Plastic is one of the most important materials used in modern life. Primarily, plastics are chemical materials made by human hands through the molding process and naturally, unlike metals, ceramics, and wood, they do not have a natural origin. One of the earliest ideas for making plastic in history can be attributed to decorative ornaments and toys.

The emergence of plastic dates back to around 1820. In other words, the appearance of organic chemistry was also in those years.

Plastic can be hard or soft, transparent or opaque. It can resemble wood, glue, or silk. It can be used in making toys or heart valves. Currently, there are more than 10,000 different types of plastics in the world. The raw materials for making plastic are oil and gas. These fossil fuels are sometimes combined with oxygen and chlorine to produce various types of plastics.

One of the main characteristics of plastics is their good malleability. Plastics can be reshaped through thermal and mechanical processes.

In fact, it can be said that if there is no oil, we cannot produce plastics. Until the mid-1950s, the main source of raw material for the plastic industry in Europe was coal, in this regard, coal tar, coke, coal gas, and coal tar ammonia were sources of aromatic chemicals such as benzene, toluene, phenol, naphthalene, and related products that ultimately led to the production of important plastics such as polystyrene resins and nylons.

The development of the petrochemical industry is probably the most unique factor in the growth of plastics. For this reason, the petrochemical industry is visibly present in our daily lives through the production of plastics in various aspects.

Historically, the plastic industry has experienced very rapid growth. Although synthetic plastics have penetrated the market extensively since the late 19th century, in reality, the plastic industry grew significantly with the end of World War II and the entry of relatively cheap petrochemical raw materials into the market.

The guidance for the construction and growth of this industry is more than other industries, which is due to the advantages of new technologies and economic parameters intervening in replacing plastics instead of materials such as metal, glass, wood, ceramics, and so on. For example, replacing a plastic pipe due to its price and ease of installation and connection compared to its metal counterpart.

Currently, with the recent advancements in automotive and household industries, plastic parts have become a very suitable replacement for metal parts in this category due to weight reduction and increased fuel efficiency. Many other examples can be mentioned to confirm this, such as approximately 70% of the various polymer plastics in the market today are specific to four groups: PVC, PE, PP, and PS.

Classification of plastics based on their main foundation:

1- Natural

2- Semi-synthetic

3- Synthetic or industrial plastics

Regarding natural plastics, materials such as resins, biomin, and the like can be mentioned. Regarding semi-synthetic plastics, materials such as cellulose, whose main origin is wood, are used in making items like brushes, buttons, and wood glue.

But industrial plastics, which have found widespread use, include various components such as gears and telephone parts, whose main origin is coal. Among these materials are formaldehyde, urea-formaldehyde, and fluorocarbon.

The first plastics:

Early humans made tools and weapons using natural polymers. However, it was in the late 19th century that humans succeeded in making plastics by altering the polymer's shape. Cellulose is naturally insoluble and insoluble in ordinary solvents. By nitrocellulose, the first commercial plastic called nitrocellulose was produced, which is soluble and malleable. In 1870, a plastic called celluloid entered the market, which was obtained by softening nitrocellulose with camphor. This material is transparent, firm, and moldable and is used in making artificial objects such as brushes, combs, fibers, lacquers, etc.

The future and plastic market:

As mentioned earlier, the highest consumption of plastics after World War II took shape as a cheap substitute for common and traditional materials, but even today, the general perception of the plastic industry is not completely transparent and positive. However, in many fields, plastic materials have found their appropriate place in the market, including the electrical industry, which combines excellent insulating properties with flexibility, durability, and non-flammability in various electrical components such as plugs, lamp sockets, and wire insulation.

List of plastic applications:

1- Use of properties (piezoelectric and pyroelectric properties and fluoridation) in speakers and detectors

2- Wide uses of plastics in construction such as water and sewage pipes, moisture-proof layers, floor coverings, insulation, wall decorations, etc.

3- Use of plastics in packaging such as bottles and bathroom containers

4- Automotive industries, which are currently one of the major consumers of plastics

5- Furniture and household and office items

6- Water and air transport equipment such as boats and airplanes

7- Industrial equipment such as industrial pipes, pumps, valves, control room glass made from materials such as PTFE and PVC

8- Photography industries

9- Medical equipment such as injection syringes, etc.

10- Use of plastic films for printing paper

11- Shoe manufacturing industries

12- Winter clothing

Main properties of plastics:

1- Lightweight

2- Thermal insulation

3- Electrical insulation

4- Transparency

5- Colorability

6- Weather resistance

7- Chemical resistance

8- Hygienic

9- Easy identification

10- Cost-effective

11- Compatibility with various conditions

12- Various applications

History of Plastic

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