Thermoplastics are polymers, which soften (becomes pliable and plastic) and melt when heated. In the melted conditions thermoplastics may be formed by various methods (injection molding, extrusion, Thermoforming).
No new cross-links form (no chemical curing) when a thermoplastic cools and harden. Thermoplastics may be reprocessed (re-melt) many times.
Molecules of most of thermoplastics combine long polymer chains alternating with monomer units.
Thermoplastic materials may contain filler materials in form of powder or fibers, providing improvement of specific material properties (strength, stiffness, lubricity, color etc.).
Thermoplastic groups:
- Polyolefins: Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE), High Density Polyethylene (HDPE), Polypropylene (PP).
- Styrenics: Polystyrene (PS), Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS), Styrene-Acrylonitrile (SAN), Styrene/Acrylic (S/A), Styrene-Maleic Anhydride (SMA).
- Vinyls: Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride (CPVC).
- Acrylics: Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), Polyvinyl Chloride-Acrylic Blend (PVC/MA).
- Fluoropolymers: Polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE), Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), *Ethylene chlorotrifluoroethylene (ECTFE), Fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP), Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), Perfluoroalkoxy (PFA).
- Polyesters: Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), Polyester PETG (PETG), Polybutylene Terephthalate (PBT), Polyarylate (PAR), Liquid Crystal Polyester (LCP).
- Polyamides (Nylons): Nylon 6 (N6), Nylon 66 (N66), Nylon 11 (N11), Nylon 12 (N12), Polyphthalamide (PPA), Polyamide-imide (PAI).
- Polyimides: Polyimide (PI), Polyetherimide (PEI).
- Polyethers: Polyacetal (POM), Polycarbonate (PC), Polyphenylene Oxide Blend (PPO), Polyaryletherketone (PAEK), Polyetheretherketone.
- Sulfur Containing Polymers: Polyphenylene Sulfide (PPS), Polysulfone (PSF), Polyethersulfone (PES), Polyarylsulfone (PAS).
