Manufacturing Technology Tutorials
Basic Facts about Plastics
Plastics are made from polymers--- long strings of carbon-based molecules.
Each unit on a polymer string is called a monomer. Monomers are polymerized (formed into strings) to form polymer plastics. For example:
- Styrene (C8H8) can be polymerized to make polystyrene, a polymer used to manufacture transparent packaging and foam insulation material
- 1,3-butadiene can be polymerized to make polybutadiene. Polybutadiene is used to make golf balls and automotive tires, among other products.