Modern Plastics

Abstract

SOME criticism has been made of the word ‘plastics' as applied to the industry which goes under this name to-day. The word ‘plastics’ is usually associated with clay, putty or similar materials which can be worked and shaped by hand. But ‘plastics' has not, even in the past, been limited to materials which retain their plasticity. Clay, having been moulded into shape while in a plastic condition, takes permanent form after baking, but the article in its permanent form is still classified in the ‘plastics' group. The bulk of the products of the plastics industry in its modern form may similarly be characterised initially plastic, they are converted by heat and pressure into permanent forms.