In this video segment adapted from Pennsylvania College of Technology and WVIA, learn the basics of the plastics industry. Plastics are made of polymers—small molecules strung together in long, repeating chains. The video highlights properties of plastic polymers and shows examples of common plastics (nylon, polyethylene, PVC, and PET). An animation illustrates how monomers join together through the process of polymerization to form polymers, and a lab demonstration shows polymerization at work in the formation of nylon. In addition, learn how polymers are produced in large reactors and how resins are made.
This media asset was adapted from "degrees that work: Plastics".