When it comes to 3D printing, the sky is the limit. As 3D printing technology continues to advance, applications can be as far reaching as airplane and automobile parts to medical devices and even anatomically correct, biocompatible models. Although 3D printing technology is developing at a rapid pace, the technology itself is not new. It emerged in the 1980s as a means of creating rapid prototypes. In recent years the applications for 3D printed models have evolved with the available hardware, software, and printable materials. Evolving technology, paired with the creative and innovative minds of scientists, engineers, and physicians, has been the launching pad for developments within 3D printing technology specific to healthcare. One way 3D printing technology is poised to create better patient outcomes is in creating an anatomically and patient-specific models to aid in surgery and medical procedures. With the capability to 3D ...
Every day on my way to 
work you can bet that once the kids are dropped off at school the Disney soundtrack is off and K92 is on. This local morning show is hilarious and starts my day off with a lot of laughs. One of the personalities, Zack, is particularly hilarious. His sarcasm is thick, so much so that he has created an entire segment called, “Zack’s Anger Diary.” In this bit he “is the voice of those annoying and incorrect things” that surround us each and every day. Wouldn’t you know, I recently heard one in which he ranted about plastic? It’s true.
work you can bet that once the kids are dropped off at school the Disney soundtrack is off and K92 is on. This local morning show is hilarious and starts my day off with a lot of laughs. One of the personalities, Zack, is particularly hilarious. His sarcasm is thick, so much so that he has created an entire segment called, “Zack’s Anger Diary.” In this bit he “is the voice of those annoying and incorrect things” that surround us each and every day. Wouldn’t you know, I recently heard one in which he ranted about plastic? It’s true.
Zack’s bottom line is this, “The entire world is run by tiny pieces of plastic.” He finds this problematic because he blames the product failures he experiences on these pieces of plastic. His examples included portions of his car door handle and even his vacuum cleaner. I get it, it’s not fun to have your everyday items fall apart but I think plastic got over abused in this bit.
In this bit, there was also mention of the use of metal over plastic. While I’m not really offended by Zack’s hate for these ubiquitous materials that surround us each day, I do feel the need to stand up for plastic and the tremendous value it brings to our lives. It is now time to defend the honor of plastic against the biting sarcasm of Zack (ha!).
First, plastic materials are a light weight alternative to metal materials. Specific to vehicles, the use of plastic materials makes the overall weight much less than if the entire vehicle was composed of metal. In doing so, the weight of the car is reduced, thus creating better fuel efficiency. It’s good for our wallet and good for the environment.
Beyond the benefit to our bottom line, plastic can – and does—save lives by improving patient outcomes. Sure, metals can be used for some medical device applications but there are benefits to the use of plastic materials that metals can’t touch. For example, rather than having a metal device permanently implanted in the body, a bioabsorbable plastic device can be implanted, which will slowly disappear (degrade) over time. Bioabsorbable polymers are engineered to degrade at a very specific rate, thanks to properties such as molecular weight, allowing them to promote healing without the need for a permanent device.
Plastic materials also offer increased safety in a number of ways. Plastics are used within the car seats that keep my children safe each morning on the way to school. Plastics have also replaced metal and glass medication containers, because plastics are able to resist hazardous substances in ways that glass and metal can’t. They are also safer because if dropped, a plastic container will not shatter like a glass container would. Furthermore, antimicrobial plastics are contributing to a healthier and safer global community, by repelling or even killing bacteria.
These are just a few of the immediate examples of the benefits of plastics; but the list could go on and on. Of course, plastics aren’t a perfect material and can present problems. This is all the more reason to assess the root cause of the problems, to ensure betterment of products and materials. If products are failing, as Zack has experienced, it is possible there is an issue with how the product is being manufactured. Brittle plastics are often the result of an improper additives package or exposure to adverse conditions. Embrittlement testing can determine if there is an absence of necessary plasticizers or the presence of chemicals that would cause embrittlement.
In spite of the shortcomings of plastic, I submit that a world run by “tiny pieces of plastic” isn’t such a bad thing. Especially when there are brilliant scientists around the world (and some in the office next to mine) actively working to continuously improve these materials. And of course, knowing Zack, he’ll move on from his hate of plastic and find a new everyday annoyance to gripe about next week—and when he does I’ll likely be driving down the road laughing.
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