Main Properties of Plastics

*Advantages:

• Most plastics are chemically stable and highly corrosion-resistant, showing minimal reaction with acids and alkalis.
• They have a wide range of applications, are inexpensive, and feature low manufacturing costs. Some plastics are soluble in specific solvents.
• Plastics are durable, waterproof, lightweight yet strong, with excellent wear and impact resistance.
• They are easily processed and mass-produced at low cost, allowing for molding into various complex shapes.
• Most plastics are good electrical insulators with low thermal conductivity, and some variants can withstand high temperatures.
• Many plastics exhibit a glossy finish, are transparent or translucent, and can be easily colored.
• Certain plastics can be converted into fuel oil and gas, helping reduce reliance on crude oil.

*Disadvantages:

• Recycling mixed plastic waste is challenging and often economically unviable due to sorting difficulties.
• Most plastics have poor heat resistance, high thermal expansion rates, are flammable, and can emit toxic gases when burned.
• Plastics are derived from petroleum refining products, and petroleum resources are finite.
• Plastics can persist in the environment for hundreds of years without degrading.
• They generally exhibit poor heat resistance, dimensional instability, and are prone to deformation. Many become brittle at low temperatures and are susceptible to aging.
• Most plastics do not degrade naturally in the environment.