What are the advantages and disadvantages of plastics?

Update:Sep 28,2022

Summary: Advantages 1. Most plastics have strong corrosion resistance and do not react with acids and alkalis. 2. The plastic manufacturing cost is low. 3....

Advantages

1. Most plastics have strong corrosion resistance and do not react with acids and alkalis.

2. The plastic manufacturing cost is low.

3. Durable, waterproof and lightweight.

4. It is easy to be molded into different shapes.

5. It is a good insulator.

6. Plastics can be used to prepare fuel oil and fuel gas, which can reduce the consumption of crude oil.

Disadvantages

1. When recycling waste plastics, sorting is very difficult and economically uneconomical.

2. Plastics are easy to burn and produce toxic gases when burned. For example, when polystyrene is burned, toluene is produced. A small amount of this substance can cause blindness, and symptoms such as vomiting can be caused by inhalation. The burning of PVC will also produce toxic gas of hydrogen chloride. In addition to burning, high temperature environment will cause plastic to decompose toxic components, such as benzene, etc. .

3. Plastics are made from petroleum refining products, and petroleum resources are limited.

4. Plastic can rot when buried in the ground for hundreds of years.

5. The heat resistance of plastic is poor, and it is easy to age.

6. Due to the inability of natural degradation of plastic, it has become the No. 1 enemy of human beings, and it has also led to the tragedy of the death of many animals. For example, monkeys, pelicans, dolphins and other animals in the zoo will accidentally swallow the No. 1 plastic bottle thrown away by tourists, and finally die in pain due to indigestion;

PREV：What are the factors that affect the quality of plastic bottles?
NEXT：What are the differences between PET, PE and PVC plastic bottles?