How Thermoplastics and Thermosets Differ

Thermoplastic and thermoset plastics are both comprised of very large polymer chains. Both have similarly sounding names.  Each type of plastic, however, is very unique.  Here’s how thermoplastics and thermosets differ.

Cast vinyls are thermoplastics, which are very soft and conformable films, suitable for fleet graphics application over rivets and corrugations. Photo courtesy of Nazdar. 

The very large molecular chains of a thermoplastic are loosely entangled. In explaining what “entanglement” is, I like to compare the molecules of a thermoplastic to big plate of spaghetti. While the spaghetti noodles are somewhat tied together or entangled in one big mass, the individual noodles can still slip and slide over one another.  At cooler temperatures the bonding forces of the entanglement limit the flow of molecules and the thermoplastic is relatively rigid. But as temperatures increase, the molecules can move more readily. At these elevated temperatures, thermoplastics become soft and can re-formed or “thermoformed” into different shapes, such as sign faces. Or the thermoplastic can be melted and extruded into a sheet or film, such as our VinylEfx® decorative vinyl films. Examples of thermoplastics include PVC, polycarbonate, acrylic, PETG, polyethylene and polypropylene.

While the molecules of a thermoplastic are loosely held together through entanglement, the very large molecules of a thermoset plastic are chemically bonded together by “crosslinking” one molecule to another. These crosslinks are promoted by the inclusion of chemical additives before the plastic has been polymerized. As the thermoplastic is heated the crosslinks form.

These crosslinks lock all of the long molecular chains together into one permanent mass. Let me refer back to my spaghetti analogy. Think of a thermoset plastic as a plate of dried spaghetti noodles with no sauce. Once a thermoset plastic has been formed, the chemical reaction is permanent. A thermoset plastic cannot be softened. It cannot be melted. It cannot be recycled. Examples of thermosets are polyesters and epoxies.  

Polyesters are thermoset plastics, which are impervious to heat  and chemicals. Polyesters are  particularly well-suited for overlaminates for safety labels. 

The differences in the chemical structures of thermoplastics and thermosets yield different physical properties. By comparison thermoset films are much stronger and more chemically and heat resistant than thermoplastics. But thermoset plastic films, such as polyesters, are stiffer and more brittle than thermoplastics.

I am not suggesting that one film is inherently better than another. Each film has its own set of properties and each is best suited to specific applications. Vinyl films, for example, are usually a better choice for vehicle graphics than polyester. Vinyls are softer and more conformable, which makes them ideal for application over irregular surfaces, rivets and corrugations.

Vinyl films, however, are not suitable for many safety label applications. For applications to surfaces that become very hot, such as engine parts or furnaces, polyesters are a better choice because they withstand very high temperatures. Polyesters are also more chemically resistant. They are great when used as overlaminates for labels subjected to acids or caustics. 

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To contact Jim Hingst, write him at hingstjim@gmail.com or at Jim Hingst, PO Box 671, Chesterton, IN 46304 USA. For immediate assistance, call RTape at 1-800-440-1250 or 908-753-5570. RTape is a division of Nekoosa Coated Products. Jim Hingst is the author of Vinyl Sign Techniques,which is available at sign supply distributors and at Amazon. 

About Vinyl Sign Techniques

RTape Business Development Manager, Jim Hingst, is a recognized authority in the field of vinyl graphics application. In Vinyl Sign Techniques, Hingst provides a comprehensive guide to the vinyl graphics business. Built around his firsthand experiences working for major fleet graphics screen printers and pressure sensitive manufacturers, Hingst offers a perspective on the vinyl business that thoroughly covers sales and marketing, materials, fabrication, and installation and removal of vinyl products of all kinds. Vinyl Sign Techniques has something for everybody in the vinyl graphics business. Hingst’s book, provides ideas and techniques for graphics fabricators and installers along with advice for executives and salespeople that will result in higher sales and profits.

© 2013 Jim Hingst