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  1. 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.

  2. 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 …

  3. 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 …

  4. 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, …

  5. How Long Does It Take for Plastic to Decompose?

    Nov 19, 2025 · Unlike organic materials, plastics do not decompose easily because the enzymes of microorganisms do not act on the chemical bonds that hold synthetic polymers together. What are …

  6. Plastic - Foaming, Manufacturing, Properties | Britannica

    Sep 11, 2025 · Plastic - Foaming, Manufacturing, Properties: Foams, also called expanded plastics, possess inherent features that make them suitable for certain applications. For instance, the thermal …

  7. 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.

  8. Plastic Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary

    PLASTIC meaning: 1 : a light, strong substance that can be made into different shapes and that is used for making many common products; 2 : a credit card when used for payment

  9. Plastic surgery | Types, Risks & Recovery | Britannica

    Nov 21, 2025 · Plastic surgery, the functional, structural, and aesthetic restoration of all manner of defects and deformities of the human body. The term plastic surgery stems from the Greek word …

  10. 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 …