In this article, we’ll look at some examples of thermoplastics and their uses.
Many everyday products, such as plastic bags and food packaging, use thermoplastic materials. Manufacturers also use them for flexible and durable medical devices and clothing.
Article Contents
Thermoplastic by definition:
A thermoplastic, or thermosoftening 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” (Wikipedia, 2024).
Reference: Wikipedia. (2024). Thermoplastic. Retrieved August 29, 2024, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermoplastic#:~:text=A%20thermoplastic%2C%20or%20thermosoftening%20plastic,have%20a%20high%20molecular%20weight.
Examples of thermoplastics include:
• ABS (Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene)
• ASA (Acrylonitrile styrene acrylate)
• Polycarbonate
• PC/ABS
• PC/ASA
• FR/ABS
• Polypropylene
• Polyamide (PA6, PA66)
• Polyester
Application examples of Thermoplastics material include:
Amorphous Polymer Examples
• ABS (ABSCOM® ABS Plastic) polymer applications: automotive, leisure and hygiene sectors. ABS polymer compounds can be separated by the following applications:
- ‘Easy Flow‘ – ABS polymer grades that have a much higher ‘melt flow’, such as our ABSCOM® F350 and ABSCOM® S105.
Easy Flow is a characteristic of the polymer, which makes it ideal for injection moulding applications that require intricate designs and thin-walled components. Polymer grades like these offer superior processing efficiency and improved cycle times, making them a preferred choice for high-volume production.
- ‘High Impact‘ – ABS material grades with a high notched impact of around 25 kJ/m2. To put this impact strength into perspective, an effect of 40 kJ/m2 and above is super strong and can withstand a car crash.
High Impact is desirable, especially when the end user requires exceptional toughness. Moreover, ABS grades falling into this category are highly robust and capable of withstanding significant forces. They are ideal for safety-critical components in vehicles and other demanding environments.
- ‘High Heat’ – ABS polymer grades suit applications needing to withstand high heat levels, like the Automotive paint drying process. Grades include ABSCOM® T4100 and ABSCOM® T4060. For further reading on Hi-Heat ABS, read our in-depth article about ABSCOM® T4060, which also provides information about ABSCOM® T4100.
- ‘Flame Retardant‘ – ABS plastic grades such as our ABSCOM® FR1000 are designed to meet the strict UL 94 V0 specification.
Role of Flame Retardants in Plastics (SpecialChem, n.d.)
Polymers can often fuel fires owing to their organic nature. They decompose into combustible products when heated. But, in many fields, polymer usage is limited by their flammability, regardless of their benefits. For example, in electrical, electronic, transportation, construction, etc.
The diffusion of synthetic polymers has greatly increased the:
- fire risk: — the probability of fire occurrence and
- fire hazard: — the consequence of fire either on humans or on structures.
To fulfill these legal requirements, flame retardants need to be added into the polymer. To increase the escape time of people, the role of these additives is to:
- >Slow down polymer combustion and degradation (fire extinction)
- >Reduce smoke emission
- >Avoid dripping
The severity of the regulations will depend on the time needed to escape an environment.
Escape Time Without FR (L), Escape Time With FR (R)
Reference: SpecialChem. (n.d.). Flame retardants for polymers. Retrieved August 29, 2024, from https://polymer-additives.specialchem.com/selection-guide/flame-retardants
ABSCOM®, a thermoplastic example, offers a wide range of automotive, leisure and hygiene applications for the ABS polymer compounds market. We design our products to meet customers’ specific needs in each sector. We work hard to develop new and innovative products that improve performance while reducing environmental impact. Have you tried using ABSCOM® products in your business? Let us know how they worked for you.
ASACOM™ ASA Plastic Applications: Ideal for Outdoor and Automotive Uses
• ASA (ASACOM™ ASA Plastic) polymer applications: primarily used for outdoor weather-intensive applications; this polymer would be an excellent choice for garden equipment or exterior finishers on a car. ASA polymer compounds can be separated by the following applications:
- ‘Easy Flow‘ – ASA material grades with a higher melt flow index rating (MVI) of 20 g/10min or higher (ISO 1133). Applications include automotive exterior covers and gardening equipment. Popular grades include ASACOM™ S5000 and ASACOM™ S9500-10.
- ‘High Heat Modified’ – ASA material grades with a Vicat Softening point B/50 of 106 degrees celsius or higher (ISO 306). Grades include: ASACOM™ S9333. Usually an alloy material, in our case, it is an ASA/PC/PMMA blend and is best suited to automotive exterior applications. In addition, this material type offers an outstanding balance of weatherable properties, including gloss and colour retention.
PC-COM™ Polycarbonate: Perfect for Automotive and Interior Lighting Housing Applications
• PC-COM™ (Polycarbonate) applications include lighting housings in either the automotive sector or general interior lighting systems.
PC-ABSCOM™ PC ABS Plastic: Enhancing Impact Resistance and Heat Tolerance in Automotive Interiors
•PC-ABSCOM™ PC ABS Plastic (PC/ABS) polymer applications cover scenarios where ABS’s impact resistance is insufficient or a higher softening point is needed. A good example would be automotive interior parts such as dashboards that need to withstand a high-impact crash or high heat during the painting process.
• FR PC-ABSCOM™ PC ABS Plastic (Flame Retardant PC/ABS) polymer applications include anything whereby having superior impact alone is not good enough. An example would be applications such as battery casings and parts in contact with electricals such as heated enclosers. Heated boiler taps, for example, require plastics to be flame retardant; popular flame retardant PC/ABS materials include PC-ABSCOM™ B1000 and Bayblend® FR3010 & CYCOLOY™ C2950.
• PC-ASACOM™ (PC/ASA) polymer applications: include autonomous outdoor hardware such as robots that require more impact resistance where PC/ABS cannot function correctly. PC/ABS material has a more robust impact capability but does not have the outdoor weathering ability, making it unsuitable.
• ABSCOM® FR1000 (FR/ABS) flame retardant polymer applications: Washing machines, boilers, and anything electrical. When polymer flame retardancy is a priority, using FR PC/ABS material may be unnecessary or excessive.
Semi Crystalline Polymer Examples
What are Semi-Crystalline Polymers? Semi-crystalline polymers are a type of compound with a highly ordered molecular structure. With a sharp melting point, semi-crystalline polymers remain solid until it absorbs a specific amount of heat. Then the polymer experiences a change becoming a low viscosity liquid. Reference: Star Plastics. (n.d.). Amorphous vs. semi-crystalline polymers. Retrieved August 29, 2024, from https://www.starplastics.com/amorphous-vs-semi-crystalline-polymers/
•Polypropylene (PP), one of today’s most common plastics, often serves as a glass alternative due to its higher breakage resistance. It’s also much lighter than glass, so it’s easier to transport. Applications include large-volume parts such as car bumpers, torque indicators on lorry wheels or parts that need manufacturing with a low budget in mind. Polypropylene materials are in 3D print applications due to their cost efficiencies.
• Polyamide (PA6, PA66) applications include structural parts such as car engine bay clips or seat belt holders.
• Polyester (PETP, PBT, PET) applications: automotive fastenings, windscreen wipers and other industrial applications.
Examples of thermoplastics in everyday life
Thermoplastics, including acrylic, polyester, polypropylene, polystyrene, nylon, and Teflon, offer both versatility and environmental friendliness. They soften when heated and harden upon cooling, allowing manufacturers to melt and reshape them repeatedly. Before moulding, companies store these plastics as pellets and use them in various products, such as clothing, non-stick cookware, carpets, and lab equipment. Furthermore, their recyclability promotes sustainability.
Common Plastic Materials for Injection Moulding
Manufacturers widely use injection moulding to produce plastic parts. They primarily use thermoplastics in this process, as these materials can be melted and reshaped multiple times without altering their fundamental properties.
Thermoplastics are divided into two main types: amorphous and semi-crystalline polymers, each offering unique characteristics and applications.
Many of the thermoplastics discussed in our article are suitable for injection moulding. The critical factor is selecting the most appropriate material for the application. For instance, while ABS might work, polypropylene could be a more cost-effective choice due to its lower price per kilo.
Frequently asked questions about Thermoplastics
- Why thermoplastics can be recycled? – You can recycle thermoplastics because their chemical structure allows them to soften when heated, enabling you to melt, reshape, and reuse them without changing their properties. Their ability to return to a mouldable state repeatedly makes them ideal for recycling. However, depending on the type of plastic, its quality may degrade after several processing cycles.
- Why do thermoplastics soften on heating? – Thermoplastics soften on heating because they consist of polymer chains held together by weak intermolecular forces. When heated, these forces weaken, allowing the chains to move freely, causing the material to soften and become mouldable.
- Who invented thermoplastics? – Alexander Parkes in 1856. In 1856, he patented Parkesine – the first thermoplastic – a celluloid based on nitrocellulose treated with a variety of solvents. This material, exhibited at the 1862 London International Exhibition, anticipated many of the modern aesthetic and utility uses of plastics. – Reference: Wikipedia. (2024). Alexander Parkes. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
- Thermoplastics where to buy? – You can easily buy our thermoplastics directly from us. Additionally, we offer a wide range of high-quality thermoplastics, perfect for various applications. Moreover, we provide expert advice to help you choose the best material for your needs. So, feel free to contact us for more information or to place an order.
- Thermoplastics what are they? – Thermoplastics are polymers that can be moulded when heated and solidify when cooled, allowing them to be reshaped multiple times.
How thermoplastics are made
The polymerisation of monomers creates thermoplastics through addition or condensation polymerisation methods.
Polyesters like PBT, PET, and polyamides use condensation polymerisation. Polyolefins such as polypropylene, polyethylene, and ABS polymers use addition polymerisation; ABS involves more complex polymerisation with the addition of emulsion.
You can find more information about our thermoplastics here; each product category contains information about different thermoplastic polymer types and their applications—also all the available processing conditions for each material.
To learn more about the types of thermoplastics we offer and how they can benefit your business, call us on +44 (0) 191 378 3737 today.
