Thermoplastics and Thermoplastic Materials

Thermoplastics and thermoplastic materials soften when heated and harden when cooled. They can withstand many heating and cooling cycles and are often suitable for recycling. Most thermoplastics consist of polymers, long chains of molecules that contain smaller, repeating units called monomers. Typically, monomers are held together by covalent bonds within or between polymer chains. Addition polymers are thermoplastic materials in which a rearrangement of bonds joins monomers together without the loss of atoms or molecules. Condensation polymers are formed by a reaction in which a molecule, usually water, is lost during bond formation. Some thermoplastic and thermoplastic materials contain filler materials such as powders or fibers to provide improved strength and/or stiffness. Fibers can be either chopped or wound, and commonly include glass, fiberglass, or cloth. Some products contain solid lubricant fillers such as graphite or molybdenum disulfide. Others contain aramid fibers, metal powders, or inorganic fillers with ceramics and silicates.  

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