Thermoplastics are materials which soften when heated and can then be formed whilst soft. After cooling they becoming rigid take up the applied form. The softening and forming processes are reversible. Thermoplastics are probably the most widely used type of polymer. The group includes most of the “commodity” plastics such as polyethylene, PVC, polypropylene, nylons (polyamides) and polystyrene. Not all thermoplastics can be processed by all the methods. This table is a guide to what thermoplastics can be processed by each method.
Thermosetting materials are materials that are formed whilst warm or hot but once formed they set in the formed shape. Cooling and reheating do not make thermosetting materials go soft again. The forming process is not reversible. Thermosetting materials were the first type of polymer to be produced e.g. bakelite, but are still widely used for many applications. Typical thermosetting materials are phenol formaldehyde resins, urea formaldehyde resins, epoxy resins and most rubbers.
References:
Globalspec: https://www.globalspec.com/reference/47050/203279/chapter-5-thermoplastic-processing
Polymer academy: https://polymeracademy.com/plastic-processing-techniques/
Temperature it is a bottleneck for all power electronics in general, that’s a fact. We need safer, more efficient, and reliable electronics but as we are taking power density values to the limits, thermal performance becomes a tricky topic. Not only because thermal compounds have to fit all these technical requirements ( …
The competition for vehicle charging is not only played in the field of power (more power, less time) but also in the format… Cable vs Wireless, where each technology uses its own weapons and faces its disadvantages to position itself as the leading technology. If we talk about the charging method par …
INTERVIEW WITH XAVIER MIRABET – Keys to enter the automotive and power electronics industry 2022 will be remembered as a key year in all industries. After the pandemic, digitalization in all aspects of life has pushed us to create innovative solutions, which have helped us to adapt, both in terms of operation, …
CoolMag™ Sample
Request a sample to test CoolMag's thermal compound and prove how well it protects your power electronic components from overheating.
Get in touch with us
Request more info