Plastic virus

Yes, thats true, Plastic have two sub sequent divisions for easy of study: Thermo Plastics and Thermo Sets. Thermo Plastics are easy to mold by heating and cooling and later we can recycle and we can recycle and continue the proces for some time (each time it would be degraded). On the other hand, we have Thermo Sets, this kind of plastics from Cellulose Derivatives once they are compunded and prepared they have a soft or kind of liquid aspect, they they are placed on a mold, usualy compresion mold, you put the plaster or mass of this material, then you cure it by pressure and heat.
But this material can not be recaycled to be the same plastic, since it has gone through a Chemical Reaction with non reversible conditions.

Some models, like Resine ones (Resine Figures, Accessories and Models) are made up of Thermo Sets, which are molded through compression system.

- Bakelite was the first Plastic or Polymer to be discovered in modern days, Discovered by Leo Bakelite.
- But Nature produces some Rubbers like Guta Percha, that comes out naturally from Gum Trees. (Golf Balls used to be made up this kind of core). They still use this material for base of the Polystyrene Materials and all Styrenic Familly, they use either Natural or Synthetic Rubber as base material.

But now in days you can find models made up also of Resin, which is a Thermo Set.

Also, when we speak of "plastic" we are generally talking about synthetic resins formed by condensation or polymerization. But the term plastic is not limitted to those types of material. Up until at least the70's certain cellulose derivatives (which are not synthetic resins, but are considered plastics) were used in injection molding, like ethyl cellulose, cellulose acetate, celulose nitrate. These cellulose deivatives are not as stable as was once thought (which is why the original prints of so many old movies are in danger, they were printed on cellulose based flim). I don't know if scale models were ever made of cellulose plastics. But they were used in chess and checker pieces, dice, things like that.

Hi,

I work with plastics, the only time I heard about something eating plastics,
its about grocery store plastic bags, there was an experiment about adding
bacteria that eat plastic bags. This would end the problem at landfills.
But normally Low Density Linear Polyethylene are made in such a way that
they would degrade with ambient conditions like sun, uv rays and other factors.

The other factors that can destroy plastic in the case of HDPE pipe is rats,
mouses, and other kind of otters and animals that live under ground, thats
why when placing an under ground plastic pipe line we put some grabble and
sand bed, so animals like this dont reach pipe. Rats like some plastic additives.

But usually plastic last for life.

About bacteria or viruses, platics are poruse material, that can get impregnated very easy of dirt or other stuff, so this may be for some plastics, like others had demonstrated good thermal and permable barriers, like new packing materias for meat and vegetables that let air go out but not in.

cmtaylor & MMF -

Now that you mention it, I do remember that many early plastic kits, and toys, were made of a very hard and brittle plastic that would easily crack, break, or shatter. Maybe it was that stuff that the article was referring to. I now have two more possible answers.

Lets hear from someone on the FSM staff. Why are you ignoring this post? If your archives are cataloged properly, you should easily be able to find that article.

Pete

Weren't earlier models made from ABS plastic rather than from the polystyrene used now.

I think some of the early Aurora kits were also made in that material.

Pete
Seems that a lot of us who grew up and the 40s and 50s had 2 or 3 of those things. I had a P-61, an HE 177 and a clipped wing Spitfire. My grandmother gave them to me (think she got them from my uncle who was a Seabee). Sure wish I had them now.

Styrene, as it ages, tends to de-polymerise (the polymer chains start to break down) this happens when the material is stored under conditions of UV exposure or raised temperatures. This is usually shown by discolouring of the plastic (or fogging if clear) and serious embrittlement.
A problem discovered by collectors of vinyl dolls (including GI Joe/Action Man was that the plasticiser started to leach out, leaving the plastic unstable

Quincy - When I was a kid, during WW2, I had a couple of those ID models that I got from my cousin who was a Naval Aviator who flew an OS2U. I always thought that those models were made of solid black hard rubber. The same stuff that pre-war steering wheels were made of.

So far, I've received two plausible answers to my original question, an April Fools joke and yours. I would really like to hear from someone on the FSM staff, they could certainly find that article in their archives.

Pete

The only time I've ever seen a reference to a "plastic virus" (other than the mental one most of us seem to be afflicted with) was in an FSM article sometime in the mid 80s on the 1/72 black plastic ID models the government had made during WW II. Seems that occasionally areas of some of the models would react strangely, turning soft, shrinking and/or swelling. Apparently the only thing which would stop it was to put the model in a freezer. I don't know what the plastic was but it wasn't styrene - the only thing that styrene seems to do when it ages is to get brittle.

Perhaps you could call it "Mad Kit Disease?" (Sorry, I couldn't resist.)

LeeTree -
I guess you're right, it must have been an April Fools joke. Although I read it at the time, I don't recall the details. They say the mind is the second thing to go!

Pete

Pete,
I think the plastic virus thingie was an article printed in an April issue of FSM about a guy who looked at the kits that had been stored in his attic for many years. Apparently he found the old plastic eaten away like termites eat wood.
At least that's what I remember. Happy April Fool's Day.
Polystyrene is actually rather stable and unaffected by much of anything (except ultraviolet and solvents). And files and glue and sandpaper and having too many thumbs on one hand. Guess I've got the virus, too.
Cheers
LeeTree

This is one virus I loved to have.

QUOTE: Originally posted by therriman I just realized I've got it too!!! Are we doomed, cursed, or blessed?

Tim.....yes!!

Eric

QUOTE: Originally posted by therriman I just realized I've got it too!!! Are we doomed, cursed, or blessed?

My wife believes I am cursed LOL.
mark956

In a protect enivornment plastic is not supposed to be degraded for a few hundred years....So unles you are Highlander you wont see your kits die away.....unless something horrible happens to them.......

I just realized I've got it too!!! Are we doomed, cursed, or blessed?

me too.

QUOTE: Originally posted by M1abramsRules I've heard of plastic virus. it's were a modeler can't get enough kits to satisfy himself/herself

Very funny Chris. I do believe I have it to.
mark956

"Hello. I'm Ed and I'm a carrier."

Chris is right. Collecting is a disease... and I caught it. I'm out of control!!!

-Mark

I've heard of plastic virus. it's were a modeler can't get enough kits to satisfy himself/herself

Plastic virus? Can't say that i remember reading anything about that... Does it happen to models that are built and painted? this may be the SARS of the modeling world...