Difference between thermoplastic and thermosetting plastic?

Answer 1

the answer is thermoplastics can be melted down and moulded into something different, hence why they are so easy to recycle. Where as thermosetting plastics cannot be melted down after it has already set.

This is due to the bonds in the hydrocarbon formula (plastics are made out of hydrocarbons, hydrogen and carbon atoms). Thermoplastics have an alkene bond which means the hydrocarbon shares an atom with two bonds making it more reactive; and hence easy to recycle. Thermosetting on the other hand has normal bonding.

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Answer 2

thermo setting plastic sets really fast and thermoplastices are used in tarps and stuff and are usually nylon. to do this they pull them out into long strands then weave them. this makes them flexible. one of them is flamable but i cant remember which

Answer 3

thermoplastic resin doesn't need cross-linking agent in application because it dries only by solvent evaporation. Thermoset polyurethane using cross-linking agent such as melamine resins and then stove in certain temperature usually over 100 deg Celsius in order to cure in application

Answer 4

The difference in properties:

Thermoplastics lack cross-links, which makes them weaker than thermosetting plastics and thus, easier to melt and bend.

Thermosetting plastics have cross-links, which makes them stronger and harder to melt and bend/ break.

Answer 5

A thermosetting plastic is a plastic that can only be molded once,so it cannot be reheated to be remolded,while a thermoplastic can be reheated and remolded multiple times.

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Answer 6

The main difference between them is that thermoset is irreversible and thermoplastic is reversible. Another difference is that when thermoset when heated does not go soft whereas thermoplastic does.

A thermo-plastic is mechanically bonded and as such will melt when exposed to heat. The amount of heat varies with the polymer involved. Thermoplastics can be recycled and are polymers such as P.T.F.E, P.E.T, C.O.C, H.D.P.E, L.D.P.E, acrylic, acetate and thousands more. A thermo-setting polymer does what it says on the tin: it sets with heat. The bonds formed are chemical. This process is irreversible and as such thermo-sets cannot be recycled. A good example is fibreglass and resin. When you add the catalyst (usually organic hydrogen peroxide or M.E.K.P) to the resin it starts a thermal reaction which creates a new molecular structure in the resin and bonds with the fibreglass permanently. If you applied heat again the resin would simply degrade but never melt.

When thermoplastic polymers are heated, they melt. The melt point varies with the polymer.

Thermosetting polymers get hard when you heat them.

An example of a Thermoset material might be the handle of a frying pan, the plastic grille on the front of a fan-heater or the cover for part of a car engine. Thermosets work well in environments where they are subject to high temperatures, as they are not subject to melting or distortion. Examples of Thermoplastics include drinks bottles, celophane and carrier bags. These things melt and can be made malleable by the introduction of heat. These are just a few examples, however there are thousands of uses for both types of plastic.