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The different types of plastics

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bache matière
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«Plastics» are divided into 2 classes and several subcategories each with different characteristics. However, it is important to focus on some of the most commonly used plastics. The blog of Bâches-Direct provides an update on PE, PVC and PP plastics.

Thermoplastics

"Polyolefin" is the most widespread of all. It is flexible and modular. We can give it the shape we want through a heating and cooling process. Due to this extraordinary property, it is often used to make bags, films, bottles, buckets or toys. In addition, polyolefin is easily recycled.


 Polypropylene is a range of solid plastics that, meanwhile, is known to be light and very resistant. Indeed, it remains intact at very high temperatures and only melts around 160° or 170°. It is worked in powder or granular form and is particularly used to make filters, pumps, bumpers or tanks because it is also very resistant to shocks. Of course, plastic waste is recyclable.


 Still in the thermoplastic family, polyvinyl is by far the most manageable. Indeed, a finished PVC product can be rigid or not. This is why this material is often used to create windows, shutters, pipes or gutters. We can make coated fabrics, insulation ducts or PVC tarpaulins. It usually comes in the form of granules, powders or pasta. Unlike the first two, most PVC products are not all recyclable unfortunately.

Thermosets

They take a definitive form at the first cooling. The best known are:


  • polyurethanes: these plastics have a wide variety of texture and hardness. They are often used to make mattresses, car seats, dashboards because of their high capacity.
  • polyesters are very common in the textile industry.
  • Phenoplastics: this is the material used for phones and other electrical devices because they are efficient and have a very appreciated insulating property.


Plastics come in different forms and above all make it possible to create many very useful everyday objects.

To learn more about their manufacturing process, do not hesitate to read our articles and take a look in our online store to find the plastic sheet you need!