Most plastics are produced from petrochemicals. Motivated by the finiteness of oil reserves and threat of global warming, bio-plastics are being developed. These plastics degrade upon exposure to sunlight, water or dampness, bacteria, enzymes, wind erosion and in some cases pest or insect attack, but in most cases this does not lead to full breakdown of the plastic. When selecting materials, designers must consider the moral, ethical and environmental implications of their decisions

• Raw materials for plastics

• Structure of thermoplastics

• Structure of thermosetting plastics

• Temperature and recycling thermoplastics

• Recovery and disposal of plastics

• Properties of PP, PE, HIPS, ABS, PET and PVC

• Properties of polyurethane, urea-formaldehyde, melamine resin and epoxy resin

• Design contexts in which different types of plastics are used

Early plastics used from 1600 BCE through to 1900 CE were rubber based. Prompted by the need for new materials following the first world war, the invention of Bakelite and polyethylene in the first half of the 20th century sparked a massive growth of plastic materials and as we identify the need for new materials with particular properties, the development of new plastics continues.