retardants to lower the flammability of the material. Many plastics contain fillers, relatively inert and inexpensive materials that make the product cheaper by weight. Typically fillers are mineral in origin, e.g., chalk. Some fillers are more chemically active and are called reinforcing agents. Since many organic polymers are too rigid for particular applications, they are blended with plasticizers (oily compounds that confer improved rheology). Colorants are common additives, although their weight contribution is small. Many controversies areassociated with plastics that are associated with the additives.