Plastic has been a major component in the aerospace industry since 1970. Plastics are light weight and improve fuel efficiency without weighing down the aircraft. Propulsion and navigational components functions, structural elements and interior components are all made out of plastic. Plastic has several advantages over other materials which make them an ideal choice in the aerospace industry. Some of these plastics include Polyetheretherketone, Thermosetting Polyimide, Polyamide-imide (PAI), Polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE) and Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).

The practice of using plastic materials in agricultural applications in often referred to as plasticulture. Plasticulture ag plastics include soil fumigation film, irrigation drip tape/tubing, nursery pots and silage bags. Polyethylene (PE) is the plastic film used by the majority of growers because of its affordability, flexibility and easy manufacturing.

Fuel efficiency has become one of the most crucial design features in vehicles because of the rising fuel prices and stricter environmental regulations. The role of plastic in the design and manufacturing of automotive vehicles has never been more essential due to its light weight and durability. More than 70% of the plastic used in automobiles comes from four polymers: polypropylene, polyurethane, polyamides and PVC.

The leading uses of plastics for residential and commercial construction include roofing, insulation, wall coverings, windows, piping, composite “lumber” planks and rails, flooring and structure wraps. Polyvinyl Chloride, or PVC, are widely used for plastic construction materials because they are inexpensive and durable. As a building material, it is often used for pipes and fittings, flooring, window and door profiles and roof membranes.

Custom injection molding allows you to create any shape or form out of the highest quality plastics. A lot of people may not think about it but plastic is in almost all of our consumer interactions from packaging to utensils. Plastic is extremely light weight and easy to mass produce. Some commonly used plastics in consumer products include PMMA, PC, PE, PP, PETE or PET, PVC and ABS.

Plastics have been used in entertainment and games because it is cheap to mass produce. Using plastics give design freedom that other materials would make expensive to produce. One of the commonly used plastics in board games is Polyvinyl Chloride (PV) which is used for many miniatures, in conjunction with chemical agents that make it less brittle and more flexible. Another popular game is cornhole where a plastic filled sack is tossed at a board with a hole in the center. Another great example is Polycarbonate plastic which is used to manufacture helmets and other fun safety gear.

California Plastics is a stocking distributor offering more than 20,000 varieties of specialty, engineering, and commodity thermoplastics from the industry’s leading manufacturers and global suppliers.

Polymers are growing in popularity within the firearms market. Plastics are used in firearm components such as stocks, receivers, and rails. In addition to being lightweight, plastics offer reduced recoil, corrosion resistance, serviceability, cost benefits, and design freedom that is restricted by metal.

Plastics have played a significant role in revolutionizing healthcare. Disposable plastic syringes, blood bags, new heart valves, and other medical devices are some of the many ways plastics have been used in the industry. Such products are created for one-time use and help prevent the spread of dangerous diseases by eliminating the need to sterilize and re-use a device The most widely used plastic material in medical applications is PVC followed by PE, PP, PS and PET. PVC most widely used in pre-sterilized single use medical applications.

Plastics help us to do more with less in many ways when applied to consumer products. When it comes to packaging, plastics often enable manufacturers to ship more products with less packaging material. Lighter packaging can mean lighter loads or fewer trucks and railcars are needed to ship the same amount of product, helping to reduce transportation energy, decrease emissions and lower shipping costs. Some commonly used plastics in consumer products and packaging include HDPE, LDPE, PET, PETE, PP, Polystyrene and PVC.