Thermosets are very different than the standard thermoplastics that you may be used to. Thermoset materials undergo a permanent chemical reaction during the molding process called curing. The material is said to be cured when a sufficient amount of the material, usually 98%, has cross linked.
What is cross linking? Cross linking is what makes thermosets special. Thermoplastics can be remolded and made into other products. Thermosets, once cured, can not be transformed into another shape, their chemistry has been permanently altered. Cross linking in thermosets occurs with temperature.
What are the advantages of thermosets?
Thermosets have many advantages:
- Won’t creep over time.
- Electrical & thermal insulation properties
- Dimensionally stable at high temperatures
- Corrosion resistant
- High impact strength
- Excellent strength to weight ratio
- Excellent fire performance
- Cost competitive against metals & engineering thermoplastics
- Reliability
- Can achieve tight tolerances
- No absorption of water
- Withstands environmental extremes
- Anti-stain / FDA applications
How do thermosets compare to metals?
Thermosets have these advantages over metal:
- Allows for consolidation of multiple parts
- Molded-in tolerances often eliminate machining operations
- Molded in color & surface finish of choice can be achieved
- Corrosion & water resistant
- High strength to weight performance
- Outstanding dielectric strength & track resistance
- Low thermal conductivity & microwave transparency
- Good dent resistance
- Lower tooling costs
How do thermosets compare to thermoplastics?
Thermosets have these advantages over thermoplastics:
- Dimensional accuracy & stability
- Excellent property retention over a broad range of temperatures
- Design flexibility in molding thick to thin sections
- Non-melting, flame retardant, & low smoke density
- Solvent resistant, even in hostile environments
- Low material cost per cubic inch
- Highly suitable for exterior uses
- Compression molds cheaper vs. injection molds
- Creep resistant
