DEFINITION OF TERMS

Additives A substance added to a basic resin to alter the physical and chemical
properties of the resin

Amorphous Molecules of material are arranged randomly and in long chain which twist
and curve around one another

Biodegradation chemical change in polymer facilitated by living organisms usually

microorganisms.

Compressive strength the maximum load sustained by a test specimen in a

compressive test divided by the area of the specimen

Conformation study of the orderliness and disorderliness structure of macromolecule

solids

Copolymer Typically a polymer of two chemically distinct monomers

Crystallinity structure of solids whose molecules are arranged in repeating patterns or

in order.

Extrusion The process of forming continuous shapes by forming molten plastic through
a die. Typical shapes are hoses, flat sheets, or parison for blow molding

Enzyme Protein substances which make most of chemical reaction occurring in living
organism

Filler Typically inert substance added to plastic compound to reduce cost or improve
physical properties such as hardness, stiffness, impact strength, thermal conductivity, or
electrical conductivity

Flexural strength The maximum stress in the outer fiber at the moment of crack or
break. In the case of plastics, this value is usually higher than the straight tensile strength.
Also known as modulus of rupture
Grafted polymers Polymers may be grafted with compatibilizers to increase
recyclability. A grafted polymer refers to a polymer comprising molecules in which the
main backbone chain of atoms has attached to it at various points side chain containing
different atoms or groups from those in the main chain

HDPE ( High density Polyethylene ) Polyethylene plastic having a density typically

between0.940 and 0.960 g/cm 3 while LDPE are branched and linked in a random fashion.
HDPE chains are linked in longer chains and have fewer side branches.

Homopolymer A polymer resulting from polymerization of a single monomer a

polymer consisting substantially of a single type of repeating unit.

Injection molding The process of manufacturing with plastics by forcing a molten

plastic into a mold under pressure.

PS Polymer of styrene somewhat brittle and is often copolymerized or blended with

other materials to obtain a desired properties

Mixed Plastics A resin of plastics the components of which may have widely differing
properties.

Monomer A compound which typically contains carbon and is of low molecular weight
which reacts to form a polymer by combination to itself or with other similar compounds.

Morphology The study of the form and structure of material

PBP Protein based polymer that occur in nature with extraordinary mechanical
properties such as spider silk.

.Pelletizing cleaned flakes are melted and extruded to produce small pellets similar to
virgin resin pellets

PE A family of resins made by polymerizing the gas ethylene

PET A saturated thermoplastics polyesters formed by condensing ethylene glycol and
terephthalic acid.

PP A thermoplastic resin made by polymerizing propylene with suitable catalyst. It has

a density of 0.900 g/cm 3

PVC Polymer of vinyl chloride produced by polymerization of vinyl chloride with

peroxide catalyst