PLASTICS
Plastics are among the most versatile materials in existence. Defined by their plasticity, they have long carbon chains called polymers at their backbone and can be moulded, extruded or cast into any desired shape from films to textile fibres. They can be divided into thermosetting plastics, which never soften once moulded, and thermoplastics, which can be melted and reshaped, making them more suited to recycling.
Polyethylene Terephthalate - PET
PET is a strong yet lightweight thermoplastic, originally developed in the 1940s by combining fossil fuel-derived ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid. The resulting polymer can be blow-moulded to form single-use bottles, stretched into a film for food packaging or spun into fibres to create polyester fabric, which accounts for more than half the world's synthetic fibres.
High Density Polyethylene - HDPE
HDPE is a variation of polyethylene, the most common type of plastic in use today. While its low-density equivalent LDPE is used to make plastic bags, HDPE is sturdier and more rigid, lending itself to everything from milk jugs to packaging for cleaning products and toiletries.
Polyvinyl Chloride - PVC
Derived from chlorine and ethylene, PVC makes up about 20 percent of all plastic produced. Due to its strength and durability, the material is commonly used to create pipes, gutters and window frames, which designers have variously recycled into flower vases and cladding. With the addition of a phthalate plasticiser, PVC can be turned into flexible vinyl and used to form flooring, shower curtains and imitation leather.
Polypropylene - PP
Polypropylene is derived from propylene gas, a byproduct of the gasoline refining process, and is commonly used to form more rigid, hardwearing items such as Tupperware, kid's toys and outdoor furniture. Designers began experimenting with the material in the 1950s to create monobloc chairs, injection moulded and formed from a single piece of material.
Polycarbonate
Polycarbonate is a thermoplastic with carbonate groups in its chemical structure, making the material exceptionally resistant to impacts and temperature changes. Often used to create bulletproof windows, it can be engineered to be almost as clear as glass while being lighter and up to 250 times stronger. Polycarbonate sheets are popular among architects and interiors designers for their ability to maximize natural light while maintaining privacy, as well as improving a building's thermal insulation.
Polyurethane - PU
Polyurethanes are a diverse class of plastic polymers derived from isocyanic acid. Most commonly, PU takes the form of a flexible foam used for mattresses and upholstery. As a coating, lacquer or varnish, it can waterproof fabrics and protect wooden furniture as well as helping leather alternatives withstand wear and tear.
Fiberglass
Also known as glass-reinforced plastic or GRP, fiberglass is made by taking thin glass filaments, either loose or woven into cloth, and encasing them within a petrochemical resin. The composite material is lighter and stronger than steel while being cheaper and more flexible than carbon fiber. As a result, fiberglass is used to create products where performance is key, including skis as well as the rotor blades of helicopters and wind turbines. Architects have made use of the material to create tall, lightweight structures
Polystyrene
In its original form, polystyrene is a hard, solid resin used to make disposable cutlery. But when solid beads of the plastic are exposed to hot steam, they puff up like popcorn to create expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam, mostly known by its brand name Styrofoam. The rigid, closed-cell foam is 98 percent air and has a low thermal conductivity, making EPS a widely used packaging for fragile items as well as for hot foods and drinks. Once discarded, designers have been able to repurpose this packaging into sculptural chairs and beckoning cats, as well as melting it to create moulds.
Acrylic
Acrylic is a catchall term used to describe a range of different resins derived from acrylic acid. These can be suspended in water to create paint or spun into fibers that can be used to make clothing or as precursors for carbon fiber. When cast into sheets, the thermoplastic is known as plexiglass and used as a low-cost, shatter-resistant alternative for glass due to its exceptional optical clarity. Furniture made from acrylic can reflect light or disappear into its surroundings.
Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene - ABS
Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, much like polystyrene, is a hard thermoplastic derived from a clear, liquid petrochemical called styrene. In ABS, this is combined with butadiene rubber to create a stronger, more durable material that can withstand compression better than concrete and has been injection moulded to form billions of hardwearing lego bricks.
Nylon
As the first fully man-made fiber, created in a US lab in the 1930s, nylon spawned an era of innovation in synthetic fabrics. Although initially synonymous with stockings, the term nylon has since expanded to include a whole family of plastics composed of polyamides. These can be found in toothbrush bristles, films for food packaging and moulded components in cars and electronics.