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Research draft

plastic

vr.tr.plastic · PHY.MAT

Let an agent handle plastics by type, identification, uses, recycling, food contact safety and environmental impacts, with sourced information.

Thing Registry Physical world and living systems

Research draft, second pass

A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.

written by Claude from model knowledge without web access - no source was read, every claim is a lead to verify

Researched by: Claude

Purpose and description

Let an agent handle plastics by type, identification, uses, recycling, food contact safety and environmental impacts, with sourced information.

A material made mainly of synthetic or semi-synthetic polymers that can be moulded or shaped, including thermoplastics such as polyethylene and PET and thermosets such as phenol formaldehyde and alkyd resins, widely used in packaging, construction, vehicles, electronics and medicine.

What it is for: Packaging, products and engineering materials.

It can be identify plastic types and resin codes; find local recycling rules; check food contact suitability; understand microplastics and policy.

Distinguishing features

Polymer-based

Mouldable

Durable and lightweight

Persistent in the environment

What it looks like

Light, mouldable solids, films, fibres and foams in many colours.

How it is recognised

Resin identification codes 1 to 7

Films, bottles and moulded parts

Natural rubber and glass are not plastics

Related models

is a kind of - category

material

is made of - composition

polymer

is identified by - label

resin identification code

produces - pollution

microplastic

In practice

Families and kinds

commodity thermoplastics

engineering plastics

thermosets and resins

foams

bio-based and biodegradable plastics

Standards and regulation

EU Single-Use Plastics Directive

Food contact plastics regulation

ASTM D7611 resin identification codes

Failure modes and hazards

Toxic fumes when burned

Microplastic pollution

Wish-cycling contaminating recycling

Also called

melamine foamresin cementssynthetic resinpolyampholytic resinsalkyd resinphenol formaldehyde resinpolyurethanenovolacResolep-tert-butylphenol-formaldehyde resinthree-dimensional quartz phenolicPolycarbonate-urethanespolyether foampolyester urethane rubberthermoplastic polyurethanepolyethylene terephthalate glycolplastic foamfoamed polystyrenemicrocellular plasticsilicone foamexpanded polystyrene foampolyurethane foammicrobeadthermoformed plasticcorrugated plasticmicro- and nanoplasticsVitrimersplastic foilvuboniteMoplenbioplasticmicroplasticsResystaengineering plasticVisqueenbiodegradable plasticBlasfilmbois durciFaom Rubbernanoplastic

+6

Where this came from

wikidata · CC0 1.0

Source repository Registry entry point

Also registered as vr.tr.plastic

Drafted structure

Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions.

Identify Which plastic.

Codes identify polymers.

Code

Resin codes.

Code

Resin codes.

  1. Which polymer does this resin code indicate? definition
  2. Is the code a guarantee of recyclability? boundary

Properties

Material properties.

Properties

Properties.

  1. What temperature and chemical resistance does this plastic have? provenance
  2. Which data sheet gives it? provenance
Use Safe use.

Use must suit the material.

Food

Food contact.

Food

Food contact.

  1. Is this plastic labelled for food contact and microwave use? provenance
  2. Should scratched containers be replaced? boundary

Fire

Burning plastics.

Fire

Burning plastics.

  1. Is plastic being burned or melting in a fire now? boundary
  2. Should people move away from fumes and call emergency services? action
End of life Recycling and waste.

Rules vary locally.

Recycle

Local rules.

Recycle

Recycling.

  1. Which plastics does the local council or scheme accept? provenance
  2. How should items be cleaned and sorted? action

Reduce

Reducing use.

Reduce

Reducing use.

  1. Which reusable alternatives reduce plastic waste? provenance
  2. What do life cycle studies say about trade-offs? provenance
Environment Impacts and policy.

Impacts need evidence.

Microplastics

Pollution.

Microplastics

Microplastics.

  1. What do scientific assessments say about microplastics and health? provenance
  2. How strong is the evidence? boundary

Policy

Regulation.

Policy

Policy.

  1. Which plastic rules apply here, and what is the status of international negotiations? provenance
  2. As of which date? provenance

What the second pass must settle

  • Should each polymer be a separate entry?
  • How should recycling rules be localised?
  • How should policy developments be tracked?
Draft as JSON