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PDF - Institut national polytechnique de Toulouse

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• Recyclable – they un<strong>de</strong>rgo melt and solidify cycles<br />

• Easy to repair by welding, solvent bonding, etc.<br />

• Postformable<br />

Disadvantages of thermoplastics<br />

• Thermoplastics are prone to creep<br />

• They have poor melt flow characteristics<br />

Characteristics of thermoset polymers<br />

• Upon application of heat, liquid resin becomes rigid via vitrification process<br />

• End polymer is less temperature sensitive than thermoplastics<br />

• Crosslinked network structure (formed from chemical bonds) exists throughout part<br />

• Crosslinking provi<strong>de</strong>s thermal stability such that polymer will not melt or flow upon<br />

heating<br />

– Examples: epoxy, unsaturated polyesters, vinyl esters, phenol formal<strong>de</strong>hy<strong>de</strong>,<br />

bismaleimi<strong>de</strong>, urethane.<br />

Advantages and disadvantages of thermosets<br />

Advantages of thermosets<br />

• Low resin viscosity<br />

• Good fiber wet-out<br />

• Excellent thermal stability once polymerized<br />

• Chemically resistant<br />

• Creep resistant<br />

Disadvantages of thermosets<br />

• Brittle<br />

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