Plastic
Chelsea Glynn
• Plastic is referred to as a synthetic material which
means that it is synthesized from oil, starch, or
sugar.
• It is moldable
• It is most commonly derived from petrochemicals,
which are chemical products from petroleum.
History
•
The first man-made plastic was revealed by Alexander Parkes at
the 1862 Great International Exhibition in London.
•
In 1869 a plastic that succeeds is celluloid. It was synthesized from
cotton fiber and the plant material camphor, originally to make a
cheaper substitute for ivory billiard balls.
•
In 1897 the discovery of casein plastics, produced by reacting
casein (milk protein) with formaldehyde.
•
Cellulose acetate, a thermoplastic, was introduced as a molding
compound in 1927.
•
The demand for plastics has increased steadily; plastics are now
accepted by designers and engineers as basic materials along with
the more traditional materials.
Description
• Two broad distinctions of types of plastics are
thermoset plastics and thermoplastics.
• Thermoset plastics cannot have their shape altered
after production
• Thermoplastics are plastics that can be softened and
formed with heat.
Acrylic
• One thermoplastic material that is commonly used is
acrylic.
• Acrylic is mainly used in its solid, clear form. It is
chemically clear, colorless resin, but it can have color
introduced into the material before forming.
• It can be heat formed at about 350°F.
• It is available in sheets and rods that can be bonded
together.
• Acrylic is considered for locations where glass would be
too heavy or the breakage too dangerous.
Solid Surfacing
• Solid surfacing products are nonporous,
thermoplastic or thermoset materials.
• This material can be worked with the same kinds of
tools used to cut and shape wood.
• It is used to make sinks, countertops and other
moldable objects.
Engineered Stone
• Engineered stone is natural quartz combined with
polyester resins.
• It is typically available in 4 –foot widths and 10-foot
lengths.
• It is resistant to scratching, burning and staining.
• Engineered stones are nonporous and they can be used
where natural stone is prohibited, such as food service
and health care applications.
• It is cheaper and more chemically resistant than acrylic.
Plastic Laminates
• Plastic laminate is layers of paper bonded together
with resins to produce a surfacing veneer.
• Two types are high pressure and low pressure
laminate.
• High pressure laminate is kraft paper saturated with
phenolic resin.
• Low pressure laminate is a melamine resin-saturated
paper with a color or a gravure print decorative
surface.
Thermally Fused Foils
• Foils are a cellulosic paper soaked with melamine,
acrylic, and urea resins.
• Once the foil is cured it can be printed (photographic
wood grain is common) and embossed (many sheen
levels are created with texture).
• Surface textures can be molded to imitate the texture
of materials.
Decorative and 2D Foils
• Solid colored, pattern less thermofoil is referred to as
2D foil, low pressure laminate, or melamine.
• Considered an economy material and used when
cost is a primary consideration.
• Sensitive to heat
Rigid Thermofoils
• Applied to Medium Density Fiberboard substrates
that have contours, raised panels, curves and
intricately shaped edges.
• They are called 3D thermofoils because they
conform to complicated shapes.
• They create a seamless surface for environments
where precise maintenance is important, such as
healthcare, childcare, or educational buildings.
Application
• Laminates should be bonded to substrates
• Laminate details for an exposed edge may require
some attention because the thin material is just a
surface and the side of the sheet will be shown.
• Screws and other mounting hardware may be used
to hold thicker surfaces in place.
• Glues that are specified may fuse the surfaces
together by chemically interacting with the material.
Application
• Acrylic items can be self supporting and the seams
can be chemically welded or fused.
• For high-pressure plastic laminate, the structure
designed will be built from a different material and
covered with laminate sheets.
• The substrate for thermofoil is particleboard or
medium density fiberboard but they are mostly
laminated to plywood.
Maintenance
• Plastic can shrink and grow with temperature so it should
be fully acclimated to the site conditions before installing.
• Acrylic is damaged by window cleaners containing
ammonia.
• Acrylic tends to attract and show dust, so it must be
dusted frequently.
• All plastic surfaces need to be protected from scratching.
• Damage to plastic laminate is usually permanent.
Organization of the Industry
• Manufacturers sells to distributors or dealers and
dealers selling to trades.
• It is uncommon for end users to purchase the
material.
Sustainability
• Thermoset plastics are not currently recyclable.
• Thermoplastic resins are recyclable but the industry lacks
the tools to recycle them.
• Bio-based plastics are under development, they come
from renewable resources and some can biodegrade
under the right conditions.
• Petro-free resin is one example of a bio-based plastic used
in the making of a solid surface.
• Plastic certification: ASTM D6400-04
Cost
• Laminates are one of the most economical surfacing
materials.
• The plastics are not expensive so the greater cost will
come from fabrication and installation.
• Custom-cast plastics will be more expensive.
High Pressure Laminate Detail
Manufacturers
• EVCO Plastics
• CW Plastics
• Rex Plastics
• Mack
• Ameri-Kart
Video
• Plastic Injection Molding
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUthHS3MTdA