Not only does it hold plastic bottles, meat packages, fruit and vegetable bags and resealable containers for leftovers, the modern refrigerator is itself made using several kinds of plastics. For example, tough, impact and corrosion-resistant plastics such as ABS, high impact polystyrene and polypropylene are used to create molded interior panels and door liners that maximize usable space. Molded-in color means there is no paint or coating to crack or peel over time. These panels are also moisture resistant, which helps them repel spills and stains. For clear drawers and compartment doors, polystyrene and polycarbonate are the resins of choice, with durable polycarbonate often preferred for frequently used doors and compartments.
Insulation is the key to an energy-efficient refrigerator.
Remarkably thin layers of foamed polyurethane sandwiched between molded panels of ABS or polypropylene help keep the cold air in the refrigerator from dissipating. This means your refrigerator doesn't have to work as hard to stay cool, saving you money on your electricity bill. All these products, and many more you use everyday at your job, rely on plastics for their construction and performance. Take wireless cell phones as an example. Created with engineering plastics, today's cell phones weigh as little as three ounces, a minuscule percentage of what they weighed just a decade ago.