How is plastic made?
Quick Answer
Most plastic is made from oil and natural gas, which are refined into small molecules called monomers and then linked into long chains called polymers.
The Full Story
Crude oil and natural gas are refined, and components like ethane and naphtha are “cracked” at high temperatures into small molecules such as ethylene and propylene. Through polymerisation, thousands of these monomers join into long chains, forming polymers like polyethylene and polypropylene. The polymers are usually made into small pellets, which factories melt and shape by injection moulding, extrusion or blow moulding. Additives can make plastic softer, stronger, coloured or fire-resistant. The first fully synthetic plastic, Bakelite, was invented by Leo Baekeland in 1907.
Key Facts
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Suggested video title for this topic:
"From oil to bottle — how plastic is made"