In our finishing works, initial state of many finishing materials is plastic. Plastic is also a large category of finishing materials. Many beginners in interior design may know little about plastic materials. Today we will briefly talk about basic knowledge of plastic in plastic finishing materials.

1. Characteristics of decorative plastic

Compared with traditional building finishing materials, decorative plastics have following superior characteristics.

①Excellent processing performance. Plastics can be formed into various shapes with relatively simple methods such as thin sheets, films, pipes, molds, etc., and can be mass-produced by mechanization.

②Light weight and high strength. The density of plastic is about 0.8-2.2g/cm³, which is 1/5 steel, 1/3 concrete and 1/2 aluminum, it is an excellent lightweight and high strength material. Therefore, plastics and products made from them are not only used in architectural decorative projects, but also widely used in many military projects such as aviation and aerospace.

③ Good thermal insulation, good sound absorption and sound insulation. The thermal conductivity of plastic products is low, thermal conductivity of metal is about 1/600-1/500, concrete 1/40, brick 1/20, thermal conductivity of foam plastic is equivalent to thermal conductivity of air. , so it is an ideal heat-insulating material. Plastics (especially foam) reduce vibration, reduce noise, and are good sound-absorbing materials.

④Good design. Plastic products can be not only colored, but also have bright and lasting colors and clear patterns. With help of photo engraving, you can imitate texture of natural materials to get a real one. It can also be made into various patterns and patterns through electroplating, hot pressing and hot stamping, so that surface has a three-dimensional effect and a metallic texture.

⑤ High water resistance and water vapor resistance. Plastic is a hydrophobic material, usually with low water absorption and breathability, and can be used in waterproof and damp proof projects.

⑥ Good chemical corrosion resistance and good electrical insulation. Plastic products have good corrosion resistance to acids, alkalis, salts, etc., and are especially suitable for doors, windows, floors and walls in chemical plants. Plastic is generally a poor conductor and has good electrical insulation, comparable to ceramics and rubber.

⑦ Functional design is good. Changing formulation composition and manufacturing process of a plastic can change properties of plastic and produce structural materials with various special properties. Such as carbon fiber composite materials, strength of which exceeds steel, composite panels with load-bearing, thermal insulation and sound insulation properties.

⑧Economy. Plastic products are materials with low energy consumption and high consumer value. The energy consumption of plastic production is lower than conventional materials, from 63 to 188 kJ/m³ compared to 316 kJ/m³ for steel and 617 kJ/m³³ for aluminum. With installation and use of plastic products, construction and maintenance costs are low, and some plastic products also have an energy-saving effect. For example, plastic windows have good thermal insulation, which saves electricity and energy consumption, plastic pipes have smooth inner walls, and their water throughput is 30% higher than that of iron pipes, which saves energy significantly. Therefore, the widespread use of plastics and products made from them has obvious economic and social benefits.

2. Ordinary decorative plastics

Plastics are divided into thermoplastics and thermosetting plastics based on their properties when heated. Thermoplastics are formed when heated, cooled and solidified, and then heated to become plastic; thermoset plastics are formed when heated for first time, cool and harden, and then when heated do not soften or become plastic. Commonly used thermoplastics are polyvinyl chloride plastic (PVC), polyethylene plastic (PE), polypropylene plastic (PP), polystyrene plastic (PS), modified polystyrene plastic (ABS), organic glass (PMMA), etc.; Commonly used thermoset plastics include phenolic resin plastic (PF), unsaturated polyester resin plastic (UP), epoxy resin plastic (EP), silicone resin plastic (SI), glass fiber reinforced plastic (GRP) and etc. The characteristics and uses of commonly used architectural decorative plastics are shown in table below.

Characteristics and applications of commonly used plastics for building cladding

In this section, we will first talk about basic knowledge about plastics. In next lesson, we will talk specifically about use of plastics in decoration. With development of science and production of plastics, plastic decoration materials are also being used more and more.