Overview
In contrast to crosslinking thermosets, whose cure reaction cannot be reversed, thermoplastics harden when cooled but retain their plasticity; that is, they will remelt and can be reshaped by reheating them above their processing temperature. Less-expensive thermoplastic matrices offer lower processing temperatures but also have limited use temperatures. They draw from the menu of both engineered and commodity plastics, such as polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polycarbonate (PC), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyamide (PA or nylon) and polypropylene (PP). High-volume commercial products, such as athletic footwear, orthotics and medical prostheses, benefit from the toughness and moisture resistance of these resins, as do automotive air intake manifolds and other underhood parts.
Thermoplastic composites: Primary structure?
Yes, advanced forms are in development, but has the technology progressed enough to make the business case?
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GM and partners engineer composites for this complex assembly with an accent on repeatability.
Deep draw: Unique laminate architecture enables bus part 2/1/2013 Composites TechnologyFor a major mass-transit manufacturer, Amtech LLC (Wapato, Wash.) successfully thermoforms a luggage cover with a remarkably deep draw of 40 inches (1,016 mm), using a laminate architecture that includes a top layer of 0.180-inch/4.5-mm gauge Grade 4800 thermoplastic sheet, supplied by Boltaron (Newcomerstown, Ohio).
TenCate's acquisition of Amber Composites a sensible surprise 1/18/2013 Composites TechnologyTenCate, known for years as a thermoplastics specialist, is signaling more and more that it wants to move into new markets with new materials.
Industrial corrosion control: Huge opportunities 10/1/2012 Composites TechnologyFiber-reinforced plastic is the ideal but still widely ignored option in environments that eat away at most metal alloys. Opportunities abound, but the key is still education.
Taking the gamble: Betting on material markets 10/1/2012 Composites TechnologyPolystrand builds a new plant to produce market-leading quantities of thermoplastic composite material.
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