
Plastic | Composition, History, Uses, Types, & Facts | Britannica
Nov 19, 2025 · plastic, polymeric material that has the capability of being molded or shaped, usually by the application of heat and pressure.
Plastic pollution | Definition, Sources, Effects, Solutions, Ocean ...
Nov 18, 2025 · Plastics are persistent large-scale pollutants, and plastic debris (such as bottles, straws, containers, and plastic wrap) and particulates have been found in many environmental niches, from …
Plastic - Polymers, Synthetic, Recycling | Britannica
Nov 19, 2025 · Plastic - Polymers, Synthetic, Recycling: Polymers are chemical compounds whose molecules are very large, often resembling long chains made up of a seemingly endless series of …
plastics summary | Britannica
Polyethylene (PE), light, versatile synthetic resin made from the polymerization of ethylene. Polyethylene is a member of the important family of polyolefin resins. It is the most widely used plastic in the world, …
Pressure | Definition, Measurement, & Types | Britannica
Dec 20, 2025 · Pressure, in the physical sciences, perpendicular force per unit area, or the stress at a point within a confined fluid.
plastic pollution Facts | Britannica
Plastics are persistent large-scale pollutants, and plastic debris (such as bottles, straws, containers, and plastic wrap) and particulates have been found in many environmental niches, from Mount Everest to …
Plastic - Foaming, Manufacturing, Properties | Britannica
Nov 19, 2025 · Plastic - Foaming, Manufacturing, Properties: Foams, also called expanded plastics, possess inherent features that make them suitable for certain applications. For instance, the thermal …
How does plastic pollute the environment? | Britannica
Nov 18, 2025 · Plastic is not biodegradable. Instead of breaking down completely, it forms smaller pieces called microplastics, which can last on Earth for centuries.
Plastic - Recycling, Resource Recovery | Britannica
Nov 19, 2025 · In most plastic recycling operations, the first step after sorting is to chop and grind the plastic into chips, which are easier to clean and handle in subsequent steps. The chips commonly …
Plastic pollution - Marine Debris, Microplastics, Landfill | Britannica
Nov 18, 2025 · Plastic pollution was first noticed in the ocean by scientists carrying out plankton studies in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and oceans and beaches still receive most of the attention of …