Synthetic Fibres

Synthetic Fibres

by Jia Wadhwani

​What are synthetic fibres??

Synthetic fibres are made up of small units of substance which combine to form a large single unit called polymer. The examples of synthetic fibres are rayon, nylon, polyester, acrylic, etc.

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​POLY MER

​Plastics

Types (depending on arrangement of units)

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1. Linear

2. ​Cross - linked

​Categories

• ​Thermoplastic - which can be melted easily, deformed on heating. Ex- PVC, Polyethene

• ​Thermosetting - which cannot bend easily, not deformed on heating. Ex- Bakelite, Melamine.

​Advantages of Plastics

1. Available in different shapes

2. Durable and long lasting

3. Fire resistant

4. Non - reactive

5. ​Light in weight

6. ​Cheap

7. ​Good strength

8. ​Available in - opaque, transparent and translucent

9. ​Does not get corroded

10. ​Easy to handle

​Disadvantages of Plastics

1. ​Disposal - Most of the plastics are non - biodegradable and lead to accumulation

2. ​Animals are choked due to consumption of plastics. (Land pollution)

3. ​They choke drainage systems which lead to floods

4. ​They produce harmful gases on burning which leads to air pollution

5. ​They affect marine life. (water pollution)

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