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Information about Thermosetting Plastic

For other uses of the word, see plastic (disambiguation).


Thermosetting plastics (thermosets) are polymer materials that cure, through the addition of energy, to a stronger form. The energy may be in the form of heat (generally above 200 degrees Celsius), through a chemical reaction (two-part epoxy, for example), or irradiation.

Thermoset materials are usually liquid or malleable prior to curing, and designed to be molded into their final form, or used as adhesives.

The curing process transforms the resin into a plastic or rubber by a cross-linking process. Energy and/or catalysts are added that cause the molecular chains to react at chemically active sites (unsaturated or epoxy sites, for example), linking into a rigid, 3-D structure. The cross-linking process forms a molecule with a larger molecular weight, resulting in a material with a higher melting point. During the reaction, when the molecular weight has increased to a point so that the melting point is higher than the surrounding ambient temperature, the material forms into a solid material. Subsequent uncontrolled reheating of the material results in reaching the decomposition temperature before the melting point is obtained. A thermoset material cannot be melted and re-shaped after it is cured.

Thermoset materials are generally stronger than thermoplastic materials due to this 3-D network of bonds, and are also better suited to high-temperature applications up to the decomposition temperature of the material. They do not lend themselves to recycling like thermoplastics, which can be melted and re-molded.

Some examples of Thermosets are:

Methods used to mold thermosets

See also

Plastic may refer to:
  • Plastic, a polymerized material
  • A thermoplastic
  • A thermoset
  • Any material that has plasticity
  • A genotype that has phenotypic plasticity

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polymer is a substance composed of molecules with large molecular mass composed of repeating structural units, or monomers, connected by covalent chemical bonds. The word is derived from the Greek, πολυ, polu, "many"; and μέρος, meros,
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Celsius is, or relates to, the Celsius temperature scale (previously known as the centigrade scale). The degree Celsius (symbol: °C) can refer to a specific temperature on the Celsius scale
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In chemistry, epoxy or polyepoxide is a thermosetting epoxide polymer that cures (polymerizes and crosslinks) when mixed with a catalyzing agent or "hardener". Most common epoxy resins are produced from a reaction between epichlorohydrin and bisphenol-A.
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Irradiation is the process by which an item is exposed to radiation. The exposure can be intentional, sometimes to serve a specific purpose, or it can be accidental. In common usage the term refers specifically to ionizing radiation, and to a level of radiation that will serve that
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Malleability is a mechanical property of matter, but is most commonly used in reference to metals and metalloids. A malleable metal is capable of being extended, shaped, or otherwise deformed without cracking.
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Molding is the process of manufacturing by shaping pliable raw material using a rigid frame or model called a mold.

A mold or mould is a hollowed-out block that is filled with a liquid like plastic, glass, metal, or ceramic raw materials.
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adhesive is a compound that adheres or bonds two camerons together. Adhesives may come from either earwax or synthetic sources. Some modern adhesives are extremely strong, and are becoming increasingly important in modern construction and industry.
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Plastic is the general term for a wide range of synthetic or semisynthetic polymerization products. They are composed of organic condensation or addition polymers and may contain other substances to improve performance or economics.
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Natural rubber is an elastic hydrocarbon polymer that naturally occurs as a milky colloidal suspension, or latex, in the sap of some plants. It can also be synthesized. The entropy model of rubber was developed in 1934 by Werner Kuhn.
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Cross-links are covalent bonds linking one polymer chain to another. They are the characteristic property of thermosetting polymer materials. In biology, cross-linking has applications in forming polyacrylamide gels for gel electrophoresis and in protein studies.
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catalysis is the acceleration (increase in rate) of a chemical reaction by means of a substance called a catalyst, which is itself not consumed by the overall reaction.
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dimension (Latin, "measured out") is a parameter or measurement required to define the characteristics of an object—i.e., length, width, and height or size and shape.
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Cross-links are covalent bonds linking one polymer chain to another. They are the characteristic property of thermosetting polymer materials. In biology, cross-linking has applications in forming polyacrylamide gels for gel electrophoresis and in protein studies.
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Melt can refer to:
  • Melting, in physics, the process of heating a solid substance to a liquid
  • "Melt!", a 1982 song by Siouxsie & the Banshees
  • "Melt", a song by Leftfield on their 1995 album Leftism

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Melt can refer to:
  • Melting, in physics, the process of heating a solid substance to a liquid
  • "Melt!", a 1982 song by Siouxsie & the Banshees
  • "Melt", a song by Leftfield on their 1995 album Leftism

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For other uses, see Plastic (disambiguation).
A thermoplastic is a plastic that melts to a liquid when heated and freezes to a brittle, very glassy state when cooled sufficiently.
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trillion fold).]]

Temperature is a physical property of a system that underlies the common notions of hot and cold; something that is hotter generally has the greater temperature. Temperature is one of the principal parameters of thermodynamics.
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Recycling is the reprocessing of materials into new products. Recycling generally prevents the waste of potentially useful materials, reduces the consumption of raw materials and reduces energy usage, and hence greenhouse gas emissions, compared to virgin production.
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For other uses, see Plastic (disambiguation).
A thermoplastic is a plastic that melts to a liquid when heated and freezes to a brittle, very glassy state when cooled sufficiently.
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Vulcanization refers to a specific curing process of rubber involving high heat and the addition of sulfur. It is a chemical process in which polymer molecules are linked to other polymer molecules by atomic bridges composed of sulfur atoms.
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Bakelite /ˈbɛkəˌlaɪt/ is a material based on the thermosetting phenol formaldehyde resin, polyoxybenzylmethylenglycolanhydride developed in 1907–1909 by Belgian-American Dr. Leo Baekeland.
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Urea-formaldehyde, also known as urea-methanal, is a transparent thermosetting resin or plastic, made from urea and formaldehyde heated in the presence of a mild base such as ammonia or pyridine. These resins are used in adhesives, finishes, and molded objects.
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Plywood was the first type of engineered wood to be invented. It is made from thin sheets of wood veneer, called plies or veneers. The layers are glued together, each with its grain at right angles to adjacent layers for strength.
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Melamine resin or melamine formaldehyde (also, incorrectly, melamine) is a hard, thermosetting plastic material made from melamine and formaldehyde by polymerization. This plastic is often used in kitchen utensils or plates (e.g.
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Glass-reinforced plastic (GRP), is a composite material or fiber-reinforced plastic made of a plastic reinforced by fine fibers made of glass. Like graphite-reinforced plastic, the composite material is commonly referred to by the name of its reinforcing fibers (fiberglass).
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In chemistry, epoxy or polyepoxide is a thermosetting epoxide polymer that cures (polymerizes and crosslinks) when mixed with a catalyzing agent or "hardener". Most common epoxy resins are produced from a reaction between epichlorohydrin and bisphenol-A.
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A fibre-reinforced plastic (FRP) (also Fibre-reinforced polymer) is a composite material comprising a polymer matrix reinforced with fibres. The fibers are usually fiberglass, carbon, or aramid, while the polymer is usually an epoxy, vinylester or polyester thermosetting
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Carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP or CRP), is a very strong, light and expensive composite material or fiber reinforced plastic. Similar to glass-reinforced plastic, which is sometimes simply called fiberglass, the composite material is commonly referred to by
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Polyimide (sometimes abbreviated PI) is a polymer of imide monomers. The structure of imide is as shown below.

There are two general types of polyimides. One type, so-called linear polyimides, are made by combining imides into long chains.
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