Polymers and Plastics

Thermoplastics are linear polymers. They are also known as thermosoftening plastics because they become malleable when heated. Although they are pliable above a certain heat threshold, they return to a solid once they have been sufficiently cooled. For this reason, thermoplastics are put to unique uses in a number of manufacturing and engineering industries.

Apart from their primary characteristics, thermoplastics vary slightly in usage and properties. For example, polystyrene is a hard, water-resistant thermoplastic, according to BBC. This makes it an excellent choice for creating toy models and for packaging that will not be exposed to extreme heat sources in transit. Polymethyl methacrylate is also a stiff thermoplastic, but it is also an electrical insulator and can be polished well, so it is often used in vehicle windows and light covers.

Bakelite is a classic example of a thermosetting plastic, used historically for electrical insulators and telephone casings.

Disposable cups are made up of thermocol. It is a synthetic petroleum product which is made by restructuring of the chemical bonding of the polystyrene, to develop a stretch polystyrene. In this process, thermoplastic granules are expanded through the application of steam and air. The expanded granules become large and light in weight.

Thermosetting plastics: Which on heating becomes infusible these cannot be reused.Ex- Bakelite,urea formaldehyde resin.

Celluloid, which is considered the first thermoplastic, made its appearance in the mid- 1800 s and reigned in the industry for approximately 100 years. During its peak production, it was used as a substitute for ivory. Today, it is used to make guitar picks.

Vulcanization is a chemical process for converting natural rubber or related polymers into more durable materials via the addition of sulphur or other equivalent curatives or accelerators. Cross-linking introduced by vulcanization prevents the polymer chains from moving independently. As a result, when stress is applied the vulcanized rubber deforms, but upon release of the stress it reverts to its original shape.

Polyamide (nylon) is a thermoplastic, not a thermoset plastic, as it can be melted and reshaped.

Polystyrene foam also known as Styrofoam is brittle in tension, lightweight, with good heat and sound insulation. It is available in blocks and used for product-modelling.

Thermosetting polymers: These polymers are cross linked or heavily branched molecules, which on heating undergo extensive cross linking in moulds and again become infusible. These cannot be reused. Some common examples are polysiloxanes, bakelite, urea- formaldehyde resins, etc.

Thermosetting plastic consists of chain of the  molecules which are cross-linked, with each other when heated. When thermosetting plastics cross-link, the molecules create a permanant, network  which is a $3-D$ structure and can be considered one giant molecule. Once cured, thermosetting plastic cn not be remelted, in the same way that cured concrete cannot be reset. 

Thermosetting polymers have different properties to thermosoftening polymers. Once moulded, they do not soften when heated and they cannot be reshaped. Vulcanised rubber is a thermoset used to make tyres. Its polymer chains are joined together by cross-links, so they cannot slide past each other easily.

The condensation reaction is the type of polymerization reaction in which many monomers join together through bonds forming macromolecules of polymers by giving out byproducts majorly water. The example includes polypeptide chains of proteins or the formation of cellulose.