Applications of Thermoplastic Polymers

Applications of Thermoplastic Polymers

Thermoplastic polymers come in a wide variety of forms, each with its own set of desirable qualities and practical uses.

• Polyethylene (PE) is a versatile thermoplastic polymer that has excellent chemical resistance and low weight. Plastic bags, film, and containers all make frequent use of this material.
• Polypropylene (PP): PP is a thermoplastic polymer that is both tough and rigid, and it has excellent heat and chemical resistance. Toys, appliances, and roofs are just some of the consumer goods and building materials that make use of them regularly.
• Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is a thermoplastic polymer with high strength, rigidity, and chemical and electrical resistance. It finds widespread use in buildings (pipes, gutters, flooring) and medicine (blood bags, intravenous tubing).
• Polystyrene (PS) is a good insulator since it is a thermoplastic polymer that is both lightweight and stiff. It is frequently found in toys, electronics, and consumer items of all kinds, as well as in packaging materials like foam and disposable flatware.
• Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) is a thermoplastic polymer that is both tough and rigid, and it also has excellent resistance to heat and chemicals. It has many uses in the textile industry, including the production of synthetic fibers and fabrics and the packaging of beverages and food.
• The thermoplastic polymer ABS, or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, is tough and rigid, with high resistance to both heat and impact. It finds widespread use in vehicle bumpers and consumer goods, including toys and electronic housing.
• Polycarbonate (PC) is a robust thermoplastic polymer with excellent heat and impact resistance and a high stiffness-to-weight ratio. Security glazing, among other high-strength applications, and consumer electronics housings and lenses are popular places to find this material in use.

Thermoplastic Polymer Benefits 

Thermoplastic polymers have several benefits:

• In contrast to “thermosettings,” these can be simply remelted and cast into a new form.
• These polymers are recyclable because they can be shaped indefinitely with little effort.
• The same high strength and low weight apply to these.
• Some of the most effective flame retardants are among these.
• These only need to be produced once and then molded for specific applications.

Thermoplastic Polymer Drawbacks

Thermoplastic polymers have the following drawbacks:

• These polymers are easily scratched and have poor resistance to ultraviolet light.
• It begins to embrittle at temperatures just below -20 degrees Celsius.
• The maximum allowable operating temperature for these polymers is only 90°C to 120°C.
• Paint doesn’t stick well to these polymers either.
• In the presence of strong oxidizing acids, they also rapidly swell in chlorinated solvents and aromatics.
• The interaction of such polymers with metals reduces their resistance to heat aging.
• Due to crystallinity effects, these polymers undergo considerable size variations during molding.

Thermoplastic Polymer Classification 

It is possible to further categorize thermoplastic polymers by:

• Thermoplastics that are amorphous
• Thermoplastics with Partial Crystallinity
• Thermoplastics that are amorphous

Most transparent plastics fall into this category. 

• Polycarbonate, acrylic, PETG, ABS, and polysulfone are all examples of such materials. 
• These plastics are advantageous because they can be easily thermoformed, they are malleable across a wide temperature range, and they adhere well to adhesives. 
• Amorphous thermoplastics have higher dimensional stability and impact resistance than semi-crystalline thermoplastics of the same grade. 
• The main disadvantages of amorphous polymers are their low fatigue resistance and their susceptibility to stress cracking. 

Thermoplastics with Partial Crystallinity 

The most common polymers of yesteryear fall within this category. 

• The polyethylene (LDPE, HDPE, and UHMW-PE), polypropylene (PP), nylon (PA), acetal (Acetal), and fluoropolymer families are all included. 
• These plastics are advantageous because they can be used effectively in bearing, wear, and structural applications. 
• Chemical resistance, electrical characteristics, and frictional resistance are all improved in semi-crystalline thermoplastics compared to their amorphous counterparts.
• Semi-crystalline plastics have moderate impact resistance, are difficult to bind, have a high melting point, and are difficult to thermoform.

Thermoplastic Polymers—What Makes Them Unique?

The thermoplastic polymers are assembled from monomers by Van Der Waals forces, which are weak electrical bonds that attract neutral molecules together. 

• The thermoplastic polymers take on the appearance of jumbled strands of pearls due to the arrangement of these molecules.
• Thermoplastic polymers are extremely recyclable since they can be used endlessly.
• These polymers are advantageous because of their high strength and resistance to shrinkage.
• Important Considerations
• Thermoplastic polymers can be reshaped indefinitely since they melt at low temperatures and harden back up when heated.
• The interaction of thermoplastics with metals reduces the materials’ heat resistance.
• Amorphous polymers and crystalline polymers are the two basic categories used to describe thermoplastics.
• Thermoplastics are not fireproof because they are pliable, soft, and influenced by certain solvents.
• They are essential in the manufacturing of sporting goods, vehicle components, shampoo and water bottles, and even some types of food storage containers.

Also learn about Thermoplastic Polymers: Properties, Uses and Examples

Video: Applications of Thermoplastic Polymers