| LII.org (Home) | About LII IPL.org Suggest a Site Subscribe to New This Week Contact |
|
|
 |
|||
|
|||
|
|||
|
|
|||
Plastics
 Websites presented in alphabetical order Chemical Heritage Foundation: Polymers: Molecular Giants 
 Introduction to polymers, which "are macromolecules -- in other words, they are really big molecules. ... Some polymers occur naturally, such as starch, protein, and cellulose." In the 19th century, "chemists began to synthesize polymers in the lab. These [synthetic] polymers ... can be found in everything from plastic bags to rubber tires," and include materials such as "nylon, rayon, vinyl, [and] Teflon." This site includes a timeline, information about chemists working with polymers, and links to related resources. http://www.chemheritage.org/explore/explore-nav5.html Topics: Science, Technology Last updated Jan 4, 2006 History of Plastics
Overview of developments in the history of plastic manufacturing, including some of the inventors and patents related to plastic, substances (such as cellulose nitrate and formaldehyde resins), and the growth of the diversity of and uses for plastics starting during World War II. From the Society of the Plastics Industry, a plastics trade organization. http://www.plasticsindustry.org/AboutPlastics/content.cfm?ItemNumber=670&navItemNumber=1117 Topics: Technology Last updated Sep 18, 2008 The History of Plastics
Overview of the development of artificial plastics. Includes discussion of natural polymers from tropical trees and the vulcanization of rubber, semi-synthetics (such as celluloid), thermosetting plastics (such as Bakelite), amino plastics (such as melamine), thermoplastics, and high-tech plastics. Also includes images of selected plastic items and a short timeline. From the British Plastics Federation (BPF), a trade association. http://www.bpf.co.uk/bpfindustry/History_of_Plastics.cfm Topics: Technology Last updated Jul 16, 2007 An Introduction to the History of Plastics
Overview of the history of the development of synthetic polymers. Includes information about celluloid, rayon (also known as artificial silk), bakelite, polystyrene (PS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), synthetic rubber, and nylon ("the real star of the plastics industry in the 1930s. ... [It] was the first purely synthetic fiber, introduced by Du Pont Corporation at the 1939 World's Fair in New York City.") From a site that provides information for the U.S. packaging industry. http://www.packagingtoday.com/intronaturalpolymers.htm Topics: Technology Last updated Jan 3, 2006 The Nylon Drama
This essay describes how "the tension between a pure-science idealist and a pragmatic corporation resulted in an artificial fiber of historic importance and the biggest money-maker in the history of Du Pont." Includes a description of the beginning of the project in the 1920s through the announcement of nylon's invention for the 1939 New York World's Fair. From the Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution. http://invention.smithsonian.org/centerpieces/whole_cloth/u7sf/u7materials/nylondrama.html Topics: Industries, Technology Last updated Jan 4, 2006 Penn State Center for Plasticulture
This website contains information about plasticulture, the use of plastics in agricultural applications. Topics include plastic mulch, drip irrigation, row covers, high tunnels ("a crop growing system that fits somewhere between row covers and greenhouses"), windbreaks, and waste plastic. Includes images, results of experiments, and other publications. From the College of Agricultural Sciences at Penn State University. http://plasticulture.cas.psu.edu/ Topics: Agriculture, Technology Last updated Jan 3, 2006 Plast-o-matic
These activities for children focus on learning more about plastic, "any of a group of compounds that can be molded, extruded, cast, or otherwise shaped." Includes a plastics extruding activity, experiments (such as making "slime"), and an interview with a plastics engineer. Part of the website for the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) American Experience program. http://pbskids.org/wayback/future/plastics/ Topics: Technology Last updated Jan 3, 2006 Plastic Loose Fill Council (PLFC)
This organization was founded "to develop, promote and implement the original use and subsequent recovery, reuse and recycling of polystyrene loose fill, commonly known as 'packing peanuts.'" The site features a database of collection centers in the U.S., the phone number of a packing peanut hot line, and answers to environmental questions about reuse of plastic loose fill. http://www.loosefillpackaging.com Topics: Environment, Technology Last updated Feb 6, 2006 Plastiquarian.com
Information about inventors, plastic materials, and companies involved with the discovery and production of polymer materials. Includes images of items made from materials such as celluloid, casein, melamine, vulcanite, and xylonite. Also includes an online museum "devoted to the story of viscose artificial silk [rayon]." From the Plastics Historical Society, a British society affiliated with the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining. http://www.plastiquarian.com Topics: Technology Last updated Jan 4, 2006 Resin Identification Codes: Plastic Recycling Codes
This chart lists the recycling codes (1-7) found on plastics, with descriptions, and information about properties, packaging applications, and recycled products. Includes information for polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE), high density polyethylene (HDPE), vinyl (polyvinyl chloride or PVC), low density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene (PS). From the American Plastics Council, an industry group. http://www.americanchemistry.com/s_plastics/ Topics: Environment, Technology Last updated Feb 1, 2007 Sealed Air: Bubble Wrap
Consumer page for Bubble Wrap, the cushioning material made from polyethylene (plastic) with air-filled bubbles. Features a short description of the process for making Bubble Wrap, an online bubble-popper, a humorous personality test based on how you pop bubbles, a small photo gallery of bubble-popping and Bubble Wrap crafts, and details about Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day. From the makers of Bubble Wrap. http://www.sealedair.com/bubble_home.htm Topics: Industries, Technology Last updated Apr 18, 2006 A Short History of Manufactured Fibers
Overview of the development of synthetic fibers from the "first patent for 'artificial silk' [that] was granted in ... 1855," to the 1992 introduction of lyocell. Highlights include the development of rayon, nylon, and polyester. Also includes a brief discussion of safety (flammability) and energy issues. (By 1973, "the industry was using but 1% of the Nation's petroleum supply to provide two-thirds of all fibers used by American textile mills.") Includes a timeline. From the American Fiber Manufacturers Association. http://www.fibersource.com/f-tutor/history.htm Topics: Industries, Technology Last updated Jan 4, 2006 The Time 100: Leo Baekeland
Profile of Belgian-American chemist Leo Baekeland, who developed in 1907 the first all-artificial plastic, which he called Bakelite. Includes a discussion of his attempts to create artificial shellac, which lead to his creation of Bakelite. Bakelite was advertised as "'the material of a thousand uses.' It became the stuff of everything from cigar holders and rosary beads to radio housings, distributor caps and telephone casings." From Time magazine. http://www.time.com/time/time100/scientist/profile/baekeland.html Topics: Notable People, Technology Last updated Jul 19, 2007 |
|||
| Copyright © 2009, Librarians' Internet Index, LII. All rights reserved. Financial support for LII (Librarians' Internet Index) comes from the The iSchool at Drexel, College of Information Science and Technology and the IPL Consortium. LII is hosted by The iSchool at Drexel, College of Information Science and Technology. |