Topic 11/5: Useful products from oil and organic chemistry

Thermosoftening plastics and Thermosetting plastics

Plastics - or polymers - fall into two main groups: Thermo(softening) plastics and Thermoset(ting) plastics
Thermoplastics can be made 'plastic' and malleable at high temperatures. Modern thermoplastic polymers
soften anywhere between 65 ºC and 200+ ºC. In this state they can be moulded in a number of ways: They
differ from thermoset plastics in that they can be returned to this plastic state by reheating. They are then
fully recyclable. Methods of shaping the softened plastic include:
Injection moulding, Rotational moulding, Extrusion, Vacuum forming, Compression moulding

Thermoplastics include:
Name
ABS
(acrylonitrile butadiene styrene)
Nylon (or polyamide)
Acetate (or cellulose)
Acrylic
(polymethylacrylate)
Perspex (tradename)
(polymethylmethacrylate, PMMA)
Polypropylene
(or polypropene)
Polystyrene
expanded-
high impact-
Polythene (or polyethene)
Low density (LDPE)
High density (HDPE)
PVC (polyvinyl chloride)
Polychloroethene
uPVC (U = unplasticised)
Properties
Strong, tough, hard, chemical
resistant, durable. Suitable for all
moulding processes.
Tough, hard, light, self lubricating,
chemical resistant, machines well,
extrudable, injects well.
Tough, stiff, hard, transparent, light,
heat resistant.
Stiff, durable, insulator, machines well,
polishes well, scratches easily.
Tough, light, chemical resistant. Will
scratch, quite soft.
Light, stiff, transparent, brittle,
waterproof/resistant.
very light
very tough
Insulator, chemical resistant.
Tough, flexible, soft.
Hard, stiff.
Stiff, hard, tough, light
White
Applications and Uses
Dashboards and car trim, toys,
phones, handles, electrical
products.
Bearings, gears, rope, hinges
and catches, engineering
applications.
Tool handles, pen bodies,
frames for glasses. Can be
injection moulded.
Car light covers, baths, shower
trays, basins. Can be line
bent/vacuum formed/injection
moulded with ease.
Containers, pots, plastic seats,
ropes, nets. Very versatile.
toys, electrical product cases,
boxes
packaging
vacuum formings
Packaging, bags,
Bottles, domestic appliances.
Cables, hoses, sheet, fabric
Gutters, windows, extrusions

Thermoset plastics differ in that they are not re-mouldable. Strong cross links are formed during the
initial moulding process that give the material a stable structure. They are more likely to be used in situations
where thermal stability is required. They tend to lack tensile strength and can be brittle.

Name Properties Applications and Uses

Urea formaldehyde Strong, insulator, brittle, hard, stiff. Electrical fittings, handles and
knobs
Polyester resin Liquid raw state, stiff hard, insulator, Casting, bonding fibres (glass,
chemical resistance, brittle without Kevlar, carbon fibre)
fibre reinforcement.
Epoxy resins Good insulator, brittle chemical Adhesives, bonding fibres,
trade names include Araldite. resistant. encapsulation.
Melamine formaldehyde Hard, strong, heat resistant. Adhesives, bonding fibres,
encapsulation.
Polycarbonate Hard, strong, transparent, high Spectacle lenses
refractive index

Adapted from: http://www.tep.org.uk/a2z_glossary/a2z/plastics.htm 06/03/2005