What is the main difference between thermoplastics and therm

What is the main difference between thermoplastics and thermosets? Describe the two stages of polymerization process of thermoset during molding or shaping processes.

Solution

Though thermoset plastics and thermoplastics sound similar, they have very different properties and applications. Understanding the performance differences can help you make better sourcing decisions and improve your product designs.

The primary physical difference is that thermoplastics can be remelted back into a liquid, whereas thermoset plastics always remain in a permanent solid state. Think of thermoplastics as butter – butter can be melted and cooled multiple times to form various shapes. Thermoset is similar to bread in that once the final state is achieved, any additional heat would lead to charring.

Thermoset plastic:

Thermoplastic:

The two stages are:

1. Extrusion: The extrusion process basically is continuously shaping a fluid polymer through the orifice of a suitable tool (die), and subsequently solidifying it into a product (extrudate of constant cross section). In the case of thermoplastics, the feed material, in powder or pellet form, is most commonly heated to a fluid state and pumped into the die, through a screw extruder; it is then solidified by cooling after exiting from the die.

2. Film Blowing: The film blowing process basically consists of a extruding a tube of molten thermoplastic and continuously inflating it to several times initial diameter, to form a thin tubular product that can be used directly, or slit to form a flat film.