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Materials and Their Properties
Quick questions on Plastics, thermoplastics and thermosets, explained: O-Level Design and Technology
2short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What are thermoplastics?Show answer
Thermoplastics soften when heated and harden when cooled, and this can be repeated many times. Because they can be re-melted and reshaped, they are easy to form (by moulding, vacuum forming and extrusion) and can be recycled. Common examples:
What are thermosetting plastics?Show answer
Thermosetting plastics (thermosets) undergo a permanent chemical change when first heated and cured, setting hard. They cannot be re-melted or reshaped by heating, so they resist heat well but are difficult to recycle. Common examples:
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