A polymer material made from repeating units of a carbon monomer’s back bone. It can either be biobased (made from living materials) or chemically derived. Different chemical structures (nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur units) can be added to change different properties such as flexibility, hardness, color, and clarity. Plastics can be molded, extruded, or pressed into various shapes. Plastics can also be blown or made to have air pockets to make it into foam with properties such as softness or hardness.

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