Synthetic fibers are man-made fibers created through chemical processes, primarily from petroleum-based products or other synthetic materials. Unlike natural fibers, which are derived from plants or animals (such as cotton, wool, or silk), synthetic fibers are engineered to provide specific properties and advantages. Common examples of synthetic fibers include: 1. **Polyester**: Widely used in clothing, upholstery, and various textiles, polyester is known for its durability, wrinkle resistance, and ease of maintenance.
3D printing filament is a type of material used in 3D printers to create three-dimensional objects through additive manufacturing. The filament is typically in the form of long strands or spools of plastic that are fed into the printer, where they are heated and extruded through a nozzle to build up layers of material according to a digital 3D model. There are several types of 3D printing filament, each with unique properties and applications.
Corrugated plastic is a type of packaging material made from high-density polyethylene (HDPE) or polypropylene that is characterized by its lightweight, durability, and versatility. It typically consists of two flat sheets of plastic joined by a series of ridges or flutes, making it similar in appearance and function to corrugated cardboard but more resistant to moisture, chemicals, and environmental degradation. ### Key Features: 1. **Lightweight**: Corrugated plastic is lightweight, making it easy to handle and transport.
Duroplast is a type of thermosetting plastic, which means that once it is molded and cured, it cannot be remolded or reheated. This material is characterized by its durability and resistance to heat and chemicals. Duroplast is typically made from a combination of resins and fillers, often reinforced with fibers such as glass, which enhances its strength and rigidity. Duroplast is commonly used in a variety of applications, including automotive parts, industrial components, and household items.
Lupita dolls are a type of traditional Mexican doll that are often handmade and reflect the cultural heritage of Mexico. These dolls typically feature a distinctive design characterized by vibrant colors, traditional clothing, and intricate detailing. They are usually made from fabric and other materials and come in various sizes. Lupita dolls celebrate Mexican folklore and can often represent different regional styles or ethnic groups within Mexico.
ETFE, or ethylene tetrafluoroethylene, is a type of fluoropolymer that is known for its high strength, durability, and resistance to a variety of environmental factors. It is a lightweight material that is often used in construction and architectural applications, particularly in the form of films or cushions. Some key characteristics of ETFE include: 1. **Lightweight**: ETFE is much lighter than traditional materials like glass, making it an attractive option for large-scale structures.
Nylon TMDT (also known as Nylon TMDT or TMDT Nylon) is a type of engineering thermoplastic made from nylon (polyamide) with specific properties that make it suitable for applications requiring high strength, durability, and resistance to various environmental factors. TMDT typically refers to a nylon copolymer, often formulated to enhance certain characteristics, such as impact resistance, chemical resistance, and thermal stability.
Ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) is a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate. It is a versatile and widely used thermoplastic material known for its rubber-like properties, flexibility, and transparency. Here are some key characteristics and uses: ### Key Characteristics: 1. **Composition**: EVA is produced by the polymerization of ethylene and vinyl acetate in varying ratios. The vinyl acetate content typically ranges from 10% to 40%.
Fibre-reinforced plastic (FRP) is a composite material made from a polymer matrix that is reinforced with fibers, typically glass, carbon, aramid, or natural fibers. The combination of these materials results in a lightweight, strong, and durable material that has a wide range of applications across various industries.
Galalith, also known as milkstone or casein plastic, is a type of plastic created from casein, which is a protein found in milk. It was first developed in the early 20th century, around 1897, and is notable for being one of the first synthetic plastics produced. Galalith is made by mixing casein with formaldehyde and often other chemicals, which results in a thermosetting plastic that can be molded into various shapes.
Novolak refers to a type of phenolic resin that is typically produced by the polymerization of phenol with formaldehyde in the presence of an acid catalyst. Novolaks are thermoplastic resins that are commonly used in various applications due to their excellent thermal stability, chemical resistance, and mechanical properties.
PVC clothing is made from polyvinyl chloride, a type of plastic that is often used in various fashion items. PVC is a synthetic material that can be produced in a flexible form, giving it the ability to mimic the appearance of leather or other materials. PVC clothing can include items such as dresses, jackets, pants, and accessories.
A plastic shopping bag is a type of bag made from thin, flexible plastic. They are commonly used by retailers to carry purchased items. These bags are typically lightweight, durable, and water-resistant, making them convenient for both stores and consumers. Plastic shopping bags are usually produced from polyethylene, which is derived from petroleum. They can be found in various sizes and designs, often featuring handles for easy carrying.
Polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) is a type of thermoplastic engineering polymer that is part of the polyester family. It is produced through the condensation polymerization of 1,4-butanediol and terephthalic acid. PBT is known for its high strength, stiffness, and mechanical properties, which make it suitable for a variety of applications.
Polyhydroxyethylmethacrylate (PHEMA) is a water-soluble polymer derived from the polymerization of hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA). It is a type of polyacrylate and is known for its biocompatibility and hydrophilicity, making it useful in various biomedical and industrial applications. ### Key Characteristics: - **Water Solubility:** PHEMA can absorb water and swell, leading to the formation of a gel-like structure.
Polystyrene sulfonate is a synthetic polymer that is derived from polystyrene, which has been modified by the addition of sulfonate groups. This sulfonation process introduces sulfonic acid groups (-SO3H) onto the polymer chain, which gives polystyrene sulfonate its characteristic properties.
Polyurea is a type of synthetic polymer that is formed by the reaction of polyisocyanates with polyols. It is known for its rapid curing properties and is often utilized as a coating or lining material. Polyurea is highly versatile, providing excellent durability, flexibility, and resistance to chemicals, abrasion, and extreme temperatures.
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is a synthetic plastic polymer made from the polymerization of vinyl chloride monomer (VCM). It is one of the most widely produced synthetic plastic polymers in the world. PVC can be rigid or flexible, depending on the presence of plasticizers and other additives. ### Properties of PVC: - **Durability**: PVC is resistant to environmental degradation, chemicals, and corrosion, making it suitable for a variety of applications.
Reticulated foam is a type of open-cell foam characterized by its unique structure, which consists of a network of interconnected pores. This design allows for high permeability and breathability, making it ideal for applications where air and liquid flow are important. Key properties of reticulated foam include: 1. **Lightweight**: Due to its porous nature, reticulated foam is often much lighter than other types of solid foams.
Retrobright is a chemical process used to restore the original color of yellowed or discolored plastics, particularly those found in vintage electronics and computers. Over time, certain types of plastic, especially those made from ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene), can turn yellow or develop a brownish tint due to exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light, heat, and other environmental factors.

Pinned article: Introduction to the OurBigBook Project

Welcome to the OurBigBook Project! Our goal is to create the perfect publishing platform for STEM subjects, and get university-level students to write the best free STEM tutorials ever.
Everyone is welcome to create an account and play with the site: ourbigbook.com/go/register. We belive that students themselves can write amazing tutorials, but teachers are welcome too. You can write about anything you want, it doesn't have to be STEM or even educational. Silly test content is very welcome and you won't be penalized in any way. Just keep it legal!
We have two killer features:
  1. topics: topics group articles by different users with the same title, e.g. here is the topic for the "Fundamental Theorem of Calculus" ourbigbook.com/go/topic/fundamental-theorem-of-calculus
    Articles of different users are sorted by upvote within each article page. This feature is a bit like:
    • a Wikipedia where each user can have their own version of each article
    • a Q&A website like Stack Overflow, where multiple people can give their views on a given topic, and the best ones are sorted by upvote. Except you don't need to wait for someone to ask first, and any topic goes, no matter how narrow or broad
    This feature makes it possible for readers to find better explanations of any topic created by other writers. And it allows writers to create an explanation in a place that readers might actually find it.
    Figure 1.
    Screenshot of the "Derivative" topic page
    . View it live at: ourbigbook.com/go/topic/derivative
  2. local editing: you can store all your personal knowledge base content locally in a plaintext markup format that can be edited locally and published either:
    This way you can be sure that even if OurBigBook.com were to go down one day (which we have no plans to do as it is quite cheap to host!), your content will still be perfectly readable as a static site.
    Figure 5. . You can also edit articles on the Web editor without installing anything locally.
    Video 3.
    Edit locally and publish demo
    . Source. This shows editing OurBigBook Markup and publishing it using the Visual Studio Code extension.
  3. https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ourbigbook/ourbigbook-media/master/feature/x/hilbert-space-arrow.png
  4. Infinitely deep tables of contents:
    Figure 6.
    Dynamic article tree with infinitely deep table of contents
    .
    Descendant pages can also show up as toplevel e.g.: ourbigbook.com/cirosantilli/chordate-subclade
All our software is open source and hosted at: github.com/ourbigbook/ourbigbook
Further documentation can be found at: docs.ourbigbook.com
Feel free to reach our to us for any help or suggestions: docs.ourbigbook.com/#contact