Straight answer on plastic

[everallm]

There are probably 10,000+ different "plastics" and "polymers" out there in real use every single day.

Plastic and Polymer is a generic label and just means a synthetic material generally made with at least one hydrocarbon compound at least at one point in the manufacturing process.

They can be gaseous, liquid or almost as hard as diamond, different composition, manufacturing process, design and function.

So when someone says "Plastic breaks....Polymer fails in sunshine" ask them for the name, brand and chemical composition of the material......When they mumble and say that someone they talked to told them they read it on the Internet once, smile and leave.

 

[ericyp]

Most nylon based polymers do not have a as long of a lifespan as metal alloys. The bonding strength of steel and aluminum alloy is stronger and more resistant to molecular changes. Polymer, like all plastic derivatives acts as an insulator instead of a conductor like metal alloys. Polymer has its limitations which was discovered by H&K with the G36 in Bosnia, and was discovered FN with the early SCAR. Early designs used a polymer upper receiver which insulated the rifles and prevented heat sink escape. The receivers hand and handguards began to melt with continuous firing. IMI experienced the same problem with their Micro Galil and their new Tavor rifle uses a forged aluminum upper....just like the FN SCAR.

How do you know poly-framed pistols are nylon based? The covalent bonds in polymer chains are strong and much more resistant to oxidation or reduction than metals. Metals react with an awful lot of substances that polymers do not. Also everallm, it can't just be one hydrocarbon, by definition polymers are made from chains of monomers. If theres only one, its not a chain.

 

[everallm]

A hydrocarbon as a feedstock does not need to be polymer, it can be a monomer, for example tetrafluoroethylene in PTFE.

End product is a polymer

 

[ericyp]

End product is a polymer because it's a CHAIN of ethylene. Well, the alkene has to break and reform a single bond with the carbon of another monomer. Anyways, if it was just one, it wouldn't be a polymer.

Also tetrafluoroethylene is not even a hydrocarbon. Why did you even mention hydrocarbons? I don't think you know what you're talking about...

 

[SharonAnne]

tetrafluoroethylene. ethylene IS a hydrocarbon. Anything containing ethylene contains a hydrocarbon.

 

[everallm]

Eric,

If you want to be pedantic.........heaven forbid

Some of the probable initial root stock for PTFE (a polymer) is Chloroform, base rootstock, Methane and Chlorine, no polymers here yet.

CH4 + Cl2 → CH3Cl + HCl
CH3Cl + Cl2 → CH2Cl2 + HCl
CH2Cl2 + Cl2 → CHCl3 + HCl

With Chloroform (still not a polymer) we use this as a feed stock along with Hydrogen Fluoride for Tetrafluoroethylene

CHCl3 + 2 HF → CHClF2 + 2 HCl
2 CHClF2 → C2F4 + 2 HCl

Still not a polymer, single chain gaseous compound at temperatures above -76 C.

It's only when we get to POLY Tetrafluoroethylene that it becomes a polymer. (and yes I am aware the TFE is not the generally preferred feed stock for PTFE synthesis)

If it would assuage your concern I'll say organic chemistry as opposed to "hydrocarbon"......OK?

Since the OP question was about "plastic" without qualifier, I used Teflon/PTFE as an example.

This is one that people are very familiar with in a variety of applications ranging from plumbers PTFE tape, through non stick pans to the semi-mythic Teflon coated "cop killer" bullets.

All of which brings us comfortably back to firearms questions in THR.

 

[ZO6Vettever]

For beauty and shine I sure like SS but give me that lightweight plastic fantastic for carry!

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

Some of the probable initial root stock for PTFE (a polymer) is Chloroform, base rootstock, Methane and Chlorine, no polymers here yet.

CH4 + Cl2 → CH3Cl + HCl
CH3Cl + Cl2 → CH2Cl2 + HCl
CH2Cl2 + Cl2 → CHCl3 + HCl

With Chloroform (still not a polymer) we use this as a feed stock along with Hydrogen Fluoride for Tetrafluoroethylene

CHCl3 + 2 HF → CHClF2 + 2 HCl
2 CHClF2 → C2F4 + 2 HCl

Still not a polymer, single chain gaseous compound at temperatures above -76 C.

It's only when we get to POLY Tetrafluoroethylene that it becomes a polymer. (and yes I am aware the TFE is not the generally preferred feed stock for PTFE synthesis)

"RrrrRRRuuH?"

"I don't know what he's talking about either, Tim!"

 

[ericyp]

He is copying and pasting very basic chemistry, from some web site, is what he is doing. Occasionally adding in his own commentary .

Hydrogen Fluoride! LOL! HF is hydrofluoric acid . If he's not familiar with basic chem like knowing the common acids, it's absolutely clear he has no idea what he's talking about.
It's fluoride is very electronegative, and is being used to create a partial positive charge on the alkene ethyl carbons, pi electrons from the 2nd alkene depart and attack the partial positive charge, creating a carbon carbon bond. Chain reacting like this onward to form a chain of monomers! Yes, I understand this without defaulting to google having been forced to take my share of organic chemistry. And organic chemistry is not the same as hydrocarbon,what are you saying?

There's no way to create a polymer with 'a single hydrocarbon somewhere in the process' as you claimed in your initial post. You must not understand the chemistry you have been copying and pasting because they DON'T support that assertion at all. What you've been posting so far has been supporting that any polymer is composed of a chain of monomers, and constructed c-c bonding!

Also sharon, that's not true, look at the chemical structure if you can't tell by its name. No hydrogen anywhere in tetrafluoroethylene.