Plastic Products for Environmental Applications

Composting takes food and yard scraps that might otherwise get buried in a landfill and turns them into nutrient-rich soil. While compost bins can be made from many materials, recycled polypropylene is commonly used for many commercially available bins because it is chemically inert, moisture resistant, and easy to mold into shape.

Not only are lubricants costly, messy, and inconvenient, but they often end up polluting water or soil as well. Many plastics such as UHMW-PE or oil-filled nylon are self-lubricating and provide excellent wear performance without the need of additional lubrication, which reduces maintenance costs and time while being better for the environment.

Desalinization plants convert seawater into drinkable water by removing salt through reverse osmosis. HDPE is often the preferred material for piping and other desalinization system components because it has excellent chemical resistance, not only against salt but also against other chemicals used in water treatment and system sterilization. This tough and durable plastic is resistant to cracking, easy to install, and offers long-lasting, cost-efficient performance. At the end of its lifecycle, HDPE is recyclable.

As trash breaks down in landfills, flammable methane gas is produced and can build up to dangerous levels. Vent pipes can be added to remove and collect that gas so it can be converted into a source of energy, in addition to improving landfill safety. HDPE is often preferred for its strength and flexibility, but PVC maybe be used in landfills where higher gas temperatures are expected. Chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) can handle even higher temperatures, up to 200˚F. 

Industrial air scrubbers remove unpleasant or dangerous gases and odors from the air to decrease pollution. These scrubbers must be made from materials that can withstand contact with a variety of chemicals. HDPE and polypropylene are both commonly utilized for their chemical and corrosion resistance.

Plastics are used throughout solar panels for optimal energy collection. UV reinforced UHMW-PE such as TIVAR® 1000 UV is used in pivot bearings that shift solar arrays because this self-lubricating material offers low friction and excellent wear resistance while withstanding long-term UV exposure. Fluoropolymer films such as ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) or polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) are often used as a protective outer layer on solar panel cells because their transparency and abrasion resistance keep panels from becoming scratched or clouded. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) may be used as a back sheet to protect interior cell components, while polyimide (PI) films may be used because of their stability even at very high temperatures.

Garbage trucks utilize plastic for various protective or wear components, including fenders, side bumpers, wear strips, and liners. UHMW-PE is most commonly utilized because of its superior abrasion resistance and low coefficient of friction, but HDPE may be appropriate in some situations.

Both drinking water and sewage systems must monitor and control fluid levels. Polypropylene is often used for such measuring devices because it is chemically inert at a wide range of temperatures.