Plastics are polymers, poly from the word Greek word polus meaning many, and mer from the Green meros for parts. Polymer therefore referring to many parts. The basic building block of typical long-chain polymer is called a monomer. In Greek mono refers to one.
Chair designed by James Donahue and Douglas Simpson in 1946
Produced from glass-fibre-reinforced cotton and synthetic resin adhesives
There are two dimensional molecular structured plastic, which can be heat softened and recycle. These plastics are used in the furniture industry, and known as polypropylene used to manufacture chairs such as the polychair designed by Robin Day and polyvinyl chloride used for panel edging and foils.
Three dimensional plastics with internal structures, known as thermosets, will not soften again with heat once they have been formed. The polymers in this category play a large supportive role in furniture manufacture, polyurethane (adhesives and upholstery form) phenolics (adhesives) and polyester (finishes and fabrics). Polymers can be combined with each other in a similar way to alloys in metal, or with other materials such as glass fibre. An example of this is Eera Saarinen’s tulip chair.
Main concerns with plastic is it less environmentally friendly than wood, which is a natural polymer. Monomers are often toxic, considerable energy is required in the production of plastic, most being derived from non renewable oil.
The light weight and strength of plastic makes it useful, but consideration should be given to the disadvantages as well.
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