Principles of Polymer Engineering

Despite the central role plastics play in life today, there remains a trace of the old view that plastic products are cheap and nasty. A poll held in Italy recentiy gave evidence of how people regard plastics. Of those interviewed: 15 per cent were neutral, neither for nor against, 25 per cent had no view, 35 per cent thought they were essential and approved, but a surprising 25 per cent of those surveyed were quite opposed to plastics. Polymers, in the form of plastics, rubbers and fibres, have for many years played essential but varied roles in everyday life: as electrical insulation,as tyres and as packaging for food to mention but three. There is no other class of material which could substitute for them. How is it then, that the word plastic is frequently used as a term of abuse in the sense of plastic bread or plastic smile? The root of this apparent contradiction is psychological. First and foremost is the feeling that plastics having been conceived as substitutes are, and will always remain, inferior to the real thing: imitation marble laminates for the bathroom? polypropylene grass? and mock onyx table lamps? Historically, there is no doubt that plastics were developed by entrepreneurs as imitation materials and that this form of replacement was intended. But what of the essential replacements which plastics also permit? False teeth are inferior to the real thing but are desirable if you have no other choice. And what of the artificial hip joint? Most people today have a close friend or relative whose life has been improved immeasurably by the polyethylene hip prosthesis. There is a vast number of other replacements, not quite so essential as these, which are highly advantageous. For instance, in automobile engineering, great improve ments in safety and fuel…