Raw materials of plastic industry and its types Full introduction of this widely used substance

Why should we get to know the raw materials of the plastic industry and its types?

The world is full of raw materials for the plastic industry and its types. Almost every product that you see and use during the day is either entirely plastic or partially made of plastic. Television, computer, car, house, refrigerator and many other appliances use plastic materials to make life easier. Plastic raw materials come from natural materials such as oil, coal, cellulose, etc. Considering that there are many types of plastics, how can you get to know some of the most important ones, their uses, and their production methods?

What are the raw materials of plastic?

The raw materials of the plastic industry and its types are synthetic or semi-synthetic materials that are usually obtained from petrochemical plastic raw materials or materials such as cellulose or starch. The main components are chemically processed to form long chains of molecules called polymers. These polymers can then be molded into different shapes using techniques such as injection molding, extrusion, or air molding. Plastic is a versatile material that has become popular in modern society due to its durability, low cost, and ease of manufacture. The raw materials of the plastic industry and its types have unique properties and characteristics. The raw materials of the plastic industry and its types can be classified into two main groups, thermoplastic and thermoset, based on their composition. Thermoplastics or thermoplastics can be molded, melted and remolded, but thermosets or thermosets cannot be reheated. As a buyer of plastic raw materials, you can contact Tehran Plimer Sharq Company. Among the most important plastic raw materials, the following can be mentioned:

Plastic and polymer raw materials
PP plastic raw materials
PET plastic raw materials
Polyamide plastic raw materials
Polymer plastic raw materials
Raw materials of propylene plastic
Polypropylene plastic raw material

Characteristics of plastic raw materials

The raw materials of the plastic industry and its types are like polymer synthetic fibers, which, when softened, can be molded into the desired shape and size and harden to produce durable products. The word “plastic” is derived from the Greek word “plastikos” meaning “to mold” and is used to refer to a wide variety of semi-synthetic or synthetic organic polymers. Different types of plastics have different physical and chemical properties. You can contact Tehran Plimer Sharq company for the price of plastic raw materials. The most important characteristics of plastic industry raw materials and their types are:

They are light weight and chemically stable
They are easily molded in different shapes and sizes
They have low thermal conductivity
They have good impact resistance and there is no question of rust
They have good transparency and are resistant to wear
They have poor dimensional stability and are easily deformable
Their production cost is reasonable

Plastic raw materials at a glance

The raw materials of the plastic industry and its types are used in packaging, construction, medical equipment and electronics. This synthetic or semi-synthetic material is obtained from petrochemical materials or natural materials such as cellulose or starch and can be molded using different techniques. In the table below, the most important raw materials of plastic are given along with their properties and applications.

Raw material,	properties,	applications
ABS	has a low melting point, high tensile strength, resistance to physical shocks and chemical corrosion,	construction materials such as pipes, automotive industry, prototyping
Nylon (PA 6, 66 11),	high performance, resistant to temperature and electricity,	automotive industry
HDPE	maintains its rigid structure until it reaches its melting point. Once this polymer is in a molten state, it can be molded into any desired shape, producing food containers,	water bottles, and plastic lumber.
Delrin (POM)	high efficiency, favorable electrical properties, resistant to high temperatures, resistant to chemical corrosion	, aerospace, automobile and medicine
Polycarbonate (PC)	It maintains its toughness between minus 20 and 140 degrees Celsius. It has high strength and is resistant to impact and breakage. It has very high transparency and can transmit more than 90% of light as well as glass.	Household appliances, automotive industry / transportation, building industry, medical equipment
ABS/PC,	resistance and impact resistance, heat resistant, flame retardant, appearance beauty,	automotive parts, electronic and electrical enclosures, consumer goods and household appliances, medical equipment and industrial and safety equipment.
PEI (Ultem)	Excellent chemical resistance Precise tolerance control Heat, solvent and flame resistant High dielectric strength and stability Excellent mechanical properties Rigid and strong Excellent resistance to environmental forces	Medical equipment Automotive manifolds Electrical connectors Electrical insulation parts Semiconductor equipment components Chip test sockets
PEEK,	the ability to maintain rigidity at high temperatures, good performance in sensitive environments such as aerospace, oil and gas, food and beverage industries, as well as semiconductors, automotive, aerospace,	medical, electrical and electronics
Polystyrene (PS),	thermal and electrical insulation, rigid and transparent at room temperature, resistant to most inorganic chemicals, including acids and bases, can be molded into various shapes,	medical equipment, electronic car parts
Polypropylene (PP)	low density, heat resistance,	automotive packaging, medical consumables, casting films

Tehran Plimer Sharq is one of the most well-known companies active in the field of raw materials for the plastic industry and its types, which is also active in the field of exporting raw materials for the plastic industry to Iraq. To get the prices of polypropylene plastic raw materials or polyamide plastic raw materials, please contact Tehran Plimer Sharq.

Applications of plastic raw materials

It can be said that plastic is used in almost every industry, from packaging to construction, textiles, consumer products and household appliances, transportation, electricity and electronics, and industrial machinery. To buy raw materials for the plastic industry and its types, you can contact Tehran Plimer Sharq production company. The most used plastic raw materials are:

Aerospace: The lightness of the raw materials of the plastic industry and its types makes these raw materials valuable for the transportation industry.
Construction: The high versatility and strength-to-weight ratio, durability, affordability, low maintenance, and corrosion resistance make plastics an attractive choice in construction.
Electricity and electronics: Electricity is seen in almost all aspects of our life. Wherever there is electricity, plastic somehow plays its role
Packaging: Plastic is a suitable material for packaging goods. Plastic is versatile, hygienic, light, flexible and very durable. It can be said that packaging is the most used plastic worldwide and is used in many applications including containers, bottles, drums, trays, boxes, cups, toys and protective packaging.
Car: bumper, dashboard, engine parts, seats and doors
Energy production: wind turbines, solar panels and waves
Marine industry: boat hull and sail
Medicine and healthcare field: Syringes, blood bags, tubes, dialysis machines, heart valves, artificial organs and wound dressings are made from raw materials of the plastic industry and its types.
Military industry: helmets, body armor, tanks, warships, aircraft and communication equipment

Different types of plastic and polymer materials

There are nearly a hundred known types of plastic materials. According to the performance of plastic, this material is divided into three general types, engineering plastic and special plastic. Of course, there are some other plastics that we will introduce in the following article.

Ordinary polymers

Knowledge of the raw materials of the plastics industry and its types is essential to understand the complexity of recycling, recycling, and health factors associated with plastics. You can contact Tehran Plimer Sharq company for the price of recycled plastic raw materials. In general applications, ordinary polymers are used to make plastic, which are:

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE): Polyethylene terephthalate is lightweight, strong, usually transparent, and is mostly used in food packaging and fabric production (polyester).
High Density Polyethylene (HDPE): Polyethylene is the most common plastic in the world. High density polyethylene is resistant to moisture and chemicals, which makes it an ideal choice for making cartons, containers, pipes and other construction materials.
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC or vinyl): PVC is a hard plastic and is resistant to chemicals and weather conditions, and is a good choice for construction applications. It is also used to make wire and cable. In addition, PVC has wide applications in the field of medicine; Because it is impervious to microbes. But PVC is the most dangerous plastic for human health
Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE): This plastic is a softer, clearer, and more flexible option than HDPE, and is commonly used as a liner inside beverage cartons and wherever corrosion resistance is needed.
Polypropylene (PP): Polypropylene is one of the most durable types of plastic. Compared to some other plastics, it is more heat resistant and thus can be used for food packaging as well as food storage containers. You can contact Tehran Plimer Sharq Company for the price of plastic raw materials
Polystyrene (PS or Styrofoam): Polystyrene is an inexpensive plastic and also a very good insulator, which makes it a suitable material in the food, packaging and construction industries.

Engineering polymers from plastic raw materials

The raw materials of the plastic industry and its types in the field of engineering are designed and formulated in such a way that they have better properties than consumer plastics. These can include better mechanical, electrical and thermal properties, improved chemical and UV resistance, as well as biocompatibility for food packaging. You can contact Tehran Plimer Sharq company for the price of nylon plastic raw materials. Some engineering polymers are:

Nylon 6
polyethylene terephthalate (PET)
Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS)
Nylon 6-6
Polyether ether ketone (PEEK)
Polyphenylene sulfide (PPS)
Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA)
polybutylene terephthalate (PBT)
polyphenylene oxide (PPO)
Polyamides (PA)
Polycarbonates (PC)
Polytriimide (PEI) ULTEM
Polyether Ketone Ketone (PEKK)
polyether ketone (PEK)
Polyketone (PK)
Polyoxymethylene plastic (POM / Acetal)
Polysulfone (PSU)

Super engineering polymers

The primary materials of the plastic industry and its types in the super-engineering field are polymers that are capable of meeting more stringent requirements than standard plastics. These materials are usually more expensive and are used in smaller quantities and include:

Polyetheretherketone (PEEK): This material is used for high performance plastic medical applications. In fact, PEEK is the highest performing commercial polymer
Polyether Ketone (PAEK): is a high temperature semi-crystalline polymer in the PEEK family. This material is an alternative to PEEK and provides approximately 20-30% cost savings.
Polyether ketone ketone (PEKK): Polyether ketone ketone is a more resistant type of PEEK in the PAEK material family.
Fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP): Fluorinated ethylene propylene is a fully fluorinated fluoropolymer and a thermoplastic similar to PTFE.
Liquid Crystal Polymer (LCP): A semi-crystalline polymer based on polyester chemistry with molecules ordered in the flow direction. The crystalline nature of LCP gives rise to excellent properties such as high tensile and flexural strength, high temperature resistance, and very low tensile elongation (less than 5%).
Polyether imide (PEI): With key properties such as mechanical, thermal and electrical properties, polyether imide is an ideal choice in advanced engineering applications.
Polycarbonate: The advantage of polycarbonate is its ability to transmit light internally almost as much as glass, as well as very high impact resistance compared to other common plastics.
Polyoxymethylene (Pom): Polyacetal or polyoxymethylene has a semi-crystalline nature. This thermoplastic polymer has high efficiency and has exceptional mechanical properties and multi-purpose applications
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET): polyethylene terephthalate is a family of polyesters and in a stable state, it has a semi-crystalline state. This polymer is recyclable and has high resistance to impact, moisture, alcohols and solvents
ABS plastic (ABS): ABS plastic or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene is a thermoplastic polymer used for injection molding. This plastic is very popular due to its low production cost and ease of machining

All kinds of plastic raw materials

Not all plastics are the same. In fact, plastics are found in different shapes and colors as well as in different types. Each of these plastics is different from the other and has different uses. For example, some plastics are reusable and others are disposable because of the chemicals in them. In the following, we will introduce the raw materials of the plastic industry and their types.

PE

Polyethylene (PE) is one of the most popular thermoplastic materials. It is available in different crystalline structures, namely HDPE, LDPE, and LLDPE. This plastic product is produced by excess or radical polymerization and is used in a wide range of applications; Such as plastic containers, bottles, bags, plastic toys, etc. Polyethylene is made from the polymerization of ethylene (or ethene) monomer, and polyethylene chains are produced by radical addition or polymerization. Depending on the density and branching of polyethylene, different grades of PE can have very different performance. Therefore, PE grades are categorized into Branched Versions and Linear Versions. In addition, there are other types of PE, such as:

Medium Density Polyethylene (MDPE)
Ultra low density polyethylene (ULDPE)
High molecular weight polyethylene (HMWPE)
Metallocene polyethylene (mPE)
Chlorinated Polyethylene (CPE)

Polypropylene

Polypropylene is a semi-rigid, cost-effective, linear thermoplastic hydrocarbon polymer resin that has excellent chemical, electrical, and fatigue resistance at high temperatures. It is considered a safe plastic and is therefore used to produce a variety of products, from plastic furniture and machinery to pill containers and syringes. In addition to many advantages such as versatility, customization and strength, polypropylene also has oxidation capability, high flammability and sensitivity to chlorinated solvents and aromatic substances.

Polystyrene

Polystyrene is a type of polymer that is transparent, rigid, brittle and relatively strong in its unmodified state. This plastic is made by polymerization, which combines a combination of building blocks called styrene. Polystyrene is used in various forms, including as foam, film, and rigid plastic, and for applications ranging from food packaging to electronic protection. Although polystyrene has a variety of uses and its shrinkage rate is low, it flows slowly and can become brittle. Polystyrene is usually used in injection molding.

Engineering plastics

Engineering plastics, also called thermoplastic polymers, are a group of synthetic resins that have high performance capabilities and advanced plastic properties compared to other standard plastic materials. In particular, engineering plastics have a wide range of properties (especially mechanical and/or thermal) that enable them to perform much better than conventional plastics in structural applications. In addition, they maintain stability over a wide temperature range and resist significant mechanical stress and chemical or physical changes in the environment. Engineering plastics are also specifically made available to component manufacturers in raw form to perform plastic engineering into desired end products.

Polyethylene terephthalate

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a clear, strong and lightweight plastic widely used for food and beverage packaging. The main constituents of PET are ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid, which are combined to form a polymer chain. The grades of polyethylene terephthalate are:

SA-1206
NEH-2070
NEH-2050
NES-2040
MA-2103
MA-2101M
SA-863JP
SA-8639P
SA-8339P
SA-1325P
MA-8334P
MA-8633P
MA-1340P
MA-6101-3

The commercial grades of PET are: Flame retardant, heat resistant, reinforced with glass and other engineering materials that have good strength. Fillers are also added to improve the surface, reduce warping and other desired benefits.

Different types of plastic raw materials in Iran

Raw materials of plastic industry and its types are widely used in Iran. As mentioned, polyethylenes are one of the raw materials of plastics that are also produced in Iran. Different types of polyethylene produced in Iran are:

Heavy polyethylene EX3 (HM 5010 T2N): It is a kind of colorless heavy polyethylene copolymer of PE80 class. This material is a suitable option for the production of drinking water, agricultural, sewage pipes, as well as fittings
Heavy polyethylene EX5: It is a high molecular weight heavy substance copolymerized with 1-butene. High tensile strength makes this polyethylene a suitable option for the production of plastic bags and packaging films.
Heavy polyethylenes 0035 and BL3: are used to produce inflatable containers such as shampoo containers. In addition, it is also used in industries such as packaging, construction, electronics, and toys.
Injected polyethylenes 5620, 52518 and HI500: These materials are used to produce household utensils, toys, heavy and laboratory parts, sports equipment and plastic baskets and are used for injection molding.
Heavy polyethylenes F7000 and 5110: These polyethylenes are HDPE grades and they are used to make high-strength plastic packaging products such as single-layer and multi-layer packaging products, thin stretch films and shopping bags.
Polyethylene PE100: Polyethylene PE100 is the third generation of PE Pipe grade. This material has an optimal combination of three key features: Minimum required resistance (MRS), crack stress resistance as well as crack propagation resistance
Heavy polyethylene 3840: This type of grade is one of the rotating grades of polyethylene and is a suitable option for rotational molding to produce containers or water tanks and plastic tanks.
Heavy polyethylene 5030: This polyethylene is a polyethylene copolymer that is used in the production of plastic containers, pipes and plastic bottle caps.

The stages of plastic production

All raw materials of the plastic industry and its types are usually composed of three or four molecules called polymers. These are long chains made up of smaller molecules called monomers. The production steps of plastic raw materials include raw material extraction, fossil fuel refining, hydrocarbon cracking, and polymerization and processing methods. In the following, we will describe the processing stages of the raw materials of the plastic industry and its types.

Extraction and refining of crude oil

The first step in the production of any type of plastic is the extraction of crude oil. It is then sent to an oil refinery where it undergoes a series of refinements to turn into various petroleum products such as gasoline, asphalt, jet fuel, wax, and lubricating oils. In the case of plastics, this is where the building blocks of ethylene, propylene, styrene, and other monomers found in plastics are created.

Breakdown of hydrocarbons

There are three specific methods for further processing of petroleum products after refining: Thermal cracking, catalytic cracking and hydrocracking. The word cracking is derived from the English term cracking which means to break down and describes how heavy hydrocarbons with longer molecules are broken down into lighter hydrocarbons with shorter molecules. This is the process that converts ethane and propane into ethylene and propylene.

Polymerization process

Polymerization is the process of linking monomers together through a chemical reaction to form polymers. After this stage, ethylene becomes polyethylene and propylene becomes polypropylene. Polyethylene is the most common thermoplastic and is mainly used in products such as kitchenware, toys, pipes, cables, plastic bags, plastic films and bottles. Polypropylene is a thermoplastic that is durable, transparent, and can withstand chemical stresses such as acidic foods that remain in packaging for long periods of time. It is used in products such as food containers, packaging, toys, furniture and textiles.

Plastic processing

Finally, we reach the final stage of processing the raw materials of the plastic industry and its types, where the plastic takes its final shape. Also, at this stage, plastic is transformed into various plastic products using different processing methods.

Different applications of plastic raw materials

The raw materials of the plastic industry and its types have different uses, for example, plastic granules are used to produce plastic goods. Granules are very small grains that are used to produce plastic objects such as bottles, food packaging, electronic parts of products and many others. Among the various uses of plastic raw materials, the following can be mentioned:

Automotive industry: The raw materials of the plastic industry and its types are used due to wear, impact and resistance to extreme weather conditions. Therefore, plastic granules are used to produce internal and external parts of the car: Bumpers, dashboards, seats, airbag parts and many other components.
Technology sector: Electronic devices such as smartphones, tablets, computers and cameras have various plastic elements that provide strength, lightness and flexibility.
Medical sector: The raw materials of the plastic industry and its types are materials that meet certain conditions for sterility, safety and durability if properly processed and with the right combination. As a result, plastic granules are used to produce pharmaceuticals, surgical instruments and diagnostic equipment
Bioplastics: For the production of these plastics, a type of plastic granules are used, which are made from natural raw materials such as cellulose, sucrose and starch. These materials are used in the production of various goods from bags to food packaging: All products whose raw materials help reduce the environmental impact of plastic products
Beverage and food: The beverage industry uses plastic granules to produce plastic bottles and their lids.

By reviewing these items, you have fully familiarized yourself with the raw materials of the plastic industry and its types, but where to get these high-quality materials is an issue that we will discuss further.

Get the raw materials of the plastic industry and its types from Tehran Plimer Sharq

Tehran Plimer Shargh Company is a factory for the production of raw materials for the plastic industry and its types, and it is active in polymer fields such as procurement, distribution, production and export of polymer raw materials, polymer sheets, polymer granules, compounds, plastic injection, vacuum forming, color masterbatch and vacuum . We at Tehran Plimer Sharq are ready to serve you by providing the raw materials of the plastic industry and their types with the best quality and at competitive prices.