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The plastic kits and covers are mostly made of synthetic polymers like polythene, and tires are manufactured from polybutadienes. [1] However, due to the environmental issues created by these synthetic polymers which are mostly non-biodegradable and often synthesized from petroleum, alternatives like bioplastics are also being considered.
The development of plastics has evolved from the use of naturally plastic materials (e.g., gums and shellac) to the use of the chemical modification of those materials (e.g., natural rubber, cellulose, collagen, and milk proteins), and finally to completely synthetic plastics (e.g., bakelite, epoxy, and PVC).
The remaining 5% of BPA is used in a wide range of applications, many of which involve plastic. [49] BPA is a main component of several high-performance plastics , the production of these is low compared to other plastics but still equals several thousand tons a year.
We only looked at three categories of chemicals used in plastic materials," said Trasande, "and there are tens of thousands of chemicals used in plastic. So we are just barely scratching the surface."
Polyethylene was first synthesized by the German chemist Hans von Pechmann, who prepared it by accident in 1898 while investigating diazomethane. [12] [a] [13] [b] When his colleagues Eugen Bamberger and Friedrich Tschirner characterized the white, waxy substance that he had created, they recognized that it contained long −CH 2 − chains and termed it polymethylene.
Polypropylene is commonly used in car bumpers, interior trims, and other components [19] where TiO₂ is added to improve the UV stability of the plastic, ensuring that parts do not degrade or lose color when exposed to sunlight over time. [20] Polyethylene films are widely used in agriculture for greenhouses, mulching, and silage wraps. [21]
For example, CR detected phthalates—a chemical used to make plastic more flexible and durable—in almost all of the foods it assessed. "High levels" of the chemical were present in many of ...
The name "rayon" was adopted in 1924, with "viscose" being used for the viscous organic liquid used to make both rayon and cellophane. A similar product known as cellulose acetate was discovered in 1865. Rayon and acetate are both artificial fibers, but not truly synthetic, being made from wood. [4]