Polymers thermoplastic/thermoset

In practice, synthetic polymers are sometimes divided into two classes, thermosetting and thermo-plMtic. Those polymers which in their original condition will fiow and can be moulded by heat and pressime, but which in their finished or cured state cannot be re softened or moulded are known as thermo setting (examples phenol formaldehyde or urea formaldehyde polymer). Thermoplastic polymers can be resoftened and remoulded by heat (examples ethylene polymers and polymers of acrylic esters). 

From the point of view of technology, it is convenient to classify polymers as thermosetting and thermoplastic. The former set by chemical crosslinks introduced during fabrication and hence do not change appreciably in their deformability with changes in temperature. Thermoplastics, on the other hand, soften and/or melt on heating and can therefore be altered in shape by heating... 

Secondary bonds are considerably weaker than the primary covalent bonds. When a linear or branched polymer is heated, the dissociation energies of the secondary bonds are exceeded long before the primary covalent bonds are broken, freeing up the individual chains to flow under stress. When the material is cooled, the secondary bonds reform. Thus, linear and branched polymers are generally thermoplastic. On the other hand, cross-links contain primary covalent bonds like those that bond the atoms in the main chains. When a cross-linked polymer is heated sufficiently, these primary covalent bonds fail randomly, and the material degrades. Therefore, cross-linked polymers are thermosets. There are a few exceptions such as cellulose and polyacrylonitrile. Though linear, these polymers are not thermoplastic because the extensive secondary bonds make up for in quantity what they lack in quahty. 

Some of the most common stabilization—soHdification processes are those using cement, lime, and pozzolanic materials. These materials are popular because they are very effective, plentiful, and relatively inexpensive. Other stabilization—soHdification technologies include thermoplastics, thermosetting reactive polymers, polymerization, and vitrification. Vitrification is discussed in the thermal treatment section of this article and the other stabdization—soHdification processes are discussed below. 

Thermoplastic resins, self-reinforced, 26 Thermoplastics, preparation of, 257-258 Thermoplastic step-growth polymers, 3 Thermosetting polyester resins, 29-31 Thermosetting resins, 3-4, 19 Thermotropic compounds, 49 THF. See Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Thiobisphenol S (TBPS), 364 Thionyl chloride, 80 activation of, 111 3,3 -linked polymers, 480 Tin-amine coordination complex, 234 Tin compounds, 86, 232-233... 

Thermoplastics are more suitable for recycling than elastomers or thermosetting polymers. Thermoplastics can be heated above their melting temperatures and then recast into new shapes. Elastomers and thermosets, on the other hand, have extensive cross-linking networks that must be destroyed and then reformed in the process of recycling. Processes that destroy cross-linking, however, generally break down the polymer beyond the point at which it can be easily reconstituted. 

For the most part, plastics are man-made since very few plcistlcs are natural, i.e.- nature-made. Natural plastics include large molecular-wei t proteins and similar molecules. Man-made plastics can be classified as either thermoplastic or thermosetting. Each class derives its physical properties from the effects of application of heat, the former becoming "plastic" (that is- it becomes soft and tends to flow) while the latter becomes less "plastic" and tends to remain in a softened state. This difference in change of state derives from the actual nature of the chemical bonds in the polymer. Thermoplastic polymers generally consist of molecules composed of many monomeric units. A good example is that of polyethylene where the monomeric unit is -(CH2-CH2)-. The molecule is linear... 

Although the main use of impact modifiers is with thermoplastics, thermosets also benefit. The agent is added at the monomer stage. Thus epoxy polymers can be made less brittle by the addition of rubbers. Care has to be taken that the high temperature properties of the thermoset are not compromised. 

Both thermoplastics and thermosets can be used in four of the five major application areas plastics, elastomers, coatings, and adhesives. But, only thermoplastics can be used in making fibers. During the spinning and drawing process of fiber processing, it s necessary to orient the molecules. Only unbranched, linear polymers (not thermosets) are capable of orientation. 

Both linear and branched polymers are typically thermoplastics, meaning they can be melted before they undergo decomposition. However, cross-linked three-dimensional or network polymers are thermosets, meaning they decompose before they melt. The crosslink density can vary from low, such as found in a rubber band, to high, such as found in ebonite (Figure 2.3). 

We have chosen three groups of thermoplastic-thermosets to illustrate the principle of this class and to compare their processing, properties and applications with some thermoplastics and thermosets. There are a number of other polymers which might also belong in this group, at least in certain respects, but it is felt that the three... 

A plastic foam is a heterogeneous blend of a polymer with a gas. The gas cells are between 1 mm and 0.1 mm. Foams are made from thermoplasts, thermosets and rubbers. In all these cases the foam structure is generated in the fluid condition with thermoplasts it is fixed by solidification, with thermosets and rubbers by the curing or vulcanisation reaction. 

FRP materials are made up of the polymer and reinforcing fibers. The polymer is typically a thermoset polymer thermoplastics can be used as well. Some typical thermoset polymers used are epoxy resins, unsaturated polyester resins, epoxy vinyl ester resins, phenolic resins, and high performance aerospace resins such as cyanate esters, polyimides, and bismaleimides. These resins... 

Reaction 1 produces a linear polymer (a thermoplastic) that should be soluble in acetone, while reaction 2 produces crosslinked, insoluble polymer (a thermoset resin). The viscosity of the crosslinked polymer when hot should be noticeably higher than that of reaction 1. Although individual results will depend upon the purity of the starting materials and the heating rate, often the linear product is glassy and hard while the crosslinked one tends to be more brittle and porous. The latter results from the extremely high viscosity that develops as the crosslinked polymer increases in molecular weight. 

A variety of polymers, both thermosets as well as thermoplastics, can be blended and coreacted with epoxy resins to provide for a specific set of desired properties. The most common of these are nitrile, phenolic, nylon, poly sulfide, and polyurethane resins. At high levels of additions these additives result in hybrid or alloyed systems with epoxy resins rather than just modifiers. They differ from reactive diluents in that they are higher-molecular weight-materials, are used at higher concentrations, and generally have less deleterious effect on the cured properties of the epoxy resin. 

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