What Does thermoplastic Mean
Thermoplastic is an adjective that allows qualifying the material that is malleable in the face of heat . In other words: a thermoplastic, when being at a high temperature, loses its rigid state and deforms.
Thermoplastics, when heated, melt and melt. Once they cool, they regain their consistency. This allows them to be shaped according to different objectives .
It is important to note that thermoplastic materials have what is known as a thermal history . As they heat up and cool down repeatedly, their physical properties gradually change as their bonds weaken.
The 3D printers usually work with thermoplastics. The molten material allows it to be molded and then, when the temperature drops, it acquires the necessary strength to retain the desired shape.
The polyvinylchloride (known by the acronym PVC ), the polystyrene , the nylon , the Teflon , the polypropylene and polyethylene are among the most thermoplastics used worldwide. It is possible to find a large number of products made with these materials.
In addition to the underlined characteristics, it is necessary to proceed to know others that are equally interesting with respect to thermoplastics:
-They have the particularity that they can dissolve solvents in certain products.
-They have remarkable resistance to creep deformation.
-The thermoplastic called polycarbonate has become one of the most important of the moment due to the fact that it is the one used to carry out the creation of CDs, soft drink bottles, glasses ...
-The ABS, whose full name It is acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, it is widely used to shape toys, such as Lego blocks, or all kinds of materials used in offices.
-PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride), on the other hand, is a thermoplastic that is currently used with great frequency within the scope of labeling. Why? Because it is used to undertake what is the realization of all kinds of signs for companies, such as logos, corporeal letters, lights ...
In addition to these mentioned, we cannot ignore other widely used thermoplastics such as the following:
-Polypropylene (PP), which can be found in industries to undertake the creation of packaging systems, clothing, tanks ...
-Polyethylene (PE) that the same is used to shape what are bottles and a wide variety of household items.
-The polymethyl-methacrylate (PMMA) which is what we find that is used to create from protective glasses to advertising signs, for example.
While thermoplastics melt when subjected to high heat , thermoset materials do not change their structure: they directly burn. This means that they cannot be molded.
The difference between thermoplastic materials and thermoset materials is in their chains and links. In thermosets, the heat causes their chains to become more compact and resistant. That is why the material finally ends up degrading and cannot be molded and reused.