thermosetting
Cures once only
Thermosetting describes plastics or resins that harden permanently when heated and cannot be remelted or reshaped.
Unlike thermoplastics, which soften when reheated, thermosetting materials form irreversible chemical bonds during curing: thermosetting epoxy, thermosetting adhesives.
Common in applications requiring heat resistance or structural rigidity.
Chemical bonds between polymers
- resinViscous plant secretion
- epoxyCatalyst-cured bonding compound
- phenolicOf hydroxybenzene compounds
- melamineNitrogen-rich plastic precursor
thermoset · hardener · catalyst · curing · anhydride · amine · bakelite · polyurethane
Cannot be undone
- rigidUnable to bend
- heat-resistantUnaffected by high temperatures
- chemical-resistantUnharmed by reactive substances
- infusibleResistant to melting
insoluble · hard · brittle · strong · durable · permanent · structural · load-bearing
Materials from merged components
- laminatesBonds material in layers
- adhesivesBonding substances
- coatingsApplied surface layers
- circuit boardsElectronic component substrates
electrical insulation · aerospace · automotive · fiberglass · carbon fiber · printed circuit boards · countertops · brake pads
Restoring health or preserving
- moldingDecorative architectural edging
- bakingCooking with dry heat
- hardeningBecoming less soft
- castingShaping through liquid form
laminating · injection molding · layup · autoclave · degassing · demolding · preheating · potting
crosslinking
Chemical bonds between polymers
melamine · thermoset · hardener · catalyst · curing · anhydride · amine · bakelite · polyurethane · polyester
irreversible
Cannot be undone
- rigidUnable to bend
- heat-resistantUnaffected by high temperatures
- chemical-resistantUnharmed by reactive substances
infusible · insoluble · hard · brittle · strong · durable · permanent · structural · load-bearing
composites
Materials from merged components
circuit boards · electrical insulation · aerospace · automotive · fiberglass · carbon fiber · printed circuit boards · countertops · brake pads
curing
Restoring health or preserving
casting · laminating · injection molding · layup · autoclave · degassing · demolding · preheating · potting · encapsulation
- thermo- wordsthermometer, thermos, thermocouple, thermophile, thermolysis
- construction chemicalsadmixtures, plasticizers, accelerators, retarders, sealants
- fiberglassfiberglass, glass fiber, glass fibers, glass wool, roving
- textile finishingfinishing, bleaching, dyeing, calendering, sizing
- plasticsplastics, plastic, polymers, polymer, polyethylene
- adhesivesglue, epoxy, tape, adhesive, Elmer's
thermosettingthermoplastic
Heat-softenable, repeatedly reshapable polymer
remoldable · meltable · reprocessable · reshapable · reformable
setting, thermal, thermostat, thermodynamics, polymerization, thermoplastic, thermo