Chemistry
What is the Difference Between Thermoplastic and Thermosetting Plastic?
The Major Difference Between Thermoplastic and Thermosetting Plastic is that thermoplastic is a substance that becomes plastic on heating and hardens on cooling. it is able to repeat these processes and can be bent easily while thermosetting cannot be bent and softened by heating easily. it cannot be reshaped once molded.
Difference Between Thermoplastic and Thermosetting Plastic
| Thermoplastic | Thermosetting |
| Thermoplastics are usually formed by the addition of polymerization. | Thermosetting plastics are often formed by condensation polymerization. |
| It contains long-chain linear polymers and held together by weak Van der Waal forces. | it contains a 3D network structure constructed with strong covalent bonds. |
| A lower degree of polymerization gives less density and a higher degree a high density. | they work against the process of the degree of polymerization of thermoplastic. |
| usually becomes soften on heating and stiffen on cooling. | it does not become soft on heating. |
| They are expensive. | They are cheap. |
| thermoplastic is soluble in organic solvents. | thermosetting plastics are insoluble in organic solvents. |
| they are usually soft, weak, and less brittle in nature. | they are usually hard, strong, and more brittle in nature. |
| lower in molecular weight. | higher in molecular weight as compared to thermoplastic. |
| we can reclaim them from waste to reconstruct. (Recyclable) | they can’t be reclaimed from waste. (Not Recyclable) |
| can be remolded. | they can’t be remolded. |
| An example of thermoplastic is polythene. | An example of Thermosetting plastic is Bakelite. |
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