Any idea what Izod impact is? Perhaps something to do with preppie shirts? Nah … Actually, it’s a test – a strength test for determining how “impact resistant” something is. In other words, it determines how hard you can whack something before it shatters or breaks. (Toddlers are particularly interested in this concept…) Based on…
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You may know that some car parts, kitchen tools, furniture, and other products are now made with recycled plastics. But did you know that new recycling technologies allow used plastics to be turned into soft, versatile fabric for clothing? So today’s plastic water and soft drink bottles can become tomorrow’s little black dress! Here’s how…
Read More…Let’s say you spot a cool sculpture, a cute toy, or an exquisite piece of jewelry that you simply must have for yourself. Is it possible to quickly replicate that one-of-a-kind object … at home? While it might sound like a futuristic fantasy, creating three-dimensional objects at home today is not much more complicated than…
Read More…I cannot imagine life without modern plastics. And that’s not just because I’m Professor Plastic. I wake up in the morning, turn off the alarm clock, use my toothbrush and hair brush, start the coffee maker, stretch out on my yoga mat—all of these are made with plastics. Then there are the plastics in my…
Read More…Even if don’t recognize the term “light-emitting diodes,” chances are you see them every day. Typically called LEDs, these small light sources, powered by the movement of electrons through a semiconductor material, have long been used in everyday appliances: they form the numbers on digital clocks, they light up watches, and they transmit remote control…
Read More…Quick quiz: How many types of plastics there are? No idea? Me neither … I have no exact number. It’s sort of like asking how many types of bread there are. Plastics aren’t simply one material made the same way every time. Although plastics can be broken down into broad types or categories, there actually…
Read More…It’s difficult to imagine modern life without plastics. Take a moment … Our cars (seat cushions, air bags, bumpers, dashboards …) Our fashion (nylon, spandex, polyester, faux fur …) Our homes (carpeting, foam insulation, vinyl siding, composite decking …) Our appliances (televisions, coffee makers, alarm clocks, electric toothbrushes …) Our sports (football pads, bicycle helmets,…
Read More…The term “bioplastics” seems to cause almost as much confusion as the term “biodegradable”. What exactly does the “bio” in bioplastics refer to? Bio … bio … hmmm. The history of plastics? No. Biotechnology? No. It actually has more to do with that oft-dreaded high school class, biology. You know: having to do with life,…
Read More…Most of us know the three “R’s” when it comes to reducing waste and protecting our environment: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. But did you know that there is a fourth “R”? Recovery. Energy recovery is the high-tech process by which waste is converted into alternative energy. Currently, 86 energy recovery facilities across the U.S. process about…
Read More…To many people, the term “biodegradable plastics” sounds like a contradiction in terms, sort of like a square circle. As usual, reality is a bit more complicated. First, let’s define biodegradable. From a scientific standpoint, the term most commonly refers to materials that can be broken down by microorganisms into organic matter, largely composed of…
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