From nylon, polyester and spandex to faux fur, rayon and even recycled plastics, the fashion world has embraced plastic materials and taken design to heights not imagined at the turn of the century when plastic fibers in clothing first entered the mainstream. Plastic-based fabrics are revered for their versatility and durability, helping fuel designers’ imaginations and consistently allowing artists to create pieces that are cutting-edge, chic and affordable.

Plastic Fibers

Acrylic • Acetate • Lycra/Spandex • Nylon • Olefin • Polyester • Rayon • Vinyl

Plastic Fabrics

Following are just some of the fabrics that are made possible by fibers derived from plastics. Oftentimes, plastic fibers are combined with other materials to create fabrics that are truly innovative, versatile, functional and beautiful.

Since debuting in Rhode Island in 1995, the X Games have become a global phenomenon, drawing millions of TV viewers for “extreme sports” competitions such as skateboarding, motocross and BMX. From Tony Hawk landing the first 900 (a 2.5 revolution aerial spin on a skateboard), to Travis Pastrana nailing the first double back flip on a motorcycle, to Dave Mirra pulling off the first BMX double back flip, the coolest tricks often happen first at the X Games.

X Games 16 take place July 29 to August 1 in Los Angeles, California, featuring more death-defying stunts and record-breaking tricks—and plastics once again will play a critical role in the sports gear and safety equipment.

Helmets
No matter the sport in Los Angeles, all competitors will have one piece of equipment in common—a helmet.

Most helmets have a hard, crack-resistant outer shell, usually made from a tough plastic such as ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene). Helmet interiors contain plastic foam pads constructed from various plastics: EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate), polyurethane, polystyrene or polypropylene. The plastic shell and foam are designed to mitigate the impact by spreading the blunt force of a crash over a greater area of the head, as well as to reduce friction in a slide.

Skateboarding helmets (“half shell”) tend to be heavier and cover more of the head than traditional bicycle helmets, providing protection from the top of the forehead to the base of the neck, as well as for the ears. BMX and motocross riders—who spend much of their time flying through the air—usually wear full-face helmets that wrap around the chin, sometimes made of carbon-reinforced plastic composites that provide significant strength while keeping the helmets relatively lightweight.

Skateboarding
The sport most synonymous with the X Games—skateboarding—likely originated in Southern California in the mid-20th century as a pastime for surfers when the waves were weak. Skateboarding began moving from counter-culture to mainstream with the introduction of polyurethane (plastic) wheels in the early 1970s. The resilient, lightweight polyurethane wheels provide a smooth ride on any surface, and polyurethane remains the predominate material used today in skateboard wheels.

Even some of the boards (called decks) are made from plastic. The banana board, a thin, flexible polypropylene deck, became popular in the mid 1970s as skateboards were becoming much more maneuverable, enabling skateboard pioneers to develop new tricks. The plastic composite carbon fiber-reinforced deck was introduced in 2004— manufacturers claim it can stand up better than traditional maple plywood decks to the daily abuse of skateboarding.

Motocross
In motocross, a sport where much time is spent airborne or careening around corners at high speeds on a motorcycle, reliable protection is paramount.

Most professional motocross competitors wear what equates to body armor. While the protection is heavy-duty, the plastic materials are light and flexible. A serious layer of pads and braces made of Kevlar® (a plastic fiber) or plastic composites helps protect riders in the event of a crash and helps to support vulnerable joints such as knees and ankles. And underneath all that plastic gear? More plastic: moisture-wicking nylon or polyester (both plastics) jerseys with mesh panels to keep the athletes cooler and dryer. Even some of the motocross bikes incorporate plastic composite frames and wheel forks, enabling them to maintain strength and durability while weighing less than traditional metal frames.

The beautiful summer weather means barbecues, grilling and outdoor fun. A great way to make your home an entertaining mecca for family and friends is to have a well-built deck. Besides adding to the atmosphere of your backyard, a deck actually increases the square footage of your home.

But before you run out and buy materials for this new space, here are a few things you should consider:

• First things first: make sure you know what you can and cannot do based on your local building codes. This is especially true for all you do-it-yourselfers out there. Structural stability, location and size are main factors to consider before the first post goes in place.
• Don’t overbuild the deck. A huge deck next to a small house looks odd and can even detract, rather than add, to the resale value of your home. That’s why designers generally scale the size of the deck to the size of the home. If you really think you need a lot of extra space, build the deck in several layers. This will break up the expanse and also add some character to your entertaining area.
• A low maintenance deck could be well worth a little extra cost—especially if you do a lot of entertaining. The deck needs to be able to stand up to traffic, moving furniture back and forth, kids, pets, line dancing….you get the picture.
• Shy away from boring lines in the deck boards. Mix and match the layout to create some diagonal patterns, inlaid designs or other features to bring some life to your deck. Give it personality!
• Consider functionality. Adding built-in benches, planters, even built-in cup holders in the railing can enhance your entertaining space.

To further hit home the necessity for a low maintenance deck, consider composite plastic decking. While it looks just like wood, composite lumber usually is a combination of plastic and wood, which means that you get the benefits of durable, weather-resistant plastic with the look of wood. Plastic composite lumber can be partially made from recycled plastic, such as grocery bags, molded to look like real wood planks, pillars and railings and installed exactly the same way as wood materials.

So what’s the big deal? Well, plastic composite decking has remarkable advantages. Wood decks may be susceptible to damage caused by the weather, things like sun, humidity, rain, snow and extreme temperatures, which can cause warping, splitting, splintering and rotting. Decks made from plastic composites hold up really well to weather, which means you can spend more time enjoying your deck instead of maintaining it and paying for repairs. And if your family enjoys going barefoot, plastic decking lets you stop worrying about splinters and slivers!

Finally, for homes without decks, don’t forget that even the simplest additions can create a fabulous entertaining area outside, even if only for one or two people. A spot for a couple of chairs and an outdoor fireplace, maybe a water feature or a bench (made from plastic composite lumber!) beneath an arbor can provide a very nice spot to enjoy the outdoors.

Outdoor areas such as backyard decks and patios can add square footage (and value!) to your home and are great places to relax and to entertain. Whether building or renovating a deck, look for plastic composite lumber, some of which is made from recycled plastics from grocery bags and plastic containers.

Why plastic? Plastic composite decks are easy to maintain and are durable enough to outlast many decks made from wood! Plastic composite decks also hold up well to outdoor conditions, which means you can spend more time enjoying your deck instead of maintaining it and paying for repairs.

While plastic composite decking is virtually maintenance free, it does require some cleaning from time to time. Here’s how to go about it for the most common deck-damagers:

• General Dirt and Debris: The affected area can be sprayed off with a hose to remove surface debris. Use warm, soapy water and a stiff-bristle brush or broom to remove dirt and debris from the embossing pattern.
• Tannin Due to Debris: Remove all debris from the deck using a hose or broom. Once the deck surface is dry, apply a “deck brightener” as directed by the manufacturer.
• Ice and Snow: A plastic shovel may be used to remove snow from the deck. Use calcium chloride or rock salt to melt the snow and ice from the deck surface.
• Oil/Grease/Food: All food spills should be removed as soon as possible (the surface must be cleaned within seven days to maintain the stain warranty). To remove, spray off with a hose and use warm, soapy water and a stiff-bristle brush or broom to remove spills from embossing pattern.
• Mold and Mildew: Mold can feed on debris such as pollen and dirt that remains on the deck surface or between planks. Use a hose and warm, soapy water with a stiff-bristle brush to remove the mold and its food source.

National TV-radio personality and home improvement expert Danny Lipford has developed a series of do-it-yourself videos that show homeowners how to update their homes and improve energy efficiency by using plastic home building products. Check out this video on the benefits of installing plastic composite decking!

Wine expert and author of FOOD & WINE Magazine’s annual ”Wine Guide”, Anthony Giglio, explains why plastic wine bottles are the future of the wine industry.

How plastics help hybrid cars save fuel

Hybrid cars save fuel primarily through the use of lighter, space-saving gasoline engines, coupled with batteries and electric motors that boost performance without adding lots of weight. But today’s designers of hybrid and electric vehicles also are relying heavily on plastics and plastic-composite materials to help reduce weight and boost fuel efficiency.

Designers of Hyundai’s plug-in-hybrid concept car Blue Will have adopted carbon-fiber reinforced plastics and nano-composites for side sills, moldings and fenders in the body of the car. And in a further nod toward green car technology, bio-plastics are used for interior panels and parts, including a bike rack that is integrated into the trunk of the car, and recycled plastic bottles are used to make the headlight bezels.

Blue Will also incorporates new advances in battery technology by using new generation lithium-polymer batteries that are smaller and run cooler. So where are the plastics in these batteries? For lithium-polymer, read “lithium-plastic”. Lithium-polymer batteries are in wide use in cell phones today, and tomorrow they may power your plug-in car!

Hyundai is hardly alone in incorporating advanced plastics technology. Toyota’s concept hybrid FT-CH saves weight with a polycarbonate plastic back window that incorporates the rear lights, reducing the number of parts and weight. The futuristic model also moves the headlights away from the fascia and up near the windshield to reduce weight and eliminate the complex wiring that traditionally runs from the headlights to the electric system.

From new battery technology to lightweight car parts, plastics are helping make the next generation of hybrid cars possible.