(Newswire.net — October 15, 2013) Anaheim, CA — Plastics are used to protect us in several different ways. From service workers to medical supplies, plastics are an important part of what keeps us safe.
As an example, In October 1982, Tylenol was found to be contaminated, and seven people in Chicago, Illinois were reported dead after taking extra-strength Tylenol capsules. At the time Tylenol was the nation’s leading over-the-counter drug, and Johnson & Johnson’s bestselling product. The problem was that there wasn’t anything protecting it from potential contamination.
On November 5th, 1982 the FDA published tamper-resistant packaging (TRP) regulations. Today nearly 100% of all pharmaceuticals and vitamins are sealed with a protective shrink film generally made from Propylene or PVC. In addition, these tablets and pills are packaged in tamper resistant plastic bottles.
Most food products sold in our grocery stores are sealed with plastic to prevent it from being tampering with and to protect freshness. All infant hygiene products like shampoo, wash, lotion, diapers, and wipes are protected by plastic safety seals. When shopping for clothes, many of the items are also protected with some form of plastic to keep the merchandise from collecting dust and to prevent the occasional stain from a passerby. Have you noticed those annoying off-white thick tags on the clothes at the department store? These tamper resistant tags are equipped with a small electronic device that will set off an alarm when passing the activator, alerting employees of the attempted theft of the garment.
Plastic materials protecting bank tellers are thick panels of 1.25” thick Bullet Resistant Acrylic, a plastic that is half the weight of glass and with ten times the impact strength. Situated between the teller and the bank customer, this plastic protects the tellers from the possible threat of being injured during a robbery.
Firefighters use face shields made from Polycarbonate to protect their face and eyes from being burned by smoke or flames. Polycarbonate has high impact strength and can withstand high temperatures. The suits that firefighters wear are commonly made with Kevlar and Nomex, two plastic fibers which are flexible and fire resistant. These plastics protect the firefighters from harm while they focus on saving the lives of the people trapped within buildings.
Police officers, S.W.A.T and the Military all use plastics in some form to protect themselves from being harmed. Shields that are made from High Impact Makrolon Polycarbonate Sheets can protect Law Enforcement from being injured while in the field and when battling armed assailants. This plastic protects against heat as well as blunt force.
The Military is currently testing a rescue device made of Nylon, called MaxTrax, to assist in vehicles that have become stuck in various terrains. These light weight molded tread panels make getting vehicles across uneven terrain much simpler.
Cars have bumpers that are made out of a variety of thermoplastic materials. These plastics help to absorb the shock of the impact when the person driving the vehicle has had an accident. But the bumper isn’t the only plastic on a vehicle that has a protective purpose. The entire outer portion of the car acts as a protective shield. In fact, plastic panels are designed to help absorb the impact energy in the case of an accident, keeping the majority of its energy away from the passengers. These plastic structures can weigh as much as fifty percent less while absorbing almost five times more energy than aluminum or steel. Most of the late model vehicles use plastics in the dashboard and display components, including the common GPS/Communications screens.
Plastic Sheet and Plastic Materials are found in hundreds of applications in our daily life, keeping us cleaner and safer.