Much has been made of the negative effects of plastics on the environment in recent years, and with good reason. What many people don’t know is that there are different types of plastics, some of which are more environmentally friendly than others. Thermoplastics are one of the main two types of plastic – the other is Thermosets.
Thermoplastic Resins
A thermoplastic is a class of polymer that can be softened through heating and then processed using methods such as extrusion, injection molding, thermoforming and blow molding.
Thermoplastics harden once cooled and do not show any changes in chemical property after being heated and cooled multiple times, making them easily recyclable.
Thermoplastic resins are substances that soften at high temperatures and then solidify once again at low temperatures.
These characteristics allow thermoplastic materials to be molded into a wide range of forms and structures, making plastic resins useful across numerous sectors.
What are Thermoplastic Polymers?
Thermoplastic polymers are materials made up of linear molecular chains. These polymer chains can be melted and reformed. This makes them ideal for applications where they need to be molded or shaped, such as injection molding. Thermoplastics are also easier to recycle than other types of plastic, making them better for the environment. Thermoplastic polymers are a suitable substitute material used in a wide range of products, from secondary packaging to car parts.
The curing process for thermoplastics involves the pellets softening and becoming more fluid as additional heat is applied and the high heat distortion temperature increases. The curing process is completely reversible, as no chemical bonding takes place. This characteristic allows thermoplastics to be recycled without affecting the materials’ physical properties, due to their chemical resistance.
What types of Thermoplastics are there?
There are two main structures of thermoplastic polymers: Crystalline and Amorphous.
Crystalline Structure
This type of thermoplastic has a definite and repeating 3D pattern or shape. The best examples of crystalline thermoplastics are polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP).
Amorphous Structure
Amorphous thermoplastics have no definite 3D shape or pattern. The best examples of amorphous thermoplastics are polystyrene (PS) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
What are the most popular types of Thermoplastics?
The most popular types of thermoplastic polymers are:
-Polyethylene (PE)
-Polypropylene (PP)
-Polystyrene (PS)
-Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
What is the process behind Thermoplastics?
A thermoplastic is any plastic material with a low melting point that softens when heated, solidifies when cooled, and can be re-melted or molded after cooling. The molten plastic is then injected into a mold where it cools and solidifies, a process also known as injection molding. This process can be repeated multiple times, making thermoplastics ideal for applications where large quantities of the same item need to be produced, such as in mass production.
Structured polymer composites gave rise to thermoplastic composites. These materials feature a thermoplastic matrix, which prevents chemical instability. Thermoplastic composites soften and can be remolded without degrading when heated. They harden into the final shape when they cool.
What is the purpose of Thermoplastic materials?
Thermoplastic materials are used in a variety of applications, both industrial and consumer. Common examples include:
-Secondary packaging, such as crates
-Car parts, such as dashboards and bumpers
-Appliances, such as washing machine tubs
-Furniture, such as chairs and tables
Thermoplastics are also used in 3D printing. In this process, the thermoplastic filament is extruded from a nozzle and deposited layer by layer to create a three-dimensional object.
Why are Thermoplastics important?
Thermoplastics are important because they can be recycled repeatedly without losing quality. This makes them much more sustainable than other types of plastics, which can only be recycled a few times before they need to be disposed of. Thermoplastics are also generally less harmful to the environment.
What are the benefits of Thermoplastics?
Sustainability
Thermoplastics offer several benefits over other materials, both in terms of their environmental friendliness and their practicality. Some of the main benefits of thermoplastics include:
-They can be reused numerous times
-They’re less harmful to the environment
-They’re easy to mold and shape
-They’re lightweight and strong
-They are low cost
Chemical resistance
Thermoplastics are largely resistant to chemical attack, which makes them suitable for many process applications as well as working as a good electrical insulator. This can be beneficial for the chemical industry too.
Corrosive Environments
Thermoplastics handle corrosive materials and corrosive environments well, meaning that they provide corrosion protection.
Processing Temperature
Thermoplastic materials have exceptional thermal stability and good dimensional stability, they are suitable for practically every form of fluid transport application since they can convey materials at extreme temperatures (hot or cold).
Switch to Thermoplastics with UBQ
Sustainable living is all about reducing our impact on the environment. One of the best ways to do that is to choose products that are made from sustainable materials, like thermoplastics.
UBQ™ is a novel and already available thermoplastic material on the market, made from unsorted household waste, including all organics and unrecyclable plastics. With UBQ™, manufacturers are finally able to create products that positively impact our world without compromising on profitability.
UBQ™ serves as a powerful material swap for the manufacturing industry. Integrating UBQ™ into industrial thermoplastic resins enables manufacturers to reduce the carbon footprint of final products.
By diverting landfill-destined waste, UBQ™ prevents the emission of methane, groundwater leaching and other corrosive environments. Every ton of UBQ™ produced prevents up to 11.7 tons of CO2eq; life cycle assessment auditors ‘Quantis’ have designated UBQ™ as “The Most Climate Positive Thermoplastic Material on the Market”.
