what is plastic

Plastic is a synthetic or semi-synthetic material that uses polymers as a main ingredient. Polymers are large molecules made up of repeating units called monomers. Plastics are malleable and can be molded into various shapes, such as films, fibers, plates, tubes, bottles, and boxes. They are typically synthetic and most commonly derived from petrochemicals, but there are also plastics derived from renewable materials such as corn or cotton linters. Plastics have become ubiquitous in modern society due to their durability, low cost, and ease of manufacturing. They are used in a wide range of products, from paperclips to planes. There are many different types of plastics, each with unique properties and characteristics, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, PVC, PET, polystyrene, and nylon. Plastics can be classified into two main groups based on their composition: thermoplastics and thermosets.