All modern inventions
have their advantages and disadvantages. Likewise, plastics also have some
disadvantages due to their non-biodegradable nature. But many industries, after
years of R & D, have come up with the latest technologies and methods to eliminate
the disadvantages. Some techniques used are recycling, reusing, using
biodegradable plastic, and reducing plastic as much as possible. Recycling of
plastic can be done in three ways, primary recycling, secondary or mechanical
recycling and tertiary or chemical recycling. Plastic is the major raw material
in most fields such as construction, electric and electronic industries, productpackaging, automotive,
furniture, transport, etc.
Need for plastics in
industries
Transport industry
Transportation of
people and goods have been increasing rapidly over the years, and therefore
safety is considered very important for the industries to flourish
economically. The transport industries used for load and people transportation
are airways, railways, automotive (cars, buses, etc.) Railways and marine. So
to increase the safety load has to be reduced considerably by replacing metal
spares, metal body parts, flooring, panels, seating, doors, interiors and more.
Ships use plastic for their anti-rust properties, and planes or jets use
plastic for their low weight, ensuring flying safer. With the advantages
mentioned earlier of the usage of plastic in transport, industries provide
safety and cut fuel consumption noticeably.
Electrical and
electronic industries
There is a wide usage
of plastic in electrical industries for its lightweight, heat insulation
properties, electricity insulation, durability, energy efficiency,
recyclability, and design-friendly nature. Two types of plastic used in
electrical and electronic industries are thermosets and thermoplastics. Thermosets cannot be melted, whereas thermoplastics can be
melted and reused. Electrical industries use plastics to make wire insulation,
switches, switchboards, parts of lights, the body of resistors, capacitors,
electric boxes, etc. In electronics, right from small to large appliances,
plastic usage is very high. Some electronic appliances are iron box, table
fans, computers, air conditioners, televisions, washing machines, dishwashers,
refrigerators etc.
Dyes and paint
industries
Plastic is used to
manufacture dyes and paints for its heat resistance, water resistance and
long-lasting nature. Plastic paints are used in almost all industries for cost
reduction. In addition, plastic paints are easy to apply, and maintenance after
the painting is also low.
Furniture industries
Furniture industries
have started adopting ways to reduce the cutting of trees for their wood. Hence
wood is being replaced by plastic nowadays. Plastic furniture has a longer life
and lighter weight than wooden furniture, and the cost is also very low.
Moreover, corresponding to our requirement, plastic can be melted and cast into
any shape and design.
Product packaging
industries
Instead of using
cardboard and wooden crates, product packaging industries have moved to plastic
packaging materials. Product packaging
must be lightweight as well as easy to pack. Plastic has both advantages, and
packaging materials made out of plastic are more attractive, making them easy
for marketing. In addition, plastic is suitable for packing both larger and
smaller products. Packaging is done in various shapes and sizes, from packing
food to packing large materials, and therefore plastic is the only option.
Plastic in industries
doesn’t consume excessive energy compared to metal, paper and glass. Plastic
products are useful in energy-saving and power safety and are a cheap yet
durable material. Hence substituting or eliminating plastic is an impossible
task.
