Exploring Major Types of Plastics and Their Properties
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Exploring Major Types of Plastics and Their Properties

Plastic materials are indispensable raw materials in modern manufacturing. Based on their chemical structures and processing characteristics, plastics are mainly classified into two categories: thermoplastics and thermosets. Understanding the properties of these two types aids in material selection and product design, thereby enhancing manufacturing efficiency and product performance.
Published: Aug 12, 2025
Exploring Major Types of Plastics and Their Properties
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Thermoplastics

Thermoplastics soften when heated and harden upon cooling; this process can be repeated multiple times, facilitating recycling. They generally exhibit good toughness and moldability, with mature processing technologies.

Common types and applications：
  • Polyethylene (PE):Widely used in packaging films, plastic bags, and pipes; offers good chemical stability and electrical insulation.
  • Polypropylene (PP): Excellent heat resistance; applied in automotive parts, household appliance housings, and medical devices.
  • Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC):Chemically resistant; used in construction pipes, wire sheathing, and flooring materials.
  • Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS):High strength and impact resistance; commonly employed in electronic product casings.
  • Polycarbonate (PC):High transparency and impact resistance; suitable for optical lenses and safety equipment.
  • Nylon (PA):Superior mechanical strength; used for gears, bearings, and textiles.
  • Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA):Transparent with good weather resistance; widely applied in lampshades and advertising boards.
Key advantages：
  • Easy to process with injection molding, extrusion, blow molding, etc.
  • Recyclable, meeting modern environmental requirements.
  • Diverse properties to meet different industry needs.

Types of Eco-Friendly Plastics

Thermosetting plastics form three-dimensional network structures after heat curing, and cannot be remelted or reshaped. They exhibit stable performance and high heat resistance after processing.

Common types and applications：
  • Epoxy Resin:Excellent adhesion and electrical insulation; widely used in electronic encapsulation and composites.
  • Phenolic Resin: High heat resistance and mechanical strength; applied in electrical insulation and automotive parts.
  • Unsaturated Polyester Resin (UPR): Commonly used in glass fiber reinforced plastics (FRP) for boats and automotive bodies.
  • Silicone Resin:High heat and weather resistance; used in sealants and electronic component protection.

Key advantages：

  • Strong heat and chemical resistance, suitable for high-temperature and harsh environments.
  • Excellent mechanical properties and structural stability after curing.
  • Difficult to recycle; typically used in high-performance industrial applications.

Composite Plastics

Composite plastics combine plastic matrices with reinforcing materials (e.g., glass fiber, carbon fiber), offering lightweight yet high-strength properties. They are widely used in automotive, aerospace, and sports equipment sectors.

Characteristics:
  • Significantly improved mechanical properties and heat resistance.
  • Customizable fiber ratios and orientations for tailored performance.

Functional Plastics

Functional plastics possess special properties such as conductivity, flame retardancy, and UV resistance to meet specific application needs.

Examples:
  • Conductive plastics for electronic connectors and anti-static packaging.
  • Flame-retardant plastics for electronic and electrical housings, enhancing safety.
  • UV-resistant plastics for outdoor building materials to prevent degradation.

Conclusion

Thermoplastics and thermosets each have distinct characteristics and broad applicability. Thermoplastics, with their re-meltable and recyclable nature, dominate mass production materials; thermosets excel in heat resistance and mechanical performance, widely used in high-performance industrial parts and composites. Manufacturers should flexibly combine the advantages of both based on product functions and processing methods to achieve cost efficiency and quality improvement.

Published by Aug 12, 2025 Source：Multiplas

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