Plastic vs Resin: Which is Better?

A major difference between plastic and resin lies in their origin. Resins have a natural origin as they are derived from plants. Plastics, on the other hand, have synthetic polymeric nature and are obtained from petrochemicals. That is the reason, plastics are sometimes called synthetic resins.

Difference between resin and plastic

Plastic vs Resin

Plastics	Resins
Plastics are synthetic polymers and are obtained from petrochemicals	Resins are organic hydrocarbons that are obtained directly from plants and thus, have a natural origin
They are highly stable	They are less stable
Plastic materials can be remelted (moulded) easily	Resin materials are hard to remelt (mould)
Plastics are more durable than resins	Resins are less durable than plastics
Plastic materials are made free from impurities	Resins cannot avoid impurities
They are hard and dense	They are gluey and viscous
Materials made up of plastic are difficult to repair	Materials made from resins are easy to repair
Plastic substances give an unnatural impression	Resin substances give natural and more original feelings
Plastic is the final product, however, can be used further	Resin is referred to as unprocessed plastic
Plastic materials do not degrade easily. They also have toxic characteristic additives. Thus, they are not environment friendly	Resins being natural products do not have any adverse effects on the environment. Thus, they do not add to polluting our earth
Examples of plastics are Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), Polypropylene (PP), Low & High-Density polyethylene (LDPE, HDPE), Polystyrene (PS), etc	Examples of resins are amber, balsam, Boswellia, copal, and balm of Gilead, etc

Additional Resources

What is Resin?

Resin is a group of semi-solid or sometimes solid amorphous compounds. It is obtained from plants directly such as from plant exudations. Most of the resins are clear yellowish-brown in color. They mainly consist of terpenes and some non-volatile solids. Bicyclic terpenes are the most common terpenes found in resins.

Resins have been used for many years. They have a wide range of applications. Some of the common applications include sealing boats and food containers. They also serve as a major component in many organic products such as varnish, jewelry, perfumes, inks, etc.

New and advanced methods have also been developed by using which the raw natural resin is turned into functional polymers. This is how synthetic resins, plastics, came into being. Synthetic resins are produced under controlled conditions and hence, are important in the industrial sector.

The common examples of resin are balsam, Canada balsam, balm of Gilead, and other trees that belong to the family of Dipterocarpaceae. Resins were considered a prized substance and were given religious importance in history as well.

Resin has a long history since the ancient ages when it was being treated as a prized substance and was given a religious value as well.

Some categories of resins, based on their composition are:

Nylon (polyamide) resins
Acetal resins
Thermosetting (polyester, vinyl ester, epoxy) resins, etc

What is Plastic?

Plastics are generally considered synthetic resins. However, the more suitable way is to call them synthetic or semi-synthetic organic polymers of high molecular masses. Plastic materials are moldable. Being derived from petrochemical, they remain partially natural.

However, there are some plastics that are purely natural and are called bioplastics. Such plastics are produced from renewable plant materials. So, unlike common plastics, bioplastics are not harmful to our environment by being biodegradable.

In order to enhance the required properties in plastics, different organic and inorganic additives are added to them. More often, the color and rigidity of plastics need to be changed. So, the additives play their role here. For example, plasticizers are used to reduce the rigidity of plastic materials, etc.

Some unique properties of plastics are as:

Hard and dense
Resistant to heat (to some extent)
Oxidation
Have good insulation properties
Good transparency and wear resistance
Light-weighted and chemically stable, etc

Note that plastics being typical polymers of hydrocarbons, also contain elements other than hydrogen and carbon, such as oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen, halogens, etc. Some of the examples of plastics are given below:

Polyethylene terephthalate, commonly known as PET
Polyvinyl chloride or PVC
Polypropylene (PP)
Low-density polyethylene (LDPE)
High-density polyethylene (HDPE)
Polystyrene (PS)

Plastics vs Resins: Key TAkeaway(s)

Concepts Berg

What are the similarities between plastics and resins?

Both resins and plastics are long-chain hydrocarbons.
Both are polymers because of the presence of repetitive units (monomers).
They are both lightweight materials.

Are resins eco-friendly?

Yes, most of the resins come from natural sources and thus, are biodegradable. So, they are ecofriendly. Synthetic resins, such as polyresins, polyester resins, and thermosetting resins, are not eco-friendly.

What are the types of resins?

Resins are classified into two types; natural resins and synthetic resins, depending on their source.

Resin vs plastic strength:

Resins can be broken down depending on thickness and curation. However, plastics are very strong and cannot be broken easily. When put to UV rays, the plastic will take about 20 years to decompose.

What is the difference between rubber and plastic?

Rubber is a natural product obtained from rubber trees whereas plastic is a synthetic product, manufactured in industry.

What is the difference between acrylic and plastic?

Acrylics are a form of plastics, but not all plastics are acrylics.

What is better: Resin or Plastic?

Both resin and plastic are important depending on the use. For example, the resins are environment friendly and thus, are encouraged to use. However, plastics also have some important properties such as strength, moldability, reliability, etc.

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