Difference between thermoplastic and thermosetting:
Thermoplastic
1. They soften on heating and harden on cooling, and they can be remoulded.
2. They consists of linear long çhain polymers and low molecular weights polymers.
3. All the polymer chains are held together by weak Vanderwaals forces.
4. They are weak, soft and less brittle.
5. They are formed by additon polymerisation
6. They are soluble in organic solvents.
7. Example: PVC, polythene, polystrene etc.
Thermosetting
1. They do not soften on heating and they cannot be remoulded.
2. The consist of three dimensional network structure and high molecular weight polymers.
3. All the polymer chains are linked by strong covalent.
4. They are strong, hard and more brittle.
5. They are formed by condensation polymerisation.
6. They are insoluble in organic solvents.
7. Example: Bakelite, melamine etc.
