Thermoplastic
Thermoplastics are polymers that soften when heated and harden when cooled, enabling repeated heating and reshaping. Unlike thermosetting polymers, they do not form permanent crosslinks during curing, so they can be reheated without significant chemical change. They include a broad range of materials from inexpensive packaging to engineered plastics.
They can be amorphous or semi-crystalline, and they soften at a defined temperature. Amorphous plastics are
Processing methods include extrusion, injection molding, blow molding, thermoforming, and 3D printing. They are generally recyclable
Applications span packaging, electronics housings, automotive components, medical devices, and consumer goods, reflecting the broad tunability