Chemistry+Applications+Essay+37

Chemistry Applications Essay

Mr. Ceccrarelli Honors Chemistry 1 4 January 2012 #37 Plastic Cars  In today’s society, polymers are extremely essential to creating things. A polymer is the product of many molecules added together. These polymers play a vital role in the world today because of their ability to be substituted in for things like metals, glass, and other resources that are used to build essential objects. These polymers add flexibility and strength to objects. The arrangement of these molecules has a huge impact the on the type of polymer that is created. The production of plastic, or polymers, starts with the drilling of petroleum. After the petroleum is found, it is sent to a refinery where it is made into propane, methane, and various other products created by petroleum. An immense amount of heat is then used to break apart ethane and propane. This process allows propylene and ethylene to form. Fluff, also known as a polymer, is constructed by mixing the propylene or ethylene with something called a catalyst. These substances, along with additives, are then thrown into a blender. In addition, the resulting substance is then put into an extruder. The extruder then is able to melt it into a plastic. Because of this, the plastic can be extremely flexible and strong while being created at a low cost.  This type of polymer is used for things like automobiles. The insides of cars have been made up of plastics for decades; however, new improvements and advancements with plastics have enabled things like engines and bodywork to be made of plastic also. For instance, Ford Motor Company has an intake manifold made of nylon. The job of the manifold is to give the cylinders air and fuel. In regard to the body parts, plastics are seen in a Volwagen’s fender, which is also made up of nylon that was made from a polymer. This gives some stiffness and strength to the fender.  Using plastics in manufacturing automobiles is extremely effieincet due to the fact that it does not have to be painted because it can be colored instead. This saves companies times and money. In addition, because the cars are made of plastic and not metal, the cars do not weigh as much. Therefore, they can be produced more abundantly and more quickly. This will be extremely useful to people because less weight means the car will get more miles to the gallon because less gas will be needed to run it. This means people will not have to spend as much money on gasoline.  Furthermore, plastic enables a car to be a safer option to its passengers than the traditional car. Plastic is able to create safer things like windshields and fuel tanks. As a result, people will feel more relaxed when operating the vehicle.  A downside of plastic production in cars is its energy usage. It take high amounts of energy to produce them, which is extremely detrimental to the environment. This could cause the cars to become less popular with citizens through the world.  All in all, the use of plastics in cars is extremely beneficial to the people. It is a lot safer and cheaper than most cars are today. Plastics in cars are becoming more prevalent as time goes on and one day they will be in almost every car manufactured. This is the future of automobiles, and it is an extremely bright one despite the few negatives that plastics cause in the environment.