Plastics have revolutionized the world over the past century. They have propelled advancements in technology like no other material before them and have opened up new ways for engineers to implement their ideas. However, the potential for innovation is far from being exhausted when it comes to plastic. Many new technical developments (e.g. in the aviation and aerospace industry, the automotive sector, medicine or electronics) simply would not be feasible without the use of complex plastics.
Plastics are also used in many other applications, many of which you might never even consider. Did you know, for example, that our drainage systems are largely made of plastic? Here are a few unusual examples of all the things that can be made from plastic!
Did you know that cable cars contain up to 60% plastic?
Would you have thought that something as solid and seemingly heavy as a cable car could be up to 60% plastic? On the other hand, it’s not really that surprising, because plastic in particular gives engineers the freedom they need to come up with the most innovative designs.
The Graz Art Museum in Austria is made up of 1242 different plastic parts. The materials used are technical thermoplastics such as PMMA (Perspex) These transparent and semi-transparent thermoplastics have an extremely high level of UV stability and incomparable durability – no other material could be used to clad such complex building exteriors.
In the automotive industry, the use of plastics allows manufacturers to significantly reduce the weight of a vehicle, as well as to reduce its fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. In vehicle construction, plastics also offer a great deal more design freedom, as well as improved functional integration and structural simplifications.
So, as we can see, plastic is everywhere. Used correctly and responsibly, it can even help us to tackle more profound issues such as environmental protection – it all comes down to how it is used. As the best and most environmentally sustainable way of dealing with existing plastic, recycling plays a vital role.