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Essays on the invention of plastic
Plastics as a boon or bane
Plastic benefits and dangers
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I want to say one word to you. Yes sir. Are you listening ? Yes sir, I am. PLASTICS ! - The Graduate (1967) 1. Definition of Plastics Plastics can be defined as used materials which are primarily based on two materials, polymers and prepolymers (Elias, 1993). However, the previously mentioned definition suffers from a serious weakness as it does not explain the basic method of how plastics are made. A better definition of plastics is that they are “synthetic materials composed of a series or chain of molecules which, when heat or pressure is applied, can be formed into desired shapes” (Lincoln et al. 1984, p6). The reason they were named “plastics” is because they are easily processed and shaped. This name was originally derived from the greek word "Plastein" which fundamentally means to form or to shape. 1.2. Definition and Description of Polymers Polymers, which are considered to be raw materials for plastics, are a wide group of substances that may be classified into three categories: organic such as nucleic acids, semi-organic such as born nitride, concrete and many high-temperature superconductors and inorganic chemical substances such as diamonds, sands and chert (McGraw-Hill Professional, 2007, p162). Organic polymers can also be exemplified by cotton, cellulose in plants and/or skin, hoofs and muscle (Ruoff, 1972). The name polymers was originally came from the two Greek words, “poly” which means many and “meros” which means parts. The difference between polymers and prepolymers is that a prepolymer has lower moral masses than a polymer does. Prepolymers can be exactly the same as polymers on processing (Elias, 1993). 2. The History of Plasti... ... middle of paper ... ...idered as a removal problem, but as a major benefit. However, the suggestion of turning waste into energy suffers from serious weaknesses. For example, all of the inorganic substances that are present in the waste are produced as ash which means that landfills will be continually required to dispose of the ash that leads to even more costs. Landfills, which are supposed to be a part of the solution, can cause even more pollution to the air, water and also the soil. Although the ash is not that dangerous, it has an adverse impact on the environment. In addition, turning waste into energy cannot successfully deal with all types of waste, neither can recycling. Above all, the best solution seems to be that consumers ought to be presented by reliable, reasonable and scientific information of the environmental issues related to the plastic industry and how to avoid them.
• Lowering freight costs because of the light weight of plastics. • Plastics can be shaped and made in different patterns hence advantageous for marketing and shipping. • Plastics are made from natural resources such as
In conclusion to this investigation one thing is clear and that is that recycling reeks benefits to the environment, Recycling material when compared to making material from raw material is a more efficient energy saving and more environmentally friendly way to reuse material that is usually consider as trash such as empty glass, and plastic bottles, or old newspapers. Recycling helps reduce the possible carbon emissions greatly and does reduce the human carbon footprint. But Recycling doesn’t resolve the pollution that is around the world today. Leading to new questions, questions like what about the landfills are they sustainable, and if so for how long. How long until the air becomes unbreathable? How long until Earth becomes its own furnace?
In the early morning hours of January 12th 1981, twenty-five detonations were heard coming from the ramp at Muñiz Air National Guard Base, located in the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico (PR). It was a terrorist attack. The result? Ten A-7D aircrafts and a single F-104 destroyed, with a total of $45,000,000 in damages. It was the largest attack on the US military since the Vietnam War. The culprits? All members of a separatist domestic terrorist group called Ejercito Popular Boricua (English: Boricua Popular Army or BPA, EPB) more commonly known as Los Macheteros (“The Machete Wielders”); a nickname that conjures images of the improvised group of Puerto Ricans that banded together to defend and fight the United States Army when they invaded during the Spanish-American War. BPA’s main ideology is a free Puerto Rico, free from the colonial status that United States has on PR, and for PR to become its own sovereign state. Although BPA is not as active as it once was, they still promote and will fight for PR’s independence. But to understand the history and origins, ideologies, and goals of BPA we must go back in time to recognize why such a group even exists.
Barlaz says, “Recycling still causes some emissions” (62). However recycling starts at home with the consumer. When people go out to buy groceries, clothes, food or any other things they should think about the purchases before they buy them. Consumers buy groceries but they chose to use plastic or paper bags. Instead of using those they could use reusable cloth bags. Some people would rather use the plastic or paper bags. If they do then they should recycle those bags instead of just throwing them away in the garbage and hoping they get in the recycling area. Recycling cans and glass jars saves energy needed to make new ones. People can save energy by recycling other things like paper and plastic. Humes says, “Recycling aluminum cans saves ninety-six percent of the energy needed to produce aluminum from bauxite ore” (260). Also, “recycling the glass jars and bottles saves twenty-one percent of the energy needed to make new glass” (260). So if everyone could start recycling their cans, glass, paper and plastic that would save us a lot of energy that would need to be used to make new ones. If we can start recycling at home that will make things much easier on the waste management plants and our world. If people don’t want to recycle at their homes and separate everything they can just put all their trash in the can and it will eventually be separated and recycled. As people become more educated about
The popular teen movie “Mean Girls” accurately portrays several concepts from Chapter Two including Interaction Appearance Theory and Undue Influence, just to name a few that allow teen viewers to see the type of communication there is or will be in high school. Through the interactions with her new peers, Cady Heron is able to communicate and experience several of the concepts learned in Chapter Two thanks to the interactions she had with the deceiving Regina George.
According to the American Council of Chemistry, plastics, which are otherwise known as polymers, are comprised of carbon, hydrogen, chlorine, nitrogen, sulfur, oxygen, and other elements that are combined through the conversion of natural products like oil, natural gas, or coal (ACA, n.d.). Between 7 and 8 % of the oil and natural gasses produced annually are used either directly in the conversion of such fossil fuels to plastics, or in powering the processes to produce plastics (Hopewell, Dvorak & Kosior, 2009). Plastic combinations can either form as thermoplastics, which are plastics whose atoms are connected in long chains that can be melted and reused, or thermosets, which are plastics whose atoms are arranged in three dimensional patterns that cannot be melted or reused (ACC, n.d.). Plastics are used in a wide range of products. For example, polyesters are used in textiles and fabrics, polyvinylidene chlorides are used for food packaging, polycarbonates are used for glasses and disks, and more. By the United States energy averages of 2015, each kg of plastic produced requires 62-108 mega joules of energy. The plastic requiring the largest amount of energy per kg is silicon which required about 235 mega joules of energy per kg. Three hundred and twenty two million metric tons of plastic produced in 2015 alone, and that value continues to raise, (Global plastic production,
Plastic is not something that can grow, live, or die. It is artificially created by pe-
Polyethylene (PE) is one of the most commonly used polymers which can be identified into two plastic identification codes: 2 for high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and 4 for low density polyethylene (LDPE). Polyethylene is sometimes called polyethene or polythene and is produced by an addition polymerisation reaction. The chemical formula for polyethylene is –(CH2-CH2)n– for both HDPE and LDPE. The formation of the polyethylene chain is created with the monomer ethylene (CH2=CH2).
The purpose of this experiment was to create a polymer by reacting a mixture of decanedioyl dichloride and dichloromethane with a mixture of water, 1,6-hexadiamine and sodium carbonate. Specifically, we created the polymer Nylon-6,10. Nylon-6,10 polymers are used in a vast majority of things we use in everyday life such as zippers, the bristles in brushes, and even car parts. This experiment was different from the industrial method of making nylon because that takes place at a much higher temperature. A polymer is a substance that has a structure made of similar or identical units bonded together. All polymerizations fall into two categories: step-growth and chain-growth (both of which we used to form our polymer). Step growth polymerization
Polyethylene is a polymer that is made of a long chain of CH2 monomers bonded together. It is one of the most commonly used polymers in everyday items. Grocery bags, soap bottles, children’s toys, and even bullet proof vests are all made from polyethylene.2 This polymer is very versatile and can be used in many materials but this all depends on the way that the polymer is chemically made or enhanced. There are many different types of polyethylene classified by density and branching. 2
Energy can come in many different ways but not every way is good for the environment. By-products produced from the waste or energy being converted can cause harmful repercussions to the environment. There is more than 200 million tons of hazardous waste that is created annually through such things like pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, cleaning products, etc. (High Temperature Incineration, n.d.). I will be discussing the incineration process as well as the pros and cons of incineration based waste to energy have on the environment. I will also be going over my views on incinerating waste and what steps should be taken to get rid of waste more effectively. To better understand the positives and negatives about incineration technology the process
Millions of plastic bags are given out to consumers by supermarkets and stores to carry their goods in. They are also cheap, light, durable, easy to carry and in many cases, free. The most commonly used shopping bag is made of High Density Polyethylene (HDPE). This type is used in the majority of supermarkets and stores. After these bags are used, they often end up in landfills or as litter, roughly only three percent of plastic bags is actually recycled per year (Planet Ark, 2011). The materials used in making plastic bags make them non-biodegradable. According to the science dictionary, 2011 refers to “these materials cannot be decomposed into environmentally safe waste materials by the action of soil bacteria.” These harmful substances are toxic and take approximately four hundred years to break down, or in this case photo-degrade; which is how plastics made from (HDPE) break down. Since they are not biodegradable, they remain in the environment and are absorbed in soil or water (Indian Centre for Plastics in the Environment, 2010). This essay will discuss the various harmful effects of plastic bags, and demonstrate the risks that these bags impose on humans, animals and the environment. It will also discuss a series of suggested solutions that could help reduce plastic bag usage.
that make thousands of types of plastics. Ink pens, car parts and plastic bags are all made
The United States produces “about 8.25 billion tons of solid wastes each year” (Russell 1). People do not realize the impact they have on our planet and environment. When people throw anything in the trashcan, they are contributing to the destruction of our planet. The number landfills in the United States are decreasing, but the amount and volume of waste being thrown into the new landfills is increasing (Russell 4). Because of this escalating amount of garbage, Methane which contributes to global warming is an outcome of these landfills (Russell 7). As a result, our planet is suffering because of this epidemic. The garbage being put in the landfills could be recycled, but not enough businesses, ...
Efficient waste managing approaches help with reducing and avoiding unpleasant impact on the environment and human health, while allowing financial development and progress in the quality of people’s life. People do not even imagine what is the size and capacity of their activities and the impact they produce on the environment. Garbage is an important ecological problem. It is seems amazing that approximately all of the citizens of the world identify rubbish as a major environmental problem and yet these people still litter. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (2008), an American produces 250 million tons of garbage per year (para.2). There are different circumstances that are based on the society, environmental conditions, occupation and size of each of the different family. As Richmond (2010) stated, if no administration organizations has the responsibility or resources to concentrate their efforts on the waste disposal, then the responsibility to do that is on ...