What are thermoplastics?

Question

What are thermoplastics and what are thermosetting plastics. I need answers.

Answer 1

A thermoplastic is a material that is plastic or deformable, melts to a liquid when heated and freezes to a brittle, glassy state when cooled sufficiently.

Thermosetting plastics are polymer materials that cure, through the addition of energy, to a stronger form. The energy may be in the form of heat (generally above 200 degrees Celsius), through a chemical reaction (two-part epoxy, for example), or irradiation.
Thermoset materials are usually liquid, powder, or malleable prior to curing, and designed to be moulded into their final form, or used as adhesives.

Answer 2

thermoplastics, materials that soften or melt when heated and harden when cooled. Thermoplastic polymers consist of long polymer molecules that are not linked to each other. i.e., have no cross-links. They are often supplied as granules and heated to permit fabrication by methods such as molding or extrusion. Thermoplastics include polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyester, polyvinyl chloride, acrylics, nylons, spandex-type polyurethanes, and cellulosics.

---------------------------------
Thermosetting plastics (thermosets) are polymer materials that cure, through the addition of energy, to a stronger form. The energy may be in the form of heat (generally above 200 degrees Celsius), through a chemical reaction (two-part epoxy, for example), or irradiation.

Thermoset materials are usually liquid, powder, or malleable prior to curing, and designed to be moulded into their final form, or used as adhesives.

The curing process transforms the resin into a plastic or rubber by cross-linking. Energy and catalysts are added that cause the molecular chains to link into a rigid, 3-D structure. A thermoset material cannot be melted and re-molded after it is cured.

Thermoset materials are generally stronger than thermoplastic materials, and are also better suited to high-temperature applications. They do not lend themselves to recycling like thermoplastics, which can be melted and re-molde

Answer 3

A thermoplastic is a plastic that melts to a liquid when heated and freezes to a brittle, very glassy state when cooled sufficiently. Thermosetting plastics (thermosets) are polymer materials that irreversibly cure, to a stronger form. The cure may be done through heat (generally above 200 degrees Celsius), through a chemical reaction (two-part epoxy, for example), or irradiation such as electron beam processing. Thermoset materials are usually liquid or malleable prior to curing, and designed to be molded into their final form, or used as adhesives. Thermoset materials are generally stronger than thermoplastic materials due to their 3-D network of bonds, and are also better suited to high-temperature applications up to the decomposition temperature of the material.

Answer 4

thermoplastics are those that go into a plastic, low viscous state when heat up and then return to the same properties when cooled again.

Theremosetters change thier properties permanently on application of heat.

Answer 5

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermoplastics