Deciphering the material from which an object is made is quite difficult, especially for those who do not deal with such situations regularly. Considering how corrupt dealers and sellers can be, it is always good to be informed about materials. Ivory and plastic are two such materials that are used for various purposes. However, there are numerous differences between the two.
Key Takeaways
- Ivory comes from animal tusks and teeth, while plastic is a synthetic material derived from petroleum.
- Ivory is a natural, dense material valued for its beauty and rarity, while plastic is lightweight, versatile, and inexpensive.
- The trade and use of ivory are heavily regulated and illegal due to concerns about animal welfare and poaching. In contrast, plastic use raises environmental concerns due to pollution and waste.
Ivory vs Plastic
Ivory is a hard, white material, derived from the tusks and teeth of animals like elephants, characterized by its smooth texture and durability. Plastic, on the other hand, is a synthetic or semi-synthetic material that can be molded into a variety of shapes and forms.
Ivory is a material obtained from the tusks and teeth of various mammals. It is white in colour and has a coarse texture. The material contains tissue that has been calcified along with cementum, pulp, and enamel. This physical property is termed dentine, which is present in all ivory products.
Meanwhile, plastic is a synthetic material that is made using polymers. Its original form is somewhat opaque and has a smooth texture. The material is lightweight and flexible, unlike ivory. However, it is infamous for causing various environmental problems as the material cannot decompose easily and stays in the environment for a very long time.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Ivory | Plastic |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Ivory is a material obtained from the dentine tusks and teeth of animals. | Plastic is a synthetic material that is made using polymers. |
| Appearance | It is white in colour. | It is somewhat opaque. |
| Texture | It has a relatively coarse texture. | It has a smooth texture. |
| Properties | It is heavyweight and not flexible. | It is lightweight and flexible. |
| Controversy | The use of this material leads to a decline in the population of certain animals. | The material is not decomposable and causes various environmental issues. |
What is Ivory?
Ivory is a hard material obtained from the teeth and tusks of various mammals. These are white in colour and specifically contain dentine. The texture of this material is coarse, but it can be carved easily. For this purpose, the tusks and teeth need to be considerably large in the first place. However, they do lack flexibility and are quite heavyweight.
The material has been around for quite a long time. In ancient history, it was used to make objects such as dominoes, piano keys, fans, and even false teeth. Then, the traditional source of ivory was the tusks of elephants. However, animals, including the mammoth, hippopotamus, walrus, warthog, narwhal, sperm whale, and killer whale, were also hunted later on for this purpose.
The earliest known ivory objects were known to be in use in the Indus Valley civilization. Sticks, hooks, pins, combs, and even dice were made out of the material. However, nowadays, ivory surrounds a lot of controversies.
There has been a huge decline in the population of animals that have ivory. This is because they are recklessly hunted and poached for the material. African and Asian elephants have become threatened species because of this trade. Due to this, the killing of such threatened animals is illegal.
What is Plastic?
Plastic is a synthetic material that is made using polymer. It is a lightweight, flexible material that can be pressed and shaped to create many objects. The texture of this material is smooth, and its appearance is somewhat opaque when in its original form. It is widely popular across the world because of its long-lasting nature and durability.
The first plastic was synthesized back in 1907 and was called Bakelite. Later, various versions of the material, such as polyethylene, were produced. It was used to package various things and even for making pipes, furniture, and toys.
However, this material poses a genuine threat to the environment. Since it takes years and years for it to decompose, it sticks around in the environment and causes plastic pollution. It fills up landfills excessively and blocks a lot of water bodies. Most oceans have garbage patches filled with plastic. This affects the organisms living in the water on a major scale.
The material contaminates ecosystems and harms land animals as they sometimes eat it out of garbage disposals by mistake. Due to this, the industries producing plastic began promoting the idea of recycling it. However, the problem is still far from solved.
Main Differences Between Ivory and Plastic
- Ivory is a material obtained from the dentine tusks and teeth of animals, whereas plastic is a synthetic material that is made using polymers.
- Ivory is white in colour whereas plastic is somewhat opaque.
- Ivory has a relatively coarse texture, whereas plastic has a smooth texture.
- Ivory is heavyweight and not flexible, whereas plastic is lightweight and flexible.
- The use of ivory leads to a decline in the population of certain animals, whereas plastic is not decomposable and causes various environmental issues.
- https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/environmental-conservation/article/ivorytrade-and-elephant-conservation/11AA17383DA8020753C862F226151F88
- https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/abs/10.1098/rstb.2009.0054
Last Updated : 11 June, 2023
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Piyush Yadav has spent the past 25 years working as a physicist in the local community. He is a physicist passionate about making science more accessible to our readers. He holds a BSc in Natural Sciences and Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Science. You can read more about him on his bio page.
Plastic is a synthetic material that is made using polymers. Its original form is somewhat opaque and has a smooth texture. The material is lightweight and flexible, unlike ivory.
It is white in colour. It is somewhat opaque.
Since it takes years and years for it to decompose, it sticks around in the environment and causes plastic pollution.
Ivory is a hard, white material, derived from the tusks and teeth of animals like elephants, characterized by its smooth texture and durability.
Ivory comes from animal tusks and teeth, while plastic is a synthetic material derived from petroleum.
The material has been around for quite a long time. In ancient history, it was used to make objects such as dominoes, piano keys, fans, and even false teeth.
Ivory is a natural, dense material valued for its beauty and rarity, while plastic is lightweight, versatile, and inexpensive. The earliest known ivory objects were known to be in use in the Indus Valley civilization.
Plastic is a synthetic material that is made using polymer. It is a lightweight, flexible material that can be pressed and shaped to create many objects.
Ivory comes from animal tusks and teeth, while plastic is a synthetic material derived from petroleum.
Ivory is a hard, white material, derived from the tusks and teeth of animals like elephants, characterized by its smooth texture and durability.
Ivory is a hard material obtained from the teeth and tusks of various mammals, characterized by its smooth texture and durability. Plastic, on the other hand, is a synthetic or semi-synthetic material that can be molded into a variety of shapes and forms.
Ivory has a relatively coarse texture, whereas plastic has a smooth texture.
Ivory is a material obtained from the dentine tusks and teeth of animals. It is white in colour and has a coarse texture. Meanwhile, plastic is a synthetic material that is made using polymers. Its original form is somewhat opaque and has a smooth texture.
The material has been around for quite a long time. In ancient history, it was used to make objects such as dominoes, piano keys, fans, and even false teeth.