The World Without UsChapter 9 & 10

Norman

Chapter 9

• Plastic– Nurdles• Raw materials of plastic (Acrylic, Polyester,

Polyethylene, Polyproylen, etc)• Move great distances into beaches and oceans• Kill animals

– Choke hazards– Digestive problems

Chapter 9

• Recovery– Chlorine + Polymers = Stronger polymers

Revolutionized apparel industry • Mass production

– Biodegrade by microbes• 100,000 years to evolve to consume and biodegrade

plastic• 100,000+ years to consume and biodegrade plastic

• Plastic is a polymer*

Chapter 10

• Rubber– Polymer called Elastomer– Charles Goodyear (1839)• Mixed together elastomer and sulfur

– Long polymer chains tied together with sulfur atoms.

– Not biodegradable• Physically shredded or worn down• Extreme heat to melt down

Chapter 10

• Oil– Discovered in Texas – Used for Computers, cars, factories, planes,

homes, nuclear plants, and more.– Everything will burn (Maybe)• When nuclear plants are left on = Burn & chemicals

released into atmosphere• When the flipped is switched off = shutdown until

corrosion