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Types of Thermoplastics

Acetal Homopolymer Polyoxymethylene
Acetal Homopolymer Polyoxymethylene

Polyoxymethylene (POM), also known as acetal, polyacetal, and polyformaldehyde, is an engineering thermoplastic used in precision parts requiring high stiffness, low friction, and excellent dimensional stability.

Acrylic
Acrylic

A thermoplastic, or thermosoftening plastic, is a plastic material, a polymer, that becomes pliable or moldable above a specific temperature and solidifies upon cooling. Most thermoplastics have a high molecular weight.

image: wisegeek.com
Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene
Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene

Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) (chemical formula (C 8 H 8) x · (C 4 H 6) y · (C 3 H 3 N) z) is a common thermoplastic polymer. Its glass transition temperature is approximately 105 °C (221 °F). ABS is amorphous and therefore has no true melting point. ABS is a terpolymer made by polymerizing styrene and acrylonitrile in the presence of polybutadiene.

High Impact Polystyrene
High Impact Polystyrene

High impact polystyrene (HIPS) Softens at 95°C. Easy to mould. Light and strong. Vacuum-formed packaging and casings: Acrylic (Polymethyl methacrylate, PMMA) Good optical properties (can be transparent or coloured with pigments). Hard wearing and shatterproof. Plastic windows, bath tubs, display signs: High-density polyethylene (HDPE) Softens at 120°C.

source: bbc.co.uk
image: ebay.co.uk
High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE)

High-density polyethylene (HDPE) or polyethylene high-density (PEHD) is a polyethylene thermoplastic made from petroleum. It is sometimes called "alkathene" or "polythene" when used for pipes. With a high strength-to-density ratio, HDPE is used in the production of plastic bottles, corrosion-resistant piping, geomembranes, and plastic lumber.

Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE)
Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE)

LDPE is an acronym for Low Density PolyEthylene and is a thermoplastic derived from petroleum used mainly in the plastic bag and film industry. What is LDPE’s plastic number? LDPE is recycling number 4.

Nylon
Nylon

A thermoplastic, or thermosoftening plastic, is a plastic material, a polymer, that becomes pliable or moldable above a specific temperature and solidifies upon cooling. Most thermoplastics have a high molecular weight.

Other Types of Plastic (see List Below)
Other Types of Plastic (see List Below)

Description: A thermoplastic polymer used in a wide variety of applications. Used in: Everything from reusable plastic containers, diapers, ropes, carpets, sanitary pads, piping systems, car batteries, electrical cable insulation and filters for gases and liquids. It can also be used as sheets for stationery folders, packaging and storage boxes.

Polyamide (Nylon)
Polyamide (Nylon)

Nylon is a generic designation for a family of synthetic polymers, based on aliphatic or semi-aromatic polyamides. Nylon is a thermoplastic silky material that can be melt-processed into fibers, films or shapes.

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Polycarbonate
Polycarbonate

Polycarbonate (PC) plastics are a naturally transparent amorphous thermoplastic. Although they are made commercially available in a variety of colors (perhaps translucent and perhaps not), the raw material allows for the internal transmission of light nearly in the same capacity as glass.

Polyethylene
Polyethylene

A thermoplastic, or thermosoftening plastic, is a plastic material, a polymer, that becomes pliable or moldable above a specific temperature and solidifies upon cooling. Most thermoplastics have a high molecular weight.

Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET or PETE)
Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET or PETE)

Polyethylene terephthalate (sometimes written poly(ethylene terephthalate)), commonly abbreviated PET, PETE, or the obsolete PETP or PET-P, is the most common thermoplastic polymer resin of the polyester family and is used in fibres for clothing, containers for liquids and foods, thermoforming for manufacturing, and in combination with glass fibre for engineering resins.

image: pixshark.com
Polypropylene
Polypropylene

Polypropylene (PP) is a thermoplastic “addition polymer” used for consumer products, ropes, automotive parts, and special devices like living hinges. Polypropylene (PP) is a thermoplastic “addition polymer” used for consumer products, ropes, automotive parts, and special devices like living hinges.

image: tetex.com
Polypropylene (PP)
Polypropylene (PP)

Polypropylene (PP) is a thermoplastic “addition polymer” used for consumer products, ropes, automotive parts, and special devices like living hinges. Polypropylene (PP) is a thermoplastic “addition polymer” used for consumer products, ropes, automotive parts, and special devices like living hinges.

Polystyrene
Polystyrene

Polystyrene (PS) / ˌ p ɒ l i ˈ s t aɪ r iː n / is a synthetic aromatic hydrocarbon polymer made from the monomer styrene. Polystyrene can be solid or foamed. General-purpose polystyrene is clear, hard, and rather brittle. It is an inexpensive resin per unit weight. It is a rather poor barrier to oxygen and water vapour and has a relatively low melting point.

Polystyrene (PS)
Polystyrene (PS)

Polystyrene (PS) / ˌ p ɒ l i ˈ s t aɪ r iː n / is a synthetic aromatic hydrocarbon polymer made from the monomer styrene. Polystyrene can be solid or foamed. General-purpose polystyrene is clear, hard, and rather brittle. It is an inexpensive resin per unit weight. It is a rather poor barrier to oxygen and water vapour and has a relatively low melting point.

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)

PVC is sometimes known as â Vinylâ in Europe and predominantly so in North America.PVC is a thermoplastic made of 57% chlorine (derived from industrial grade salt) and 43% carbon (derived predominantly from oil / gas via ethylene).

source: pvc.org
Thermoset or Thermosetting Plastics
Thermoset or Thermosetting Plastics

Thermoplastics and thermosetting plastics are two separate classes of polymers, which are differentiated based on their behavior in the presence of heat. The material difference between the two is that thermoplastics can be remelted, while thermoset plastics remain in a permanent solid state once hardened.