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Properties of a Thermoplastic
By Stan Aberdeen, eHow Contributor
Thermoplastics are defined as polymers that can be melted and recast for different use almost indefinitely. On a molecular scale, polymer chains are held together by weak noncovalent bonds. The chains themselves affect large-scale physical properties due to variety of number and weight-based averages in a sample. Thermoplastic stress-strain curves possess a distinctive "dip" corresponding to physical necking in response to a certain stress range. Common thermoplastics include acrylic (PMMA) and polyphenylene sulfide (PPS).
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Physical Properties
At cold temperature, thermoplastics are brittle (glassy). Upon heating, thermoplastics become soft and malleable, especially in the vicinity of their particular glass transition temperature. Further heating gradually transforms a thermoplastic mold into a viscous liquid. At that point, the plastic can be molded into a new shape for reuse. Thermoplastics are therefore easily recycled.
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Thermoplastics Explained
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(single monomer), block or alternating patterns of several monomers. Chains can also possess different monomers throughout their lengths in a statistical/semi-random distribution.
Stress-Strain Curve
Thermoplastics have a distinctive stress-strain curve. A smooth upward curve peaks and then goes down to some extent. This "dip" correlates to necking (narrowing). Necking mechanics in thermoplastics are such that in a limited domain, increased applied stress actually decreases material strain. As further stress is applied, material strain again increases--upward rise in the curve--until stress sufficient to break or "snap" the sample is achieved.
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Types of Thermoplastics
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References
Seth Bates, A. Lopez. San Jose State University. "Introduction to Polymers" Dr. M Medraj, Concordia University. "Polymers Outline" David Roylance, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. "Stress-Strain Curves"
Resources
Read this Article in Spanish Read this Article in UK English DynaLab Corporation. "Plastic Properties of Acrylic" Curbell Plastics. "Polyphenylylene sulfide (PPS) Properties" JEC Composites. "Carbon Reinforced PPS Composite Tape"
Photo Credit "Wellcome Trust window" is Copyrighted by Flickr user: Matt From London (Matt Brown) under the Creative Commons Attribution license.
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