Differences between thermoplastics and thermosetting plastics | MULAN

Thermoplastics are a type of plastic that is plastic at a certain temperature, solidifies after cooling and can repeat this process. Thermoplastics are made of straight - or branched-chain molecules that can be softened by heat to re-form into different shapes, and recycled waste can be reprocessed into new products. Thermoplastics are widely used.

Common thermoplastic varieties are polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polyformaldehyde, polycarbonate, polyamide and so on.

Thermosetting plastics can soften the flow when heated for the first time, and after heating to a certain temperature, chemical reactions occur and harden, and this change is irreversible. Thermosetting plastics are generally stronger and more durable than thermoplastics, but they cannot be melted and reassembled like thermoplastics and are difficult to recycle.

Commonly used thermosetting plastic varieties are phenolic resin, urea formaldehyde resin, melamine resin, unsaturated polyester resin, epoxy resin, silicone resin, polyurethane and so on.

Thermosetting plastics are mainly used for pressing, extrusion and injection molding. Silicone, epoxy resins and other plastics are mainly used as low pressure extrusion seals for electronic components, as well as casting molding.