INTRODUCTION

The word plastics has been deeply ingrained into our society and culture, to the point that many consider this the age of plastics. The word itself applies to materials that can be shaped and formed, however, today we use it to describe a polymer which contains additives, such as pigments, fillers, antioxidants, and UV-protectors, to name a few. Polymers are materials composed of molecules of high molecular weight. The unique material properties of plastics and versatile processing methods are attributed to their molecular structure. The ease with which polymers are processed and with which one can consolidate several parts into a single part, as well as their high strength - to - weight ratio, make them the most sought after materials today.