Plastics is the term commonly used to describe a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic materials that are used in a huge and growing range of applications. The raw materials used to produce plastics are natural products such as cellulose, coal, natural gas, salt and crude oil through a polymerisation or polycondensation process. The term “plastics”, in chemistry, includes materials composed of various elements such as carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, chlorine, and sulphur. Using plastics can help reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions throughout the life of a product or package by allowing manufacturers and consumers to do more with less. The two key categories of plastic are thermoplastics and thermosetting plastics (thermosets). Thermoplastic products have the ability to be continually softened, melted and reshaped or recycled, for instance in injection moulding or extrusion resins.

Karthika LJ

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