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 ...
If you tried to coun
t all of the different types of plastic used around the world, you would be at it for a very long time. Science classifies plastics into two basic categories: thermoplastics, which can be melted and returned to their original state, and thermosets, which can’t. However, the sheer number of possible chemical combinations and polymerizations means thousands of different types of plastic exist, with more constantly being “discovered.”
t all of the different types of plastic used around the world, you would be at it for a very long time. Science classifies plastics into two basic categories: thermoplastics, which can be melted and returned to their original state, and thermosets, which can’t. However, the sheer number of possible chemical combinations and polymerizations means thousands of different types of plastic exist, with more constantly being “discovered.”
But if you look around the room you’re sitting in at this very moment, chances are good a large portion of plastic items in it are polyolefins — polymerized versions of basic olefins.
Polyolefins are everywhere
The most common type of thermoplastics, polyolefins are also the some of the most widely used type of plastic. In fact, polyethylene and polypropylene are the most ubiquitous plastics in the world, with variations of each used in a staggering array of products, from soda bottles caps to lab instruments.
All polyolefins start out life as simple olefins, unsaturated hydrocarbons composed of hydrogen and carbon held together by one or more carbon to carbon double bonds or triple bonds. Through polymerization processes, the olefins become high-molecular weight hydrocarbons — polyolefins. Of course, the olefin you polymerize determines what kind of polyolefin you end up with. For example, polyethylene is the product of polymerized ethylene.
Polyolefins have exceptional properties that make them star ingredients in a variety of products. Polyolefins are durable, heat resistant and able to withstand most kinds of chemical corrosion. They’re also considered non-toxic, making them particularly useful for applications like medical devices and food storage. They can be susceptible to oxidation, but a variety of anti-oxidant additives can fight that problem. Prolonged light exposure can also be a problem, but again, additives can help resolve those issues.
Most common polyolefins
Polypropylene and polyethylene are the most commonly used polyolefins.
You’ll find polypropylene in everything from drinking straws and food containers and reusable water bottles, to thermal underwear, roofing materials, marine ropes and carpet. The polymerized incarnation of propylene, polypropylene is both strong and flexible (hence its use in drinking straws), highly heat resistant (making it useful in laboratory testing applications) and lightweight.
Polyethylene (PE) is created through the polymerization of ethylene. It’s the most common type of plastic, showing up everywhere from plastic bags and bottles to insulation for electrical cables and water pipes.
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