15.11 Define thermoplastics and thermosetting polymers with two examples of each.
Thermoplastic polymers are linear or slightly branched chained molecules. It can be repeatedly softened and hardened on heating. Thus they can be modified again and again. Examples- polyethene and polystyrene. These polymers have intermolecular forces of attraction intermediate between elastomers and fibres. Some examples of common thermoplastics are polyethene, polystyrene, polyvinyls, etc.
Thermosetting Plastics are cross-linked and heavily branched molecules, which get hardened during the moulding process. These polymers cannot be reused. For examples bakelite and urea-formaldehyde resin etc.