Properties of Plastics Introduction: Plastics come in all shapes and sizes. The size and structure of the polymers that compose different plastics contribute to the plastics’ properties. Some plastics can be recycled – their properties can be chemically manipulated to create a new plastic object that may serve a different function than that of the original object. For example, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles can be recycled into insulation for winter jackets. In this activity you will investigate and compare the properties of various recyclable plastics. Purpose: 1. Identify some of common plastics and their uses 2. Compare and contrast the properties of different plastics and make inferences from those comparisons 3. Identify products that different plastics can become through recycling Procedure 1. Review the table titled Common Plastics and Their Uses. Recyclers use the code numbers, listed in the first column, to identify different plastics. 2. Collect eight plastic items, which are listed in the table. Choose at least one product from every row in the table. 3. Use the table titled Properties of Plastics to record your observations. 4. Describe the sample type. (e.g., shampoo bottle, milk carton, etc.) 5. Record the full sample name as well as the abbreviated name, if one exists. 6. Record the color of the sample. 7. Try to bend the sample. Does it bend or break? Record your observations. 8. Try to stretch the sample. Record your observations. 9. Cut a small piece, about 1 cm by 1 cm, of each sample and place each into a small container of tap water. Note which samples float (F) and which sink (S). 10. Add salt to the water until the solution is saturated (some solid salt remains undissolved on the bottom.) Record whether each sample sinks or floats. 11. Boil a small amount of water. Remove the water from the heat. Once the bubbling stops, place the pieces of plastic in the water. Note whether each sinks or floats. Also note if the heat deforms any of the samples. 12. Answer the questions. Common Plastics and Their Uses Code Name Uses Plastic soft drink bottles, Polyethylene mouthwash bottles, Terephthalate peanut butter and salad (PET or PETE) dressing containers Recycled Products Liquid soap bottles, strapping, fiberfill for winter coats, surfboards, paint brushes, fuzz on tennis balls, soft drink bottles, film, egg cartons, skis, carpets, boats High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) Milk, water and juice containers, grocery bags, toys, liquid detergent bottles Flower pots, drain pipes, signs, stadium seats, trash cans, recycling bins, trafficbarrier cones, golf bag liners, detergent bottles, toys Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Clear food packaging, shampoo bottles Floor mats, pipes, hose, mud flaps Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) Bread bags, frozen food bags, grocery bags Garbage can liners, grocery bags, multipurpose bags Ketchup bottles, yogurt Polypropylene containers and margarine (PP) tubs, medicine bottles Polystyrene (PS) Videocassette cases, compact disc jackets, coffee cups, knives, spoons, and forks, cafeteria trays, grocery store meat trays and fastfood sandwich containers Manhole steps, paint buckets, videocassette storage cases, ice scrapers, fast-food trays, lawn mower wheels, automobile battery parts License plate holders, golf course and septic tank drainage systems, desk top accessories, hanging files, food service trays, flower pots, trash cans, videocassettes Properties of Plastics Sample type Sample name Color Bend Stretch? or break? Float? H20 salt H20 hot H20 Deform in hot H2O? Questions: 1. Why would it be difficult to recycle polyvinyl chloride into plastic bags? 2. Why is HDPE a good material for boats? 3. Which plastic do you think could best contain extremely corrosive material? Why? 4. List two uses of high density polyethylene other than those listed in the table. 5. Two plastics that are targeted for recycling from household waste are polyethylene terephthalate (PETE) and high density polyethylene (HDPE). One of the problems of recycling such materials is separating them. Suppose you have been hired to set up a process for separating large quantities of waste plastic that is a mixture of PETE and HDPE. Describe how you might perform this separation.