Use of material properties in commercial products
There are many Associated with business and profit. products used on a daily basis that are made from plastic A polymer is a large molecule formed from many identical smaller molecules (monomers). Polymers can be natural or synthetic. Plastics are long chains of polymers..
Molten material forced into a mould. plastic seating can be made from a variety of different polymers. A popular chair, called the ‘polyside’ chair, was designed by Robin Day and launched in 1963. It was the first to be injection moulded from a single piece of Polymerisation from the monomer propylene. and is a design icon, having been copied in many forms since. It is still in production in some form today.
When making chairs, a polymer is a good choice of material:
- they can be injection moulded in mass
- the colours can be changed
- the identically duplicated shape means the chairs can often be stacked
- they are light in weight
- they are easy to clean
Electrical plugs and sockets are made from A process where thermosetting polymers are set or cured under heat and pressure. They may be placed in the mould as a powder or injected as a liquid. polymers, specifically from a Also called ‘thermoset’. Can only be formed once as it cannot be reheated and therefore cannot be recycled. polymer called A thermosetting polymer.:
- it can be compression moulded in mass
- it is an excellent insulator to electricity
- it absorbs very little water
- it has a hard outer, high-gloss finish
- it is resistant to heat
Urea formaldehyde is also used as the adhesive to band particles together when A type of engineered wood made of compressed wood and fibre particles held together with glue. is made.
