Everyone is talking about thermoset: manufacturers in almost all sectors of industry around the world use this high-performance plastic. As experts in the production of thermoset components, we supply customers and partners around the globe.
We are familiar with plastic as a common material in everyday life; hardly any everyday object can do without polymers. What is commonly referred to casually as plastic is a highly developed material in modern industry, which is available in a wide variety of plastic types suitable for the most diverse applications and products.
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In some production areas, the question of thermoplastic or thermoset arises for financial reasons, for example. It is worth taking a close look at the properties and differences of each material, especially for new developments, before deciding whether to use thermosets or thermoplastics.
Basically, both plastics have things in common: All types of plastic consist mainly of macromolecules. Differences in the technical properties result from the selection of macromolecules, the addition of additives and fillers, and the manufacturing method of the plastic also affects its properties.
Let's take a closer look at the differences between the plastics.
Thermoplastics are lightweight, water-resistant and durable - which makes them very attractive in many areas of production.
Thermoplastic materials are used when high heat tolerance is not required. This is because this material melts or deforms quickly when exposed to high or extreme heat. This has an advantage for processing: thermoplastics can also be melted several times so that they can be liquefied again and injected into the desired shape. This is possible because the thermoplastics are physically melted by applying heat. In this way, the granules, which are solid on delivery, are transformed into a liquid, pasty aggregate state and can be processed as required.
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Thermosets are first and foremost very durable and resistant. The materials, also known as thermosets, form a very stable shape with spatially cross-linked polymers after curing. This makes thermosets extremely stable and heat-resistant. They also prove to be geometrically stable and robust during continuous operation in common oils and fluids. Even at a continuous operating temperature of almost 200°C and continuous mechanical operating stress, the functionality of a thermoset component is maintained.
The thermoset plastic is particularly impressive due to its high heat and media tolerance. The melting point of thermoset is high and the material solidifies as soon as it is heated above the cross-linking temperature.
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What distinguishes thermosets, also in direct comparison with thermoplastics, is the irreversible 3D cross-linking of the molecules. This is the reason for the specific properties of thermoset plastics: Virtually no creep under mechanical stress, i.e. pressure, the excellent temperature and media resistance and the possibility of direct screwing are the most important factors that this cross-linking brings to the table.
The price-performance ratio also speaks in favor of thermosetting plastic: the same performance spectrum as thermosetting plastic can only be achieved with thermoplastics at a significantly higher cost. However, even then you cannot always compensate for the decisive difference in chemical structure.
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Thermoset with its heat resistance is indispensable, especially in the electronics sector, where constant further development and growth require a material that can be used in a variety of ways. Thermosets are extremely robust and resistant, both chemically and mechanically, even at high temperatures. This is where thermoplastics quickly reach their limits in comparison.
Duroplast can be shaped extremely precisely and is also easy to machine afterwards. This allows us to adapt each individual component to the respective requirements where necessary.
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Elastomer is also a plastic that has its justification and application in most industrial sectors. This material is soft and can therefore be shaped elastically. An elastomer product can be bent and deformed even at room temperature. Elastomers also return to their original shape: this elasticity is known from baking tins or storage jar lids, for example, which often contain this flexible material.
Elastomers decompose at high temperatures because the heat destroys the chemical bond between the polymer chains that make up elastomers. This is also the reason why elastomers, like thermosets, cannot be welded, unlike thermoplastics.
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In our production, we have specialized in the manufacture of moulded parts made of thermoset - for a number of good reasons. Let's take a look at the characteristics of thermoplastics and thermosets in direct comparison.
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Our Baumgarten family business looks back on more than 60 years of experience. Here at the Burbach site in the Siegerland industrial region, we have always lived a working environment full of respect, fairness and openness towards our customers and our team.
We support our partners and customers with robust, thermoset component solutions in exactly the form they need.
Our Range of services ranges from thermoset-compatible design and the production of prototypes to the manufacture of large series of innovative complete solutions in component production.
You can rely on our expertise, flexibility and reliability at all times.
Feel free to contact us, ask us questions, share your ideas with us. We also have the right solution for your production.
Duroplast from Baumgarten: Our expertise is your advantage!
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