The most essential difference between plastic and rubber is that plastic deforms when it is deformed, while rubber deforms elastically. In other words, it is not easy for plastic to return to its original state after deformation, while rubber is relatively much easier. The elasticity of plastic is very small, usually less than 100%, while rubber can reach 1000% or even more. In most plastic molding processes, the product process is completed after the molding process is completed; while rubber still needs a vulcanization process after the molding process is completed.
Plastic and rubber are both polymer materials, mainly composed of carbon and hydrogen atoms, and some contain a small amount of oxygen, nitrogen, chlorine, silicon, fluorine, sulfur and other atoms. They have special properties and uses. At room temperature, plastic is solid, very hard, and cannot be stretched and deformed. Rubber is not very hard, elastic, can be stretched and elongated, and can return to its original state after stopping stretching. This is due to their different molecular structures. Another difference is that plastic can be recycled and reused many times, while rubber cannot be recycled directly and can only be used after being processed into recycled rubber. The shape of plastic at more than 100 degrees to 200 degrees is similar to the shape of rubber at 60 to 100 degrees. Plastic does not include rubber.