Differentiate between thermoplastic and thermosetting polymers. Give one example of each.
Thermoplastics and thermosetting polymers are two separate classes of polymers, which are differentiated based on their behaviour in the presence of heat.
• The basic difference lies that between the two thermoplastics can be re-melted (its shape can be altered by heating it again and again), while thermoset polymers remain in a permanent solid state once hardened (shape cannot be altered by heating it).
So we get to know that thermoplastics are soft and weak and can be bent easily into shapes. So they are used in making toys.
• Thermosetting polymers cannot be bent easily as they are hard and strong. They are used in making handles of cooking utensils.
• Polyacrylonitrile(PAN) or Acrilan is a thermoplastic (which becomes soft when heated and hard when cooled and can be moulded into shapes) hard material having high melting point. It is prepared by polymerization of acrylonitrile. Its another commercial name is Orlon .
• Bakelite is a thermoplastic. As a result they are poor conductors of electricity and subsequently they are highly heat resistant. So they are used in switches to prevent us from getting electrical shocks.
• Novolac is prepared from phenol(C6H5OH) and formaldehyde(HCHO). It is thus known as phenol-formaldehyde resin commonly as Bakelite.
Couldn't generate an explanation.
Generated by AI. May contain inaccuracies — always verify with your textbook.
