In modern cars, the proportion of plastic parts is constantly growing. The number of repairs on plastic surfaces is also growing, more and more often we are faced with the need to paint them.
In many ways, the color of plastics differs from the color of metal surfaces, which is primarily due to the very properties of plastics: they are more elastic and have less adhesion to paintwork materials. And since the range of polymeric materials used in the automotive industry is very diverse, there are no universal repair materials able to create high quality decorative coating on many of their types, painters would probably have had to get special education in chemistry.
Fortunately, everything will actually turn out to be much simpler and we will not have to dive headlong into the study of the molecular chemistry of polymers. But still, some information about the types of plastics and their properties, at least for the purpose of broadening one's horizons, will obviously be useful.
Today you will know
Plastics - to the masses
In the 20th century, humanity experienced a synthetic revolution, new materials entered its life - plastics. Plastic can be safely considered one of the main discoveries of mankind; without its invention, many other discoveries would have been obtained much later or they would not have existed at all.
The first plastic was invented in 1855 by the British metallurgist and inventor Alexander Parkes. When he decided to find a cheap substitute for the expensive ivory from which billiard balls were made at that time, he could hardly imagine what value the product he received would later acquire.
The ingredients of the future discovery were nitrocellulose, camphor and alcohol. The mixture of these components was heated to a fluid state, and then poured into a mold and solidified at normal temperature. Thus, parkesine was born - the progenitor of modern plastics.
From natural and chemically modified natural materials the development of plastics came to fully synthetic molecules a little later - when German Staudinger, a professor at the University of Freiburg, discovered a macromolecule - that "brick" from which all synthetic (and natural) organic materials are built. This discovery brought the 72-year-old professor the Nobel Prize in 1953.
Since then, it all started ... Almost every year, there were reports from chemical laboratories about another synthetic material with new, unprecedented properties, and today millions of tons of various plastics are produced annually in the world, without which life modern man absolutely unthinkable.
Plastics are used wherever possible: in ensuring the comfortable life of people, agriculture, in all areas of industry. The automotive industry is no exception, where plastic is being used more and more, irresistibly displacing its main competitor, metal.
Compared to metals, plastics are very young materials. Their history does not include even 200 years, while tin, lead and iron were known to mankind in ancient times - 3000-4000 years BC. e. But despite this, polymeric materials are significantly superior to their main technological competitor in a number of indicators.
Benefits of plastics
The advantages of plastics over metals are obvious.
First, plastic is significantly lighter. This reduces the overall weight of the vehicle and the air resistance when driving, and thereby reduces fuel consumption and, as a result, exhaust emissions.
The overall reduction in vehicle weight by 100 kg due to the use of plastic parts saves up to one liter of fuel per 100 km.
Secondly, the use of plastics provides almost unlimited possibilities for shaping, making it possible to translate into reality any design ideas and receive details of the most complex and ingenious forms.
The advantages of plastics also include their high corrosion resistance, resistance to weathering, acids, alkalis and other aggressive chemical products, excellent electrical and thermal insulation properties, high noise reduction coefficient ... In a word, it is not surprising why polymeric materials are so widely used in the automotive industry.
Have any attempts been made to create an all-plastic car? But how! Recall at least the notorious Trabant, which was produced in Germany more than 40 years ago at the Zwickkau plant - its body was entirely made of laminated plastic.
To obtain this plastic, 65 layers of very thin cotton fabric (which came to the plant from textile factories), alternating with layers of ground cresol-formaldehyde resin, were pressed into a very strong material 4 mm thick at a pressure of 40 atm. and a temperature of 160 °C for 10 minutes.
Until now, the bodies of the GDR Trabants, about which they sang songs, told legends (but more often composed jokes), lie in many landfills of the country. They lie ... but they do not rust!
Trabant. The most popular plastic car in the world
Jokes are jokes, and there are promising developments of all-plastic bodies for serial cars even now, many sports car bodies are entirely made of plastic. Traditionally, metal parts (hoods, fenders) on many cars are now also being replaced with plastic ones, for example, on Citroën, Renault, Peugeot and others.
But unlike the body panels of the popular "Trabi", the plastic parts of modern cars no longer cause an ironic smile. On the contrary, their resistance to impact loads, the ability of deformed areas to self-heal, the highest anti-corrosion resistance and low specific gravity compel to imbue this material with deep respect.
Concluding the conversation about the merits of plastics, one cannot fail to note the fact that, although with some reservations, most of them lend themselves well to coloring. If the gray polymer mass did not have such an opportunity, it would hardly have gained such popularity.
Why paint plastic?
The need to color plastics is due, on the one hand, to aesthetic considerations, and on the other, to the need to protect plastics. After all, nothing is eternal. Although plastics do not rot, they are still subject to aging and destruction processes during operation and exposure to atmospheric influences. And the applied paint layer protects the plastic surface from various aggressive influences and, therefore, prolongs its service life.
If in production conditions the coloring of plastic surfaces is very simple - in this case we are talking about in large numbers new identical parts from the same plastic (and the technologies are different there), then the painter in the car repair shop is faced with the problems of heterogeneity of materials various parts.
This is where you have to answer the question: “What is plastic in general? What is it made of, what are its properties and main types?
What is plastic?
According to the domestic state standard:
Plastics are the materials integral part which are such high-molecular organic compounds that are formed as a result of the synthesis or transformations of natural products. When processed under certain conditions, they usually exhibit plasticity and the ability to form or
deformations.
If the first word “plastics” is removed from such a difficult even for reading, and not just for understanding, description, perhaps no one will guess what it is all about. Well, let's try to understand a little.
“Plastics” or “plastic masses” were named so because these materials are capable of softening, becoming plastic when heated, and then under pressure they can be given a certain shape, which is preserved upon further cooling and curing.
The basis of any plastic is (the same "high molecular weight organic compound" from the definition above).
The word "polymer" comes from Greek words"poly" ("many") and "meros" ("parts" or "links"). This is a substance whose molecules consist of a large number of identical links interconnected. These links are called monomers("mono" - one).
So, for example, the monomer of polypropylene, the type of plastic most used in the automotive industry, looks like:
The molecular chains of a polymer are made up of an almost countless number of such pieces connected into a single whole.
Chains of polypropylene molecules
By origin, all polymers are divided into synthetic And natural. Natural polymers form the basis of all animal and plant organisms. These include polysaccharides (cellulose, starch), proteins, nucleic acids, natural rubber and other substances.
Although modified natural polymers are found industrial application, most plastics are synthetic.
Synthetic polymers are obtained in the process of chemical synthesis from the corresponding monomers.
The feedstock is usually oil, natural gas or coal. As a result chemical reaction polymerization (or polycondensation), many "small" monomers of the original substance are interconnected, like beads on a string, into "huge" polymer molecules, which are then molded, cast, pressed or spun into a finished product.
So, for example, polypropylene plastic is obtained from propylene combustible gas, from which bumpers are made:
Now you probably guessed where the names of plastics come from. The prefix "poly-" ("many") is added to the name of the monomer: ethylene → polyethylene, propylene → polypropylene, vinyl chloride → polyvinyl chloride etc.
International abbreviations for plastics are abbreviations for their chemical names. For example, polyvinyl chloride is referred to as PVC(Polyvinyl chloride), polyethylene - PE(Polyethylene), polypropylene - PP(Polypropylene).
In addition to the polymer (it is also called a binder), plastics may include various fillers, plasticizers, stabilizers, dyes and other substances that provide plastic with certain technological and consumer properties, such as fluidity, plasticity, density, strength, durability, etc.
Types of plastics
Plastics are classified according to different criteria: chemical composition, fat content, rigidity. But the main criterion that explains the nature of the polymer is the behavior of the plastic when heated. On this basis, all plastics are divided into three main groups:
- thermoplastics;
- thermoplastics;
- elastomers.
Belonging to a particular group is determined by the shape, size and arrangement of macromolecules, along with the chemical composition.
Thermoplastics (thermoplastic polymers, plastomers)
Thermoplastics are plastics that melt when heated and return to their original state when cooled.
These plastics are composed of linear or slightly branched molecular chains. At low temperatures, the molecules are located close to each other and hardly move, therefore, under these conditions, the plastic is hard and brittle. With a slight increase in temperature, the molecules begin to move, the bond between them weakens and the plastic becomes plastic. If the plastic is heated even more, the intermolecular bonds become even weaker and the molecules begin to slide relative to each other - the material passes into an elastic, viscous state. When the temperature is lowered and cooled, the whole process goes in the reverse order.
If you do not allow overheating, at which the chains of molecules break up and the material decomposes, the process of heating and cooling can be repeated as many times as you like.
This feature of thermoplastics repeatedly softens allows you to repeatedly process these plastics into certain products. That is, theoretically, one wing can be made from several thousand yogurt cups. In terms of protection environment this is very important, since subsequent processing or disposal - a big problem polymers. Once in the soil, plastic products decompose within 100-400 years!
In addition, due to these properties, thermoplastics lend themselves well to welding and soldering. Cracks, breaks and deformations can be easily eliminated by thermal action.
Most of the polymers used in the automotive industry are thermoplastics. They are used for the production of various parts of the interior and exterior of the car: panels, frames, bumpers, radiator grilles, lamp housings and exterior mirrors, wheel covers, etc.
Thermoplastics include polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymers (ABS), polystyrene (PS), polyvinyl acetate (PVA), polyethylene (PE), polymethyl methacrylate (plexiglass) (PMMA), polyamide (PA) , polycarbonate (PC), polyoxymethylene (ROM) and others.
Thermoplastics (thermosetting plastics, duroplasts)
If for thermoplastics the process of softening and hardening can be repeated many times, then thermoplastics after a single heating (during molding of the product) pass into an insoluble solid state, and upon repeated heating they no longer soften. Irreversible curing occurs.
In the initial state, thermoplastics have a linear structure of macromolecules, but when heated during the production of a molded product, the macromolecules "crosslink", creating a networked spatial structure. It is thanks to this structure of closely linked, "cross-linked" molecules that the material turns out to be hard and inelastic, and loses the ability to re-transition into a viscous state.
Because of this feature, thermosetting plastics cannot be recycled. Also, they cannot be welded and formed in a heated state - when overheated, the molecular chains break up and the material is destroyed.
These materials are quite heat-resistant, so they are used, for example, for the production of crankcase parts in the engine compartment. From reinforced (for example, fiberglass) thermosets, large-sized external body parts (hoods, fenders, trunk lids) are produced.
The group of thermoplastics includes materials based on phenol-formaldehyde (PF), urea-formaldehyde (UF), epoxy (EP) and polyester resins.
Elastomers are plastics with highly elastic properties. When subjected to force, they show flexibility, and after the stress is removed, they return to their original shape. Elastomers differ from other elastic plastics in their ability to retain their elasticity over a wide temperature range. So, for example, silicone rubber remains elastic in the temperature range from -60 to +250 °C.
Elastomers, as well as thermoplastics, consist of spatially networked macromolecules. Only unlike thermoplastics, elastomer macromolecules are located more widely. It is this arrangement that determines their elastic properties.
Due to their network structure, elastomers are infusible and insoluble, like thermoplastics, but they swell (thermoplastics do not swell).
The group of elastomers includes various rubbers, polyurethane and silicones. In the automotive industry, they are mainly used for the manufacture of tires, seals, spoilers, etc.
All three types of plastics are used in the automotive industry. Mixtures of all three types of polymers are also produced - the so-called "blends" (blends), the properties of which depend on the ratio of the mixture and the type of components.
Determining the type of plastic. Marking
Any repair to a plastic part must begin by identifying the type of plastic the part is made from. If in the past it was not always easy, now it is easy to “identify” plastic - all parts are usually marked.
Manufacturers usually stamp the plastic type designation with inside details, be it a bumper or a cover mobile phone. The type of plastic is usually enclosed in characteristic brackets and may look like this: >PP/EPDM<, >PUR<,
Control task: remove the cover of your mobile phone and see what type of plastic it is made of. Most often it is > PC<.
There can be many variants of such abbreviations. We will not be able to consider everything (and there is no need for that), so we will focus on several types of plastics most common in the automotive industry.
Examples of the most common types of plastic in the automotive industry
Polypropylene - PP, modified polypropylene - PP/EPDM
The most common type of plastic in the automotive industry. In most cases, when repairing damaged or painting new parts, we will have to deal with various modifications of polypropylene.
Polypropylene has, perhaps, the combination of all the advantages that plastics can have: low density (0.90 g / cm³ - the lowest value for all plastics), high mechanical strength, chemical resistance (resistant to diluted acids and most alkalis, detergents, oils, solvents), heat resistance (begins to soften at 140°C, melting point 175°C). It is almost not subject to corrosion cracking, has a good ability to recover. In addition, polypropylene is an environmentally friendly material.
The characteristics of polypropylene make it an ideal material for the automotive industry. For such valuable properties, he even received the title of "king of plastics."
Almost all bumpers are made on the basis of polypropylene, this material is also used in the manufacture of spoilers, interior parts, dashboards, expansion tanks, radiator grilles, air ducts, battery cases and covers, etc. In everyday life, even suitcases are made of polypropylene.
When casting most of the above parts, not pure polypropylene is used, but its various modifications.
"Pure" unmodified polypropylene is very sensitive to ultraviolet radiation and oxygen, it quickly loses its properties and becomes brittle during operation. For the same reason, paint coatings applied to it cannot have durable adhesion.
The additives introduced into polypropylene - more often in the form of rubber and talc - significantly improve its properties and make it possible to color it.
Only modified polypropylene can be dyed. On "pure" polypropylene, adhesion will be very weak! Made of pure polypropylene >PP< изготавливают бачки омывателей, расширительные емкости, одноразовую посуду, стаканчики и т.д.
Any modifications of polypropylene, no matter how long the abbreviation of its marking is, are designated by the first two letters anyway, as > PP ...<. Наиболее распространенный продукт этих модификаций — >PP/EPDM< (сополимер полипропилена и этиленпропиленового каучука).
ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer)
ABS is flexible, but at the same time impact-resistant plastic. The component of rubber (butadiene) is responsible for elasticity, and acrylonitrile is responsible for strength. This plastic is sensitive to ultraviolet radiation - under its influence, the plastic quickly ages. Therefore, ABS products cannot be kept in the light for a long time and must be painted.
Most often used for the production of lamp housings and exterior mirrors, radiator grilles, dashboard linings, door trims, wheel covers, rear spoilers, etc.
Polycarbonate - PC
One of the most impact resistant thermoplastics. To understand how durable polycarbonate is, it is enough that this material is used in the manufacture of bulletproof bank counters.
In addition to strength, polycarbonates are characterized by lightness, resistance to light aging and temperature extremes, fire safety (it is difficult to ignite, self-extinguishing material).
Unfortunately, polycarbonates are quite sensitive to solvents and tend to crack under the influence of internal stresses.
Unsuitable aggressive solvents can seriously impair the strength characteristics of plastic, so when painting parts where strength is of paramount importance (for example, a motorcycle helmet made of polycarbonate), you need to be especially careful and strictly follow the manufacturer's recommendations, and sometimes even fundamentally refuse to paint. But spoilers, radiator grilles and polycarbonate bumper panels can be painted without problems.
Polyamides - PA
Polyamides are rigid, strong and at the same time elastic materials. Polyamide parts can withstand loads close to those allowed for non-ferrous metals and alloys. Polyamide has high wear resistance, chemical resistance. It is nearly immune to most organic solvents.
Most often, polyamides are used for the production of removable car caps, various bushings and liners, tube clamps, door lock tongues and latches.
Polyurethane - PU, PUR
Prior to its widespread introduction into the production of polypropylene, polyurethane was the most popular material for the manufacture of various elastic car parts: steering wheels, mudguards, pedal covers, soft door handles, spoilers, etc.
For many, this type of plastic is associated with the Mercedes brand. Bumpers, side door linings, sills on almost all models were made from polyurethane until recently.
The production of parts from this type of plastic requires less sophisticated equipment than for polypropylene. Currently, many private companies, both abroad and in the countries of the former Soviet Union, prefer to work with this type of plastic for the manufacture of all kinds of car tuning parts.
Fiberglass - SMC, BMC, UP-GF
Fiberglass is one of the most important representatives of the so-called "reinforced plastics". They are made on the basis of epoxy or polyester resins (these are thermoplastics) with fiberglass as a filler.
High physical and mechanical properties, as well as resistance to various aggressive environments, have determined the wide use of these materials in many areas of industry. A well-known product used in the production of American minivan bodies.
In the manufacture of fiberglass products, it is possible to use the "sandwich" technology, when the parts consist of several layers of different materials, each of which meets certain requirements (strength, chemical resistance, abrasion resistance).
Legend of unknown plastic
Here we are holding in our hands a plastic part that does not have any identification marks, no markings. But we desperately need to find out its chemical composition, or at least its type - is it a thermoplastic or a thermoset.
Because, if we are talking, for example, about welding, then it is possible only with thermoplastics (adhesive compositions are used to repair thermosetting plastics). In addition, only materials of the same name can be welded, dissimilar ones simply do not interact. In this regard, it becomes necessary to identify the “no name” plastic in order to correctly select the same welding filler.
Identifying the type of plastic is not an easy task. The analysis of plastics is carried out in laboratories according to various indicators: according to the combustion spectrogram, reactions to various reagents, smell, melting point, and so on.
However, there are several simple tests that allow you to determine the approximate chemical composition of the plastic and assign it to one or another group of polymers. One of these is the analysis of the behavior of a plastic sample in an open source of fire.
For the test, we need a ventilated room and a lighter (or matches), with which you need to carefully set fire to a piece of the material being tested. If the material melts, then we are dealing with a thermoplastic, if it does not melt, we have a thermoset.
Now remove the flame. If the plastic continues to burn, it could be ABS, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, plexiglass, or polyurethane. If it goes out, it is most likely polyvinyl chloride, polycarbonate or polyamide.
Next, we analyze the color of the flame and the smell formed during combustion. For example, polypropylene burns with a bright bluish flame, and its smoke has a sharp and sweet smell, similar to the smell of sealing wax or burnt rubber. Polyethylene burns with a weak bluish flame, and when the flame dies out, the smell of a burning candle is felt. Polystyrene burns brightly, and at the same time smokes a lot, and it smells quite pleasant - it has a sweetish floral smell. Polyvinyl chloride, on the contrary, smells unpleasant - chlorine or hydrochloric acid, and polyamide - burnt wool.
Something about the type of plastic can say and its appearance. For example, if there are obvious traces of welding on the part, then it is probably made of thermoplastic, and if there are traces of burrs removed with emery, then it is thermosetting plastic.
You can also do a hardness test: try cutting off a small piece of plastic with a knife or blade. Chips will be removed from the thermoplastic (it is softer), but the thermoplastic will crumble.
Or another way: immersion of plastic in water. This method makes it quite easy to determine the plastics included in the group of polyolefins (polyethylene, polypropylene, etc.). These plastics will float on the surface of the water since their density is almost always less than one. Other polymers have a density greater than one, so they will sink.
These and other signs by which the type of plastic can be determined are presented in the form of a table below.
P.S. In we will pay attention to the preparation and painting of plastic parts.
Bonuses
Full-size versions of images will open in a new window when you click on the image!
Deciphering the designation of plastics
Designations of the most common plastics
Classification of plastics depending on hardness
The main modifications of polypropylene and their areas of application in the car
Methods for determining the type of plastic
In this guide, I will show you how to melt plastic at home. Remelting plastic bottles from high density polyethylene (HDPE) and making blocks from them that can be used in many ways.
Every day we use and throw away a lot of plastic bottles... Let's change that!
Dave Hackens is an amazing guy who has made a lot of videos about plastic recycling. He shows how to collect, melt down and process plastic objects to create new things. However, if you just want to try recycling a few bottles, follow this quick guide.
Step 1: Materials and Tools
MATERIALS:
- High density polyethylene (HDPE) bottles
- Wooden planks (for mold making)
TOOLS:
- clamps
- baking paper
- thermal protection gloves
- scissors/knife
Step 2: Form
There is no need to make a very complicated mold to melt the plastic.
Since we are going to melt the plastic and get a regular block, we need simple box. The more accurate and accurate the box is assembled, the more accurate and accurate the block will be.
As you can see from the pictures above, I used wooden planks, which were in my workshop, I also covered each inside of the box with baking paper. This will be important later, when we will retrieve the block from the form. Wood - porous material, and melted plastic is very sticky, so don't touch them.
Step 3: How to cut bottles
First of all, HDPE, what is it? How can you distinguish it from all other types of plastic?
HDPE is high density polyethylene. This is a fairly common material used specifically for the production plastic bottles and corrosion resistant pipelines.
As you can see in picture #1, it's easy to tell it apart from other types of plastic thanks to the number "2" as the resin's identification code.
After removing the labels and washing the bottles, we need to cut them into small pieces. The smaller the better, as it will take less time to melt. Use a knife or strong scissors.
I usually start with the knife, cut off the neck (photo #2) which is the tougher part, then cut off the base and finally the handle.
After that, you can use scissors to cut the larger pieces into smaller pieces (photo #4).
Step 4: Melting
Each type of plastic has different temperature melting.
Dave Hakkens did an excellent job of studying each type to individualize the correct melting point ().
I learned that in my oven HDPE usually melts at about 180°C.
While the oven is heating up, place a piece of baking paper on a baking sheet and arrange the pieces of plastic on it. Finally place the baking sheet in the oven and check it every 10 minutes.
Step 5: Marble Effect
The first coloring I will show you is my favorite: marble effect.
After 10/15 minutes, if you see that the plastic looks sticky, you can take it out of the oven. Put on heat-resistant gloves and twist the plastic (photo #2/3).
Be quick (the plastic cools down), but be aware that it is very hot and sticky.
Once you have something like what you can see in photo #4, you can put it back in the oven.
WARNING: Use gloves! If plastic comes into contact with your skin, wash the affected area immediately cold water to relieve pain.
Step 6: Fixing the Form
After 10 minutes, remove the plastic from the oven and place it in the mold. Clamp it as hard as you can, and every 5 minutes, tighten the clamps harder. HDPE shrinks as it cools, so you have to tighten the clamps often to get a flat block.
Step 7: Marble Block
This is the result after 2 hours of cooling.
As you can see from the photo, thanks to the twist-rotation technique we used, we got a beautiful marble effect. I really like this method because you can see all the colors used.
Step 8: Camouflage Effect
Here is another coloring page. I call it the camouflage effect.
It is easier and safer than the marble effect because there is no need to touch the plastic with your hands. As in Step 5, after 10/15 minutes, if you see that the plastic looks sticky, you can remove it from the oven.
This time we will use the folding technique. Very carefully (and always use gloves), lift up the baking paper on one side and fold the plastic over onto itself (photo #2).
Repeat the same on the other side and put back in the oven.
Step 9: Fixing the Shape
After 10 minutes of melting, take the plastic out of the oven, fold one last time, making something like an egg roll (photo #1) and place it in the mold.
As in step 6, clamp it as hard as you can and come back every 5 minutes to tighten the clamps. Then leave it to cool down for a couple of hours.
Step 10: Camouflage Block
Here is the result. It really looks like camouflage.
Plastic is a versatile material. It has found wide application in the manufacture of various components and parts in both industrial and household appliances. Products from it are used in the design of interiors of residential premises and offices.
A variety of material, called liquid plastic, allows you to create a wide variety of shapes and sizes of crafts. This makes it possible to implement original design solutions. How to make liquid plastic at home?
Materials for manufacturing
To make liquid plastic with your own hands, you need to prepare the following:
- glass or metal container;
- acetone;
- Styrofoam.
In this case, the amount of acetone used depends on the desired volume of the finished product.
If you want to make liquid plastic with your own hands, the recipe for its preparation will be based on dissolving foam in acetone. To do this, use It is a packaging container for various household and electronic equipment.
How to make liquid plastic with your own hands
Step by step recipe the preparation of the named material looks like this:
- Open the container with acetone and pour the liquid into the glass container so that its level from the bottom is approximately 1 cm.
- Polystyrene foam must be broken into many small pieces, each of which will be easily placed under the thickness of the solvent.
- liquid plastic you can do it yourself by dropping each piece into a container and waiting for it to completely dissolve.
- Styrofoam should be added to the container until it stops melting. Then you need to wait 5-10 minutes for the unused acetone to evaporate.
- After that, a viscous mass is formed at the bottom of the container, which can be used to produce a variety of products.
Knowing how to make liquid plastic, remember that the complete hardening of the mass lasts 20-30 hours. Therefore, the manufactured part cannot be removed from the mold during this period of time.
Substance should be applied rubber spatula small size. The movements must be smooth. Liquid plastic must be stretched on the surface to be treated. If it is used to fill gaps, it is better to use brushes with a hard bristle in the work. They need to "push" the mixture into the gaps. After the plastic has hardened, it is recommended to apply another layer of the substance.
The described tool has long been sold in ready-made. It only needs to be heated in a water bath or in special equipment. Also, a building hair dryer is often used for this.
As a rule, liquid plastic is produced in dense packages. Its terms and conditions of storage are strict. The temperature in the room where it is located should not fall below 15 degrees. Otherwise, the tool will lose performance:
- viscosity;
- elasticity;
- hardness after hardening;
- practicality;
- durability.
The cost of liquid plastic is quite high. That is why it is better to do it yourself.
Precautionary measures
Acetone is a very dangerous liquid that has an extremely negative effect on the human body. Therefore, do-it-yourself liquid plastic is allowed to be made only with strict observance of the following precautions:
- Before working with acetone, you must carefully study the instructions for its use. It is listed on the container label.
- Special sealed goggles should be used. They will protect your eyes in case of drops and vapors of liquid. Working without them can cause serious eye injury.
- Acetone is toxic and should only be used in a well ventilated area. In this case, it is necessary to use respiratory protection equipment.
- It is highly flammable. Therefore, do-it-yourself liquid plastic is made away from sources of open fire. Smoking is strictly prohibited during work.
- Residues of acetone must not be drained into the sewerage system.
- At the end of the process, as well as after pouring the finished plastic into molds, you must thoroughly wash your hands.
Applications of liquid plastic in finishing
For decoration, the product has been used for a long time. After its application, an elastic film appears on the treated surface. It is highly waterproof and UV resistant. The material protected by such a film is not afraid of aggressive detergents. Smooth surface has a pleasant shine and retains its characteristics for many years.
Liquid plastic in window works
Most of the newly installed plastic windows gaps in the connection area. To exclude such a phenomenon, all the details window construction, which are interconnected, are treated with the described substance. After drying, it creates an elastic sealed film on the surface. Do-it-yourself application of liquid plastic on windows is possible after making the material according to the above method.
Means in anti-corrosion treatment
Liquid plastic is also characterized by a high degree of adhesion with the processed metal surface. This property of the substance began to be used in the anti-corrosion treatment of steel. Liquid plastic is applied to the surface without prior priming. It dries out after a few hours. After that, a film is formed on the surface, which will protect the material from rust.
Recycling plastic bottles as a business at home, do-it-yourself equipment is of interest to many due to the availability of raw materials. You can only use material that has the appropriate symbol. This is an image of a triangle made up of three arrows. Inside the triangle, the marking of the specific plastic from which the product is made is placed. For recycling, only such plastic is selected that, when heated, does not emit harmful substances for good health.
In some cases, when stripes are made from plastic bottles for the subsequent production of wicker products, bottles from any type of plastic can be used.
An interesting recyclable material is bottles made from HDPE, a high-density polyethylene. Plastic is made from petroleum products, it is easily chipped, resistant to alkalis and acids. The scope of manufacturing from such material is very extensive. Tanks for storing motor oils, water, bearings, and various handles were created from it.
Do not use plastics with a different label for recycling at home - when melted, they can release harmful substances or simply ruin the composition.
General principles for recycling plastic containers at home
Plastic becomes plastic at a temperature of 180 ° C, so it can be used for recycling at home. Previously, the plastic is crushed, and then the resulting mass is heated. It is sometimes advised to heat the plastic at home, as it is sometimes advised - in the oven, it is impossible to reach the state of such a liquid, it simply becomes plastic, therefore any product can be easily formed from the heated mass of crushed plastic in the appropriate form, but there will be cavities in the craft.
Modern equipment for small business
Russian-language sites traditionally describe the processes of processing plastic bottles on domestic equipment, which requires more than two hundred square meters to accommodate and about six hundred thousand rubles to purchase. Along with this, today there are a lot of equipment, small in size and very cheap in terms of production cost, for processing plastic bottles at home.
Such equipment does not require a lot of space for placement, it is easy to rebuild it to change the products produced, to do it yourself. Naturally, it will not make it possible to earn millions every month, but it will make a start-up for the processing of plastic raw materials accessible to almost everyone and will serve as the foundation for the further development of such a business.
A complete plastic bottle recycling line includes:
- shredder;
- agglomerator;
- extruder.
Such a set of units will ensure the complete processing of plastic bottles.
shredder
This unit is designed for grinding plastic products. The resulting small plates of plastic are called flex. Industrially manufactured devices are quite expensive.
For example, the simplest AMD-200D crusher, which processes about fifty kilograms of feedstock per hour, will cost about one hundred and thirty-five thousand rubles. And to make such a unit with your own hands will not be much work.
Those interested will benefit from drawings:
If conditions permit and it is possible to place a bath for washing the resulting flex, a centrifuge for drying in the room, it can be limited to its production. Today, according to Flagma, such material is sold from thirty-five to forty-nine rubles per kilogram, and bought - from twenty to thirty-five rubles per kilogram.
Agglomerator
This unit is intended for sintering flex. The cost of the cheapest industrial samples is about two hundred thousand rubles. Therefore, it is not surprising that craftsmen make such units on their own. Of course, it is impossible to make such a unit from scratch without milling and turning. However, you can use the drawing and ask friends working at the factory to make the necessary parts.
Many organizers of the recycling of plastic bottles in garages and other utility rooms Existing electric furnaces are used as the working chamber of the agglomerator outside the attention of government agencies that monitor compliance with sanitary environmental standards, since the flex begins to sinter at temperatures ranging from 180˚C. Dave Hackens' agglomerators are the most popular.
extruder
This unit is a device for receiving finished products or pellets used later for processing. The screws feed the flakes into the chamber, where they are heated and become plastic, up to liquefaction. Passing through the filter, the plastic is cleaned and, after passing through the extruder, it takes the form of threads. These threads can be used for various products, but you can cut and sell.
Dave Hackens Suggests homemade extruders, which are combined with a press and allow you to get any product that matches the shape. In the unit, the flex is heated to an almost liquid state and is fed into the mold by screws under pressure.
What can be made from PET bottles
For people with creative imagination, plastic bottles are an inexhaustible material for inspiration.
You can also make from plastic bottles strong ropes. To do this, you need a "bottle cutter". Craftsmen make this simple device from a blade, a few washers, mounted on a wooden base.
When assembled, the bottle cutter looks like this.
Spools that are wound with threads obtained from PET bottles can also be made from bottle necks. First, cut off the necks of two bottles and the tops of two caps. Cropped caps are fixed on the rod, on which the cut necks are then wound, holes are made in the necks with a red-hot carnation, through which the beginning of the thread is passed and, after tying a knot, it is fixed.
The resulting tapes can be used not only for the manufacture of ropes, but also to make tubes from them. To do this, a strip cut from a plastic bottle is passed through a hole of the diameter required for the tube and heated, they begin to be pulled through it. The principle of operation is clear from the photo.
It is quite possible that such a mini-business is suitable for someone, requiring only a bottle cutter with coils and premises, such as making brooms and brooms from plastic tapes. How such products are made can be easily understood from the picture.
It may seem to many that the bottle ribbon business is very small, not noteworthy. However, in India it is a serious business. Several vertically placed bottle cutters are used, the cut strips are wound on reels that rotate from a mechanical drive. One worker sets the bottles on the bottle cutters and ties the resulting strips, the second worker controls the speed of rotation of the coils, on which the strips are wound, from which ropes are subsequently made.
IN Lately in southern countries, tiles made from PET bottles are becoming more and more popular. The molten flex is mixed with mineral filler (sand fines) and filled into molds through an extruder. In the countries of the former USSR, such a business is just beginning, so the field for the activities of craftsmen is quite wide.
Also made from plastic bottles paving slabs, chain-link mesh, greenhouse walls and much, much more.
But, so that an entrepreneur does not decide to make such recycled materials - success, as in any business, will depend on the literacy of drawing up a business plan. Such a document will not only streamline knowledge, build a system of actions, but can be useful if you need to attract investment money.
Principles of writing a business plan
Like any other business plan for the organization and operation of an enterprise aimed at processing plastic bottles, other plastic products are drawn up in accordance with the requirements for such documents by the considering specialists. This must be taken into account, because the business plan is prepared not so much for oneself, but for those who, on its basis, will allocate the money needed to turn the idea into practice. Financial professionals are the most picky. If they themselves do not know something thoroughly, they will definitely turn to specialists to obtain an assessment of the proposed document. Therefore, the created document should correspond to the accepted standards as much as possible, since, as they say, people are met by clothes.
Before writing, you need to clearly understand for yourself that a business plan, in fact, is just a written explanation of the proposed project, the amounts needed to implement it, and also optimal timing implementation. Such an approach to the matter will immediately clarify what is the main thing in it and what is secondary, what needs to be emphasized, and what should be moved to the background.
Information about the project of the future enterprise is divided into several sections:
- Section I Title page. Preamble information about the name of the enterprise, its form of ownership and address is placed here, the name of the proposed project is placed, telephone numbers and e-mail addresses are placed. The date of preparation of the document is indicated and information is provided on the need to calculate cash costs and profits, which are included in the document or placed in a separate application.
- Section II. This copyright section is often referred to as the "Privacy Statement". It sets out data on the authors of the business plan materials and their rights, obligations not to disclose the information received without the author's consent, as well as obligations to return the business plan after reading it if the decision on it is not positive.
- Section III. This section is often referred to as the "Summary". This section summarizes the entire business plan and outlines the essence of the project. This section is recommended to be created after writing the entire business plan and arrange the information following the following structure:
- project description;
- availability of resources;
- ways and means of implementation;
- the answer to the question - what is the uniqueness of the project;
- required investment amount;
- projected profit;
- ways to return money to investors;
- the effectiveness of the proposed project.
- Section IV. Objective of the project. This section describes the intended purpose of the proposed business, describes the services or goods supplied to the market, and indicates the benefits that customers will receive. For this, the advantages of the products produced are described in detail. If there is their uniqueness - this moment should be written as carefully and extensively as possible. If used Newest technologies- you need to specify how copyright will be implemented.
- Section V Market analysis in the area of the proposed business. Here the results of marketing research on the proposed products are presented, as well as the activities of competitors are analyzed. If, when writing a business plan, there is no uniqueness of the proposed business in a given region, the emphasis is on reducing costs through the use of new technologies, reducing energy costs, personnel, and so on. Be sure to take into account that today there are practically no areas that are no longer covered by business, therefore, having found competitors, you need to justify how the proposed business is more attractive.
- Section VI. Position of the created enterprise in the industry. Here the main characteristics of the enterprise are described and, based on their analysis, the place of the planned production or trade in the existing industry is noted. The preferred form of ownership of the enterprise and what costs will have to be incurred to create it are indicated. The section also contains information about:
- company address;
- the type of premises required, indicating whether it already exists or needs to be purchased, whether it is necessary to make repairs or not;
- economic indicators of work;
- temporal characteristics of the specifics of production activities.
If the business is planned to start from scratch, the prospective management has or does not have experience in this area. The lack of managerial experience in the proposed area is a very negative characteristic, as a rule, it initiates the refusal of third-party investors.
- Section VII. Product Description. The section is created after the analysis of the existing market. Based on the analysis, a conclusion is made about the advantages of the proposed product and the competitiveness of the company. This section must contain or be accompanied by product samples or their photos, a description of technical characteristics. If several units of the product are produced, each of them is described in detail. Structurally, the section is divided into several subsections:
- the name of the product, as well as its description;
- purpose and areas of use;
- specifications
- competitive advantages;
- the presence or absence of copyright;
- environmental friendliness of the product or its absence;
- quality certificates;
- service and operation.
- Section VIII. Sales of products. The section contains a marketing plan for the implementation of the manufactured product. Such a plan should include:
- models of behavior in the market;
- a reasoned explanation of the quantity of the purchased product by customers;
- describes the methods used to influence demand;
- describes the methodology for calculating prices;
- provides information on how to sell;
- the legal status of the main consumer is indicated.
Any material on organizing a business includes a governing advice - find a consumer. That's what the marketing plan is for. This structural unit is under close scrutiny, so it must be specified in detail:
- what criteria for evaluating the product from the point of view of the consumer were studied when writing a business plan;
- what place in the supply chain is occupied by the customer to whom the goods are supplied.
This section is based on the characteristics by which the product is evaluated not by the manufacturer, but by the consumer. It is highly desirable to analyze the evaluation of a similar product by consumers of competitors and, on the basis of this information, justify the attractiveness of your own product. This section also includes the logistics concept - how and to whom the goods are delivered, who is responsible for sending them. A strategy for conducting advertising campaigns is given. Prices and sales volumes are indicated by time periods. Payback periods and profitability are calculated.
- Section IX. Production plan. The material of the section requires close attention and elaboration, especially in cases of planning to open a company from scratch. The section describes and analyzes in detail the production chains of the product, considers the premises and the equipment located in it, its location, ways of transporting the source material, parts, finished products and so on. Not only an exhaustive description of production is given, but also the control over its processes, it is indicated what moments will be entrusted to subcontractors, the reasons for their choice are indicated. This section describes all the costs of production, and also calculates the cost of the product, provides an estimate of costs, indicates variable and fixed costs. Information is arranged following a specific structure:
- production structure;
- technology used;
- what premises are needed;
- the need for staff;
- raw materials;
- equipment characteristics;
- production capacity;
- cost estimate;
- selection of subcontractors;
- cost analysis.
- Section X. Organizational plan. The section describes organizational issues, lays out regulatory documents and describes how they will be implemented.
- Section XI. Financial planning. Here you can find information about the required financial investments and their spending. It also sets out the timing of financial movements, the timing of the stages, finances for working capital are determined. It also indicates if there is a need to attract loans and how they will be returned. In this section, the conclusion of the above is an analysis of the effectiveness of the company and its work. Structurally, it looks like this:
- received profit;
- tax payment structures;
- the need for investment;
- loan service;
- description of the effectiveness of the project
- Section XII. Risk analysis. The section contains information about the difficulties that may impede the implementation of the project. This includes difficulties provoked by legislation, weather, competitors, and so on. The more complete the list, indicating ways to solve difficulties, the higher the assessment of the plan as a whole.
The difficulties of doing business include the wrong choice of employees - success does not depend on the degree of acquaintance, but on professionalism.
To assess the degree of risk, the following methods of analysis are used:
- statistical method (the basis is the study of named statistics);
- analogy method - analysis based on studying the development of similar projects;
- expert method, the basis of the analysis is expert opinion;
- modeling - the response to external influence is analyzed.
There is also a description possible systems counteraction to risks, are called possible guarantees - authorities, product guarantees, bank guarantees and so on.
- Section XIII. Applications. Documents that are not included in the planning description but are important are collected here, copies of contracts for similar products, data sources, price lists, and so on.
Sometimes you can see a picture of how lovers to sit outdoors in a fire burn disposable plastic utensils, bottles, bags and other garbage left after a fun time. Of course, with this method of getting rid of garbage, there is no need to go to a landfill and the forest remains seemingly clean. You can also meet people who use plastic to create crafts and melt it at home. But how harmless is plastic melting and burning?
Everyone should know that it is not safe to burn some types of plastic and melt them!
Many plastic products are marked with a special sign with a number that varies from 1 to 7. Each number corresponds to a specific type of polymer materials, with the exception of 7, which corresponds to all other materials that cannot be attributed to the first 6. Plastics 1 to 6 refer to. those. they begin to soften when heated. Various types plastics react differently to fire: some begin to smolder, some melt, some practically do not react.
Most plastics have the potential to release toxic substances associated with their production technology and their composition, but there are also safer types among them.
1. PET or PETE (PET) - polyethylene terephthalate
PET is the most common plastic in Food Industry, which is most often used in the production of bottles. It is also a very popular material for creating various crafts. You can find many ways. You can read about the industrial processing of PET.
PET melts at a rather high temperature - 260 ° C, but when heated to 60 ° C, PET softens and loses its shape.
Danger:
PET is notorious for containing antimony and carcinogens. When bottled water is stored, these substances can get into it, especially when heated. Also, these substances can be released during combustion or melting.
Conclusion:
There is a potential risk of release of harmful substances when burned or smelted. To create PET bottle crafts, you can find many ways that do not require heat treatment.
If deformation of PET is necessary, it is better to heat it in boiling water - it is safer than inhaling fumes from dry-heated plastic. Also remember to always work in well-ventilated areas or outdoors.
2. HDPE or HDPE - high density polyethylene or low pressure polyethylene
flickr.com/Tom Magliery/CC BY 2.0 HDPE is the safest plastic. It is best used for making crafts as it is also the easiest to work with. Bottles for milk and detergents are made from this plastic.
Need to know:
It is safe to use HDPE containers or bottles to store water as nothing is leached out of them. HDPE is a fairly durable plastic and does not "melt" except at VERY high temperatures. This plastic may not be flexible enough, but sometimes it is very good for creating rigid structures.
Conclusion:
This type of plastic can be used without much concern. Melting of plastic occurs at temperatures of the order of 120-135 ° C.
3. PVC or PVC - polyvinyl chloride, also known as vinyl
PVC is the most dangerous plastic produced to date. Most records are made from vinyl. Despite its danger, many people, not knowing about it, heat and burn PVC. The melting point of PVC is 150-220°C, but it begins to deform at 65-70°C. You can read about PVC recycling.
Danger:
PVC releases carcinogens as well as lead. When exposed to heat, it releases dioxins, some of the most dangerous pollutants and toxins.
Conclusion:
PVC can be used, but heat and burn it VERY DANGEROUS!!!
Again, with the strict need for melting pvc is better use boiling water and do not expose it directly to the flame. Of course, this should be done in a well-ventilated area.
4. LDPE or LDPE - low density polyethylene or high pressure polyethylene
flickr.com/mag3737/CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 LDPE is another safe plastic. Buttons are made from it in devices, it is also used for the production polyethylene film, grocery bags, trash bags and some food containers.
What you need to know:
LDPE is a strong material, but less strong than HDPE. For its melting, a considerable temperature is also needed - 90 ° C.
Conclusion:
HDPE is a fairly safe plastic to use. Melting requires quite a lot of heat, and you need to be careful - if you want to melt the material, then packages, for example, can easily catch fire.
5. PP or PP - polypropylene
PP is a fairly safe plastic, and is used to create a variety of things, such as bottle caps, dispensers, and plastic tableware. It does not melt easily, its melting point is 160 - 170 °C, but heats up quickly. You can read about the processing of polypropylene in.
Note:
Polypropylene is quite safe, however, some studies have shown that some types of polypropylene can release a biocide. So, this material should be used with caution.
6. PS or PS - polystyrene
Many products are made from this type of plastic, it is used in disposable tableware, packaging, children's toys and in the manufacture of heat-insulating (for example, foam) and other building materials. Hopefully everyone knows to avoid heating Styrofoam because it contains styrene. Information on foam recycling can be found at.
The melting point of polystyrene is 240 °C, but it begins to deform at 100 °C. When heated, a characteristic odor appears.
Danger:
Allocates the most dangerous poison and carcinogen styrene.
Conclusion:
Never heat Styrofoam. IN last resort do it in a well ventilated area.
7. OTHER or OTHER - various plastics not listed above
These plastics include both safe and unsafe plastics. For example, PLA is a biodegradable plastic, and it is safe to work with this plastic. Polycarbonate (PC) is not as safe, there are studies confirming that it can release bisphenol A.
Plastic without marking and unfamiliar plastics must be handled very carefully, it is not known what materials they are made of and what potential danger they carry.
It is necessary to burn plastic in a well-ventilated place, preferably outside. PVC and PS cannot be burned.
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types of plastic. Thermosetting plastic and thermoplastic
How Polypropylene (PP or PP) is Recycled
