Plastics as materials of choice
PLASTIC IS NON-REACTIVE
Today if we think of storing a food item, water, milk, pickles, dry food, etc., plastic containers seem most convenient. This is because of their lightweight, lower price, good strength, and easy handling. Being lighter as compared to metals, plastics are used in cars, aircraft, and spacecraft, too. The list is endless if we start counting articles like slippers, furniture, decoration pieces, etc. Now, let us discuss the characteristic properties of plastics.
You know that metals like iron get rusted when left exposed to moisture and air. But plastics do not react with water and air. They are not corroded easily. That is why they are used to store various kinds of material, including many chemicals.
Source: This topic is taken from NCERT TEXTBOOK
Plastic is light, strong and durable
Talk to your parents or grandparents about the types of buckets that were used in the past. What is the material of the buckets or mugs you are using today? What are the advantages of using a plastic container? Since plastic is very light, strong, durable, and can be molded into different shapes and sizes, it is used for various purposes. Plastics are generally cheaper than metals. They are widely used in industry and for household articles. Make a list of different kinds of plastic containers that you use in daily life.
Source: This topic is taken from NCERT TEXTBOOK
PLASTICS ARE POOR CONDUCTORS
You have learned above that plastics are poor conductors of heat and electricity. That is why electrical wires have plastic covering, and the handles of screwdrivers are made of plastic. As mentioned above, the handles of frying pans are also made of plastic.
More to know
* Plastics find extensive use in the healthcare industry. Some examples of their use are the packaging of tablets, threads used for stitching wounds, syringes, doctors’ gloves, and a number of medical instruments.
* Special plastic cookware is used in microwave ovens for cooking food. In microwave ovens, the heat cooks the food but does not affect the plastic vessel.
* Teflon is a special plastic on which oil and water do not stick. It is used for non-stick coating on cookwares.
* Fire-proof plastics: Although synthetic fibre catches fire easily, it is interesting to know that the uniforms of firemen have a coating of melamine plastic to make them flame resistant.
Source: This topic is taken from NCERT TEXTBOOK