Essay on Plastic

The word plastic is derived from the Greek (plastikos) meaning capable of being shaped or molded. Plastic that is made up of polymers having only aliphatic (linear) C atoms in their backbone chains. e.g.: poly propylene. Plastics that are made up of heterochain polymers contain O, N, S in their backbone chains, in addition to C. e.g.: poly carbonate. Plastic behaviour of polymers is influenced by their morphology (arrangement of molecules).they are either amorphous or crystalline. Most thermosets are amorphous, while thermoplastics may be amorphous or semi crystalline.

Plastics are a range of synthetic or semi-synthetic polymerization products that can be molded into a permanent object having the property of plasticity. Plastics are found extensive industrial applications. Plastics having a variety of properties are available at present. They have low specific gravities, ease of fabrication, resistance to low thermal and electrical conductivities. Many plastics can take range of colour to enable them useful for decorative purposes.

Plastics are widely used in making electrical instruments, telephones, panelling for walls,instrument boards, automobile parts, lamps, googles, optical instruments, household appliances, etc.

CLASSIFICATION

Plastics can devided into two general categories and they are:

Thermoplastics: Thermoplastics have either linear or branched structure and can be amorphous or semicrystalline materials. Polymeric chains are held together by weak vander waal's forces or dipole-dipole forces or hydrogen bonding and hence do not have cross-links. Thermoplastic soften on heating and harden on cooling because of weak vander waal's forces. These plastics can remoulded, reshaped and reused. Thermoplastics can be reclaimed from waste .Examples for thermoplastic are cellulose derivatives, polyamides, polystyrene, polyvinyls, polyethylenes, etc.

Thermosetting plastics: Thermosetting plastics have three-dimensional, cross-linked, networked structures in which the polymeric chains are held together by cross-links(strong covalent bonds). These plastics donot soften on heating and they are hard, strong and more brittle. Thermosetting plastics cannot be remoulded and hence cannot be reused.examples for thermosetting plastic are phenolic resins(bakelite), polyesters(terylene), etc

THE CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF THE USE OF DISPOSABLE PLASTICS

The durable, lightweight and easy to go of the non-biodegradable plastic bags and water bottles are becoming unavoidable to use in many day-to-day activities of the societies of developing countries like Ethiopia, and of which is often re-used many times and discarded causing problems for human, animal and the environments where it deposited. Some of the major sources of environmental problems like Ethiopia include sewage and run-off related plastics, materials from recreational/social gathering users, and materials disposed of at open landfills from each household activity.

Plastic materials originating from each source is either transported by wind, flood and human drains toward water bodies, or is mixed with the farm (agricultural) lands. In developed countries, poor awareness of societies on plastic materials, poor collection of waste materials and their treatments, high run-off and floods due to rain are important pointed sources of plastic materials, namely plastic bags and water bottles, from/to the environment (agricultural farmlands, surface waters) which undermines soil and water qualities and threatens human and biodiversity.

CONCLUSION

Plastic waste management system is a traditional and needs up gradation in the areas of storage, collection, transfer, processing and disposal. Financial hurdles and lack of co-ordination and co- operation between the concerned authority and the public has created bottlenecks in improving its efficiency. The plastic pollution can adversely affect lands, waterways and oceans. The prominence of plastic pollution is correlated with plastics being inexpensive and durable, which lends to high levels of plastics used by humans. Animals can be significantly harmed or killed by plastic pollution. Animals can be significantly harmed or killed by plastic pollution. The environmental tools of plastics, i.e cell phones and computers to bicycle helmets and hospital IV bags, plastic has molded society in many ways that make life both easier and safer. A large percentage of plastic produced each year is used to make single-use, disposable packaging items or products which will get permanently thrown out within one year.

Some of the chemicals used in plastic production have the potential to be absorbed by human beings through skin absorption. Efforts to reduce the use of plastics and to promote plastic recycling have occurred.

To raise public awareness, the regional and national different levels of educational curriculums must include the waste management systems from the grass-roots as information resources. In addition to creating public awareness on the importance of a healthy environment, mechanisms of controlling the generation of wastes at the source, alternative disposal ways, establishing additional drop-off areas (landfills) and incineration mechanisms, plastic recycling facilities are also recommended. Helping communities to reduce their exposures to health toxicants will increase the likelihood for a healthy society and clean environment for the coming generations.