Thermoplastics & Thermosets

When designing with engineering plastics it is helpful to have a n Understanding of the differences between a Thermoplastic and a Thermoset.
A Thermoplastic will become a liquid at its melting temperature and will become a solid when cooled below its melting temperature. This process ca n be repeated over and over. A good analogy is an Ice Cube, when heat is applied it becomes liquid, when cooled it returns to a solid. A Thermoset behaves differently. When sufficient heat is applied a chemical reaction takes place called crosslinking and the material takes a permanent set ( Thermoset means Sets with Heat). After crosslinking, Thermosets will not melt. At excessive temperatures, Thermosets will just char and its physical properties will degrade.

Linear Polymer

Cross-Linked Polymer

Thermoplastic molecular chains

Thermoset cross-linked molecules

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879 Kocher Ridge Road Waynesburg, KY. 40489

Lonny Miller
Manufacturers Representative of Engineered Plastic Products
Phone: Fax: Email: (606) 510-4012 (606) 773-0400 LMPlastics@Hotmail.com