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Thermosetting polymer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Thermosetting polymer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A thermosetting resin, also known as a thermoset, is petrochemical material that irreversibly cures. The cure
may be induced by heat, generally above 200 C (392 F), through a chemical reaction, or suitable irradiation.
Thermoset materials are usually liquid or malleable prior to curing and designed to be molded into their final form,
or used as adhesives. Others are solids like that of the molding compound used in semiconductors and integrated
circuits (IC). Once hardened a thermoset resin cannot be reheated and melted to be shaped differently.
Thermosetting resin may be contrasted with thermoplastic polymers which are commonly produced in pellets and
shaped into their final product form by melting and pressing or injection molding.

Contents
1 Definition
2 Process
3 Properties
4 Examples
5 See also
6 References

Definition
IUPAC defines a thermosetting resin as a petrochemical in a soft solid or viscous state that changes irreversibly into
an infusible, insoluble polymer network by curing. Curing can be induced by the action of heat or suitable radiation,
or both. A cured thermosetting resin is called a thermoset.[1]

Process
The curing process transforms the resin into a plastic or rubber by a cross-linking process. Energy and/or catalysts
are added that cause the molecular chains to react at chemically active sites (unsaturated or epoxy sites, for
example), linking into a rigid, 3-D structure. The cross-linking process forms a molecule with a larger molecular
weight, resulting in a material with a higher melting point. During the reaction, the molecular weight has increased to
a point so that the melting point is higher than the surrounding ambient temperature, the material forms into a solid
material.
Uncontrolled reheating of the material results in reaching the decomposition temperature before the melting point is
obtained. Therefore, a thermoset material cannot be melted and re-shaped after it is cured. This implies that
thermosets cannot be recycled, except as filler material.[2]

Properties
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Thermosetting polymer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Thermoset materials are generally stronger than thermoplastic materials due to this three dimensional network of
bonds (cross-linking), and are also better suited to high-temperature applications up to the decomposition
temperature. However, they are more brittle. Since their shape is permanent, they tend not to be recyclable as a
source for newly made plastic.

Examples
Polyester fibreglass systems: sheet molding compounds and bulk molding compounds
Polyurethanes: insulating foams, mattresses, coatings, adhesives, car parts, print rollers, shoe soles, flooring,
synthetic fibers, etc. Polyurethane polymers are formed by combining two bi- or higher functional
monomers/oligomers.
Vulcanized rubber
Bakelite, a phenol-formaldehyde resin used in electrical insulators and plasticware
Duroplast, light but strong material, similar to bakelite used for making car parts
Urea-formaldehyde foam used in plywood, particleboard and medium-density fiberboard
Melamine resin used on worktop surfaces[3]
Epoxy resin used as the matrix component in many fiber reinforced plastics such as glass-reinforced plastic
and graphite-reinforced plastic)
Polyimides used in printed circuit boards and in body parts of modern aircraft
Cyanate esters or polycyanurates for electronics applications with need for dielectric properties and high
glass temperature requirements in composites
Mold or mold runners (the black plastic part in integrated circuits or semiconductors)
Polyester resins
Some methods of molding thermosets are:
Reactive injection molding (used for objects such as milk bottle crates)
Extrusion molding (used for making pipes, threads of fabric and insulation for electrical cables)
Compression molding (used to shape most thermosetting plastics)
Spin casting (used for producing fishing lures and jigs, gaming miniatures, figurines, emblems as well as
production and replacement parts)

See also
Vulcanization
Fusion bonded epoxy coating

References
1. ^ http://old.iupac.org/goldbook/TT07168.pdf
2. ^ The Open University (UK), 2000. T838 Design and Manufacture with Polymers: Introduction to Polymers, page
9. Milton Keynes: The Open University
3. ^ Roberto C. Dante, Diego A. Santamara and Jess Martn Gil (2009). "Crosslinking and thermal stability of
thermosets based on novolak and melamine". Journal of Applied Polymer Science 114 (6): 40594065.
doi:10.1002/app.31114 (http://dx.doi.org/10.1002%2Fapp.31114).
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Thermosetting polymer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Categories: Polymer chemistry Thermosetting plastics
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