Formulae and Tables - Wood / textbooks for vocational training (GTZ, 122 p.) 3. Plastic materials (introduction...) 3.1. Classification of Plastic Materials 3.2. Properties of Important Plastic Materials 3.3. Applications of Important Plastic Materials

Formulae and Tables - Wood / textbooks for vocational training (GTZ, 122 p.)

3. Plastic materials

Plastics are synthetic materials or macromolecular organic-chemical materials produced by conversion of polymer natural products.

3.1. Classification of Plastic Materials

Type of plastics	Starting material	Chemical stability
Modified natural materials
cellulose nitrate	cellulose, nitric acid	resistant to weak acids and alkalis
Polycondensates (thermosetting plastics)
phenolic moulding compound	phenol or cresol, formaldehyde and filler materials	instable to concentrated acids and alkalis
phenolic laminates	phenol or cresol, formaldehyde and laminar substrates	same as phenolic moulding compounds
urea resins	urea or melamine resins and formaldehyde	same as phenolic moulding compounds
urea resin moulding compounds	urea or melamine resins, formaldehyde and filler materials	same as phenolic moulding compounds
urea resin laminates	urea or melamine resins, formaldehyde and laminar filler materials	same as phenolic moulding compounds
Polymerizates (thermoplastics)
polyvinyl chloride, rigid (unplasticized PVC)	acetylene and hydrocloric acid	instable to some organic compounds
polyvinyl chloride, flexible (plasticized PVC)	acetylene, hydroclorid acid and plasticizer	stability less than for rigid PVC
poloystyrene	ethylene and benzene	instable to most of the organic compounds
polyvinyl acetate	acetylene and acetic acid	(almost only improving or auxiliary agent)
Polyaddition products
polyurethanes	diisocyanates and dialcohols	instable to concentrated acids
Polyesterification products
polyester	carboxylic acid or phtalic acid and alkohols	instable to some organic compounds, when unsaturated
epoxy resins	epichlorhydrin, phenols	stable
alkyd resins	maleic acid and phtalic acid, multivalent alcohols	medium resistance to solvents and alcohols

3.2. Properties of Important Plastic Materials

Plastic material	Density in g · cm-3	Temperature stability in ºC	Strain in %	Compressive strength ddB in MPa	Bending strength dbB in MPa	Tensile strength dzB MPa
cellulose nitrate	1.38	50	30...50	60	60	60...70
phenolic moulding compounds	1.4	125		120...200	50...70	25
phenolic laminates	1.4	125		140	120	40
urea resins	0.014 ...0.28		0.36	200	80	30
urea resin moulding compounds	1.45 ... 1.5	130		240	80	70
urea resin laminates	1.3 ... 1.45	130		150	150	120
rigid PVC	1.38	60	18	80	120	45...60
flexible PVC	1.23 ...1.36					8...25
polystyrene	1.04 ...1.09	60...90	1-20	45...120	70... 130	35...70
polyvinyl acetate				100	100	50
poly-urethane	1.2 ...1.215	<100	» 250	30...90	20...65	44...60
polyester	1.2...1.4	» 130		150	90	42
epoxy resins	1.2...1.25	60...120		90	135...150	72

3.3. Applications of Important Plastic Materials

Plastic material	Applications
cellulose nitrate	varnishes and adhesives
phenolic moulding compounds	preservative (see wood-based materials), adhesive and adhesive film, pimer paper for coating furniture elements varnishes, moulded parts
phenolic laminates	compression moulded sheets for coating kitchen furniture parts, but also laboratory furniture and similar
urea resins	adhesives, primer paper and decorative overlay for the furniture industry, foamed plastics and insulating materials, varnish resins
urea resin moulding compounds	moulded parts, e.g. for furniture fittings
urea resin laminates	decorative laminated sheets for kitchen furniture, laboratory furniture and damp rooms, decorative overlays for the furniture industry
rigid PVC	films, sheets, moulded parts
flexible PVC	flexible sheet as furniture fittings, decorative overlay and foam sheet, small surface tape for coating furniture veneered stock, overlapping edge bands, foamed plastics, varnishes
polystyrene	compression moulded sheets, furniture films, moulded parts, foamed plastics and varnishes
polyvinyl acetate	adhesives, surface coatings, oil-resistant sheets, varnishes
polyurethanes	adhesives, varnishes, rigid foamed plastics as insulation material and for furniture elements (seat shells), structural foam as moulded parts for furniture, semirigid foam for cushions, back-rests and similar, flexible foam for upholstery etc.
Polyester	adhesives, primer paper and decorative overlay, foamed plastics, varnishes
epoxy resins	adhesives and varnishes
alkyd resins	varnishes