Plastics

Sterngass, Jon and MAtthew Kachur. Plastics. 2006. 48p. ISBN 0-8368-5878-6. Available at 620.1 STE on the library shelves.

The modern age has been called many things, but the Age of Plastics seems to be the most appropriate name. Since the end of the Second World War, the number and variety of objects made of plastic has increased exponentially. Plastics now dominate the food industry, manufacturing, and clothing.

This short book describes the discovery of plastics and how, over a hundred years, this new material became ubiquitous in our lives. From raw chemicals and petroleum products, plastics allowed the expansion of the electric grid by covering and insulating the wires. They provided the underpinning to modern communications. They led to vastly improved manufacturing processes and moldings that could reliably create thousands of copies of the same item. They helped extend the life of food, created new medical products that will not rust or deteriorate, and increased the world’s standards of living.

Unfortunately, the capabilities that make plastic so amazing also create environmental problems. Plastics cannot degrade easily. They can be hard to dispose of. They create a sense that they can easily be thrown away if no longer needed.

Despite all of these flaws, plastics continue to change the world. The story of its discovery and many uses is fascinating.