Thermoplastic vs Thermoset

Thermoplastic

A thermoplastic, or thermosoft plastic, is any plastic polymer material that becomes pliable or moldable at a certain elevated temperature and solidifies upon cooling. Most thermoplastics have a high molecular weight. The polymer chains associate by intermolecular forces, which weaken rapidly with increased temperature, yielding a viscous liquid. In this state, thermoplastics may be reshaped and are typically used to produce parts by various polymer processing techniques such as injection molding, compression molding, calendering, and extrusion. Thermoplastics differ from thermosetting polymers (or "thermosets"), which form irreversible chemical bonds during the curing process. Thermosets do not melt when heated, but typically decompose and do not reform upon cooling.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermoplastic

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thermoset

In materials science, a thermosetting polymer, often called a thermoset, is a polymer that is obtained by irreversibly hardening ("curing") a soft solid or viscous liquid prepolymer (resin). Curing is induced by heat or suitable radiation and may be promoted by high pressure, or mixing with a catalyst. Heat is not necessarily applied externally, but is often generated by the reaction of the resin with a curing agent (catalyst, hardener). Curing results in chemical reactions that create extensive cross-linking between polymer chains to produce an infusible and insoluble polymer network.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermosetting_polymer

 

 

 

 

Thermoplastic is deformed easily when heated. That is, it is weak with heat compared with thermoset. On the other hand, when thermoset is heated, it becomes hard and it is not easily deformed by heat. That is because of its molecular structure. It means that the molecular structure of thermoplastic is simple linear, but that of thermoset is an entangled molecular structure. Marlin connectors and stripanels are molded from glass filled thermoset compounds. (not melt)