Plastics: structure and types

In short: Plastics consist of long chain molecules, the polymers, built from many small building blocks (monomers). They are light, mouldable and durable.

In more detail: Most plastics are made from crude oil; there are also bioplastics.

In detail

• Thermoplastics: Soften on heating and can be reshaped repeatedly (PE, PP, PET, PVC).
• Thermosets: Harden permanently and cannot be remelted (epoxy resin).
• Elastomers: Rubber-like stretchable (silicone, rubber).
• PET: Drink bottles; PE: Bags, films; PP: Packaging; PS: Polystyrene foam.
• Recycling codes: Numbers 1 to 7 in the triangle name the type (recycling-von-kunststoff).
• Microplastics: Tiny particles that enter the environment and food chain (plastikmuell-vermeiden-im-alltag).
• Bioplastics: Not automatically degradable; look at the standard.
• Everyday life: Avoid packaging, prefer reusables (atom-und-molekuel).