What are Thermoplastics?
A thermoplastic is a substance, generally, a plastic polymer, which becomes softer when heated and rigid when cooled. Thermoplastic materials can be cooled and heated numerous times without any change in their chemical or mechanical characteristics. Thermoplastics dissolve into liquid when heated to their melting point. Unlike most plastics, thermoplastics are polymers that may be recycled.
What are the Thermoplastic characteristics?
As you select a thermoplastic material grade, here are some of the most important characteristics to keep in mind:
Crystallinity
A material’s crystallinity, which can range from amorphous to crystalline, indicates the polymer’s state at processing temperatures. No stratification occurs in amorphous polymers, and they remain in this state even when exposed to air and light. Plastic molecules in crystalline polymers are arranged in a specific way, allowing them to fit closer together.
Viscosity
The ability of a substance to flow when subjected to a pressure gradient is referred to as viscosity. The relationship between polymer viscosity and temperature and shear rate is well-known. Vessel flow is facilitated by a decrease in viscosity when temperatures and shear rates of the polymer are increased.
Shrinkage
In the process of cooling down, the volumetric shrinkage of plastics causes a significant change in their dimensions. Temperature concentrations, crystallinity, and cool orientation play a major role in determining shrinkage rates.
Characteristics of light
Stress birefringence, where the speed of light through a piece of transparent plastic is affected by the polarisation of the light, can occur in plastic under stress. There may be double images and polarised light being transmitted in the presence of birefringence. Stress birefringence is more common in some materials than others.
What is the difference between Plastics and Thermoplastics?
The characteristics and uses of thermoset and thermoplastic polymers are vastly different. Understanding the variations in performance might aid you in making better sourcing options and improving your product ideas.
The key physical distinction is that thermoplastics may be remelted back into a liquid, but plastics always stay in a permanent solid form. Think of thermoplastics like butter – butter can be melted and chilled several times to produce different forms. Plastics are comparable to bread in that once the final condition is attained, any extra heat would lead to charring.
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Looking for a specific sheet or polymer? View Our Catalog
| Plastics | Thermoplastics | |
| Curing Process | Plastics comprise polymers that cross-link together during the curing process to produce an irreversible chemical connection. The cross-linking technique avoids the possibility of the product remelting when heat is applied, making thermosets appropriate for high-heat applications such as electronics and appliances. | Thermoplastic pellets soften when heated and become more fluid when further heat is applied. The curing process is fully reversible since no chemical bonding takes occurred. This property permits thermoplastics to be remolded and recycled without significantly altering the material’s physical qualities. |
| Features & Benefits | Plastics greatly increase the material’s mechanical qualities, giving improved chemical resistance, heat resistance, and structural integrity. Thermoset polymers are typically utilized for sealed items owing to their resistance to deformation. | There are many thermoplastic resins that provide varying performance advantages, but most materials usually offer high strength, shrink-resistance, and easy bendability. Depending on the resin, thermoplastics may serve low-stress applications such as plastic bags or high-stress mechanical components. |
| Pros | • More resistant to high temperatures than thermoplastics • Highly flexible design • Thick to thin wall capabilities • Excellent aesthetic appearance \sHigh levels of dimensional stability • Cost-effective | • Highly recyclable • Aesthetically-superior finishes • High-impact resistance • Remolding/reshaping skills • Chemical resistance • Hard crystalline or rubbery surface possibilities • Eco-friendly manufacturing |
| Cons | • Cannot be recycled • More difficult to surface finish • Cannot be remolded or reshaped | • Highly recyclable • Aesthetically-superior finishes • High-impact resistance |
What Are Different AKMY Thermoplastic Products?
Polystyrene Plain/ Color Sheets (GPPS)
AKMY Extruded GPPS Sheets have a crystal clear compact appearance, are stronger than glass, and exhibit superior transparency, allowing easy fabrication and installation. Our GPPS sheets are lighter than glass and transmit light at a rate of up to 90%. Extruded PS sheets are economical, easy to cut to the desired shape and size, and processed by a CNC / Router according to the design requirements.
Cast Acrylic Sheets (CA)
Our Cast Acrylic sheets, A-PLUS, come with exceptional optical clarity & transparency and are extremely resistant to fluctuations in temperature up to 17 times the impact resistance of regular glass. A-PLUS Cast Acrylic sheets offer extremely strong thermal stability and significantly more scratch resistance than Extruded acrylic, together with a superior surface gloss and larger thermoforming range than other plastic sheets.
Polycarbonate Solid/ Compact Sheets (PC)
AKMY Polycarbonate Sheet is one of the best and most appropriate materials extensively used for roofing, glazing, and industrial applications. Our PC sheets come with crystal clear transparency, outstanding impact strength, low scratch resistance and are 200 times stronger and lighter than glass, which can be readily thermoformed or bent in any shape and size.
AKMY PC Corrugated/ Profile Sheets
AKMY PC Corrugated / Profile Sheets are constructed from own developed superior quality polycarbonate solid and embossed sheets, made from 100 percent virgin higher grade material, by the method of cold bending/punching advance machinery with micro accuracy in corrugation diagram of needed profile. We can profile sheet thickness from 1 mm to 3 mm and width as per the specified corrugation diagram and length to a maximum of 6100 mm.
What We Make?- Recyclable and Long-lasting
Our thermoplastic products are versatile, high-quality, and durable thermoplastic materials. They are not single-use plastics. We’re maintaining complete compliance with all environmental standards, and overall recycling rates for our locations range from 50 percent – 80 percent. Of the past 20 years, we have cut water use and air emissions company-wide, with some with advanced automotive Extrusion Technology sites reaching reductions over 75 percent. We continue to minimize our production activities’ energy intensity through energy-efficient lighting, motors, and novel, optimized manufacturing techniques. Renewable energy is part of the energy utilized at several of our sites–we continue to explore additional energy diversity.
Why Choose Us?
Choose AKMY Polyplast, a plastic compounder with over three decades of experience with thermoplastic needs if you want quality-rich thermoplastic sheets. We are surpassing most of the eminent manufacturers of Polymer Products, including Polystyrene sheets (GPPS), Polycarbonate sheets (PC), and Extruded Acrylic sheets (PMMA).
We are dominant manufacturers of Pre-Engineered Buildings (PEB) with advanced automotive Extrusion Technology, extensively used in sectors like commerce, residence, and industries. The world-class technology, along with a highly proficient workforce, provides us the best platform required to cater prompt services to our esteemed customers.