BPF: British Plastics Federation - Plastics in Electrical and Electronic Applications
`
`Search
`
`Home | Book Shop | News
`
`| Plastipedia | Join the Mailing List
`
`|
`
`Industry Directory
`
`| Plastics Standards
`
`| Join The BPF | Contact Us
`
`
`
`About The BPF
`Press Centre
`UK Industry Overview
`Events
`Members
`Exporters Toolbox
`Plastipedia
`Recycling & Sustainability
`Industry Topics
`Innovation
`Current R & D Projects
`Aerospace
`Automotive
`Packaging
`Construction
`Electronics
`Innovation Newsletter
`
`Find A Product Supplier
`Business Support Network
`Buyers' Guides
`Careers in the Industry
`BPF Industry Directory
`Climate Change Agreement
`Plastics Standards
`
`Member Control Panel
`
`Sign In
`
`Plastics in Electrical and Electronic Applications
`Electricity powers almost every aspect of our lives, at home and in our jobs, at work and at play. And everywhere
`that we find electricity, we also find plastics. In the kitchen, there are the labour-saving devices that we wouldn’t
`be without; washing machines, microwave ovens, kettles.
`
`In the living room is the television, the video or the music system, while at work, we may use a computer. a fax
`machine or a telephone. Plastics make progress possible, making electrical goods safer, lighter, more attractive,
`quieter. more environmentally friendly and more durable.
`
`Plastics fall into two broad categories: thermoplastics such as polyethylene, which can be repeatedly melted down and remoulded and
`thermosets such as urea formaldehyde which, once set, cannot be remelted, making them suitable for applications where heat is
`encountered. The UK plastics industry provides jobs for around 200,000 people and has a turnover of over £13 billion per annum, In 1992,
`367,500 tonnes of plastics were used for electrical and electronic applications.
`
`Brown Goods
`
`The styfish appearance of modern VCRs, CD players, DVD systems, Personal Computers and TV sets owes much to the design freedom
`granted by plastics.
`
`White Goods
`
`Plastics make hygienic and attractive knobs, handles and door facings on cookers; liners, handles and internal fittings on refrigerators and
`freezers; housings and tops on washing machines and dishwashers.
`
`Small White Goods
`
`Safety is a key requirement for goods such as food processors, toasters, kettles and hairdryers - and plastics make it possible.
`
`Tools
`
`Filled, impact- and fire-resistant plastics make tough and durable housings and handles for tools such as drills, paint-strippers,
`lawnmowers, vacuum cleaners and hedge-trimmers.
`
`Username / Email
`
`Office Equipment
`
`Password
`
`Essential to the modern office are smart and hard wearing plastic keypads and housings for telephones, machines photocopiers and
`computers.
`
`I cannot access my account
`
`What Makes Plastics Invaluable?
`
`Electrical insulation: Electricity is essential to our standard of living, a valuable and versatile servant — but it is also potentially lethal.
`Plastics do not conduct electricity and are therefore used in a variety of applications where their insulating properties are needed. PVC is
`widely used to insulate electric wiring, while thermosets (which can withstand high temperatures) are used for switches, light fittings and
`handles. Plastics are especially suited to housings for goods such as hairdryers, electric razors and food mixers as they protect the
`consumer from the risk of electric shock.
`
`Heat insulation: Plastics are poor conductors of heat. To reduce the risk of burns, manufacturers have therefore made extensive use of
`plastics, introducing cool-touch toasters, deep-fat fryers and kettles. To further protect the consumer, plastics can be made fire resistant
`through the use of special flame retardant additives.
`
`Lightweight: If you’ve ever lifted an old-fashioned, heavy vacuum cleaner you can imagine how much harder housework was before
`plastics! Substantial weight reductions in tools and equipment can be made by using plastics. And as they are lighter, they use less
`electricity to run —helping the environment as well as reducing running costs.
`
`https://web.archive.org/web/20110811172429/https://www.bpf.co.uk/innovation/plastics_in_electrical_and_electronic_applications.aspx[1/27/2021 8:05:09 AM]
`
`1
`
`APPLE 1049
`
`

`

`BPF: British Plastics Federation - Plastics in Electrical and Electronic Applications
`
`Freedom of design: Whatever the designer dreams up, plastics can deliver. They can be any colour — transparent, translucent or
`opaque; any texture —matte to eliminate glare in the office, smooth for easily cleaned kitchen equipment or non-slip for handles. Plastics
`are ideally suited to the ergodynamic curves which make modern tools easy and safe to use.
`
`Durable: Plastics are hygienic, hardwearing and easily cleaned and maintained. They do not corrode, like metals, or rot like other organic
`materials. They are oil- and acid-resistant, an important property for tools and can be made shatter-resistant.
`
`Energy-efficient: Plastics consume just 4% of oil production. They take less energy — and therefore fossil fuel — to make than most
`traditional materials. This makes them cheaper to make and buy, as well as benefiting the environment by conserving resources.
`
`Recyclable: When products have reached the end of their useful lives, many of the plastic components can be recycled, to give them a
`second life and thus save energy and raw materials. ICER (see below) is promoting and developing recycling facilities in the UK. Waste
`plastics can also be incinerated in purpose-built, clean-burning power stations to generate electricity.
`
`Working For The Environment - ICER
`The Industry Council for Electronic Equipment Recycling (ICER) was founded in 1992 by a consortium of companies including household
`names such as Boots, CL, IBM, BT and the BPF. It aims to oversee the development of recycling facilities for electrical and electronic
`equipment in the UK. Telephones are already recycled in large numbers and computer equipment is following suit.
`
`For further information on ICER - Click Here
`
`What Plastics Are Used In Electrical Equipment?
`Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene - telephone handsets, keyboards, monitors, computer housings
`Aikyd resins - circuit breakers, switch gear
`Amino resins - lighting fixtures
`Epoxy resins - electrical components
`Ethylene vinyl acetate - freezer door strips, vacuum lean hoses, handle-grips
`Phenol formaldehyde - fuse boxes, knobs, switches, handles
`Polyacetal - business machine parts
`Polyamide - food processor bearings, adaptors
`Polycarbonate - telephones
`Polyesters - business machine parts, coffee machines, toasters
`Polyethylene - cable & wire insulation
`Polymethyl methacrylate - hi-fi lids, windows on tape decks
`Polymethyl pentane - circuit boards, microwave grills
`Polyphenylene oxide - coffee machines, TV housings
`Polyphenylene suiphide - hairdryer grilles, element bases, transformers
`Polypropylene - kettles
`Polystyrene - refrigerator trays/linings, TV cabinets
`Polysulphone - microwave grills
`Polytetrafluoroethene - electrical applications
`Polyvinyl chloride - cable and wire insulation, cable trunking
`Styrene acrylonitrile - hi-fi covers
`Urea formaldehyde - fuse boxes, knobs, switches
`
`Exporters
`Toolbox
`
`Position
`Statements
`
`BPF's
`Newsletter
`
`Industry
`Directory
`
`Plastipedia
`
`News
`
`Site Map | Contact Us | Terms & Conditions
`
`Powered by e-mango
`
`https://web.archive.org/web/20110811172429/https://www.bpf.co.uk/innovation/plastics_in_electrical_and_electronic_applications.aspx[1/27/2021 8:05:09 AM]
`
`2
`
`