Leading Thermoplastic Manufacturers

Thermoplastics are any plastic polymer substance that becomes malleable or moldable at a specific elevated temperature and solidifies upon cooling. Thermoplastics encompass all plastic materials that soften and may return to a liquid state when heated but solidify and become rigid when cooled. Read More…

Thermoplastic Manufacturers Thermoplastics encompass all of those plastic materials that soften and may even return to a liquid state when heated but solidify and become rigid when cooled.

Our skilled teams of designers and engineers will work with you from design to delivery, prototype to production to ensure that we are bringing a custom designed product that will perfectly fill all of your requirements. Since 1975, we have been committed to providing our customers with top of the line products that will withstand the tests of time! Get in touch with our customer service...

Industrial Plastic Supply, Inc. $$$

At Allied Plastic Supply, we pride ourselves on being a leading provider of high-quality plastics, laser cutting, die cutting, and plastic fabrication solutions tailored to meet the diverse needs of our customers across various industries. We have established ourselves as a trusted partner for delivering top-notch plastic products and services. We offer an extensive range of plastic materials,...

Allied Plastic Supply $$$

At Porex Filtration Group, we are a global leader in porous plastics technology, dedicated to providing innovative solutions that enhance product performance and improve the lives of people around the world. With decades of experience and a relentless commitment to excellence, we have established ourselves as trusted partners in the plastics industry, offering a comprehensive range of products...

Porex Filtration Group $$$

All Plastics and Fiberglass performs fabrication for fiberglass and plastics. Among the standard products we produce are ducts, grating, structural shapes, pipe hangers and tanks. We do custom fabrication on tanks and pipe hangers. We also make prefabricated piping systems, handrails and more. We have built a reputation on high quality and superior service for more than two decades.

All Plastics and Fiberglass, Inc. $$$

At Plastic-Craft® Products, our business is plastics. We have an extensive inventory of plastic materials to suit your needs, and also maintain a complete machine shop to fabricate plastic parts to your specifications. Let us meet your plastics requirements. We have over 50 years of service behind us. We are always available to discuss the application of our service to your unique operation.

Plastic-Craft® Products, Inc. $$$

Atlas Fibre is a supplier of stock thermoset shapes in sheet, rod and tube in the following grades: G3, G5, G7, G9, G10, G11, FR4 and canvas, linen and paper phenolic. All materials are Mil-Spec and NEMA certified. We also have extensive CNC milling and turning capabilities; CNC sawing, sanding, and material fabrication for all thermoset materials. We can also machine and fabricate all types of...

Atlas Fibre Company $$$

CS Hyde has been providing high-end plastic materials since our founding in 1996, and has become a leading distributor and converter to a wide variety of markets. Materials we have available include Teflon Fluoroplastic, PTFE, Mylar®, Kevlar®, and more. We utilize the most high-tech converting equipment to provide superior products to our customers in a short time frame. It is our continuous...

CS Hyde Company $$$

Boedeker Plastics stocks the widest variety of engineering and industrial plastics in the industry. The people of Boedeker have the unique knowledge necessary to take customer service a step beyond others in the field providing in-house engineering assistance. Whether you need ten miles or ten inches, Boedeker Plastics has all of your plastic materials, sheets, rods, tubes and custom components.

Boedeker Plastics, Inc. $$$
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placeholder image Industrial Plastic Supply, Inc. Allied Plastic Supply Porex Filtration Group All Plastics and Fiberglass, Inc. Plastic-Craft® Products, Inc. Atlas Fibre Company CS Hyde Company Boedeker Plastics, Inc.

Thermoplastic

Thermoplastic Polymers Properties

Typically, polymers are chosen to replace metal in structural applications. However, a like-for-like substitution of a polymer component for a metallic section will often reduce weight.

Polymers can be easily molded into shapes where metals are challenging. The engineer can create a desirable shape that facilitates plastic forming, reduce cost and weight, and improve aesthetics by employing a polymer. Since the polymer portion does not need painting for corrosion protection, like the similar metal part, further cost savings is realized. The choice of a particular polymer will depend on the end-use environment's temperature, chemical composition, and mechanical needs.

Polymerization Process

The process of polymerization is used to connect monomers, or tiny molecules, to create long chains to create thermoplastics. Many thousands of monomers can be used to create a single polymer chain. While there are weak forces between chains, strong covalent bonds connect the atoms in polymer chains.

Side branches may be present in polymer chains depending on the kind of monomer. A polymer chain can form organized; crystalline areas known as spherulites only contain a few short side branches. On the other hand, the polymer is amorphous if the chain has numerous big side branches since this prevents the formation of organized regions.

Amorphous polymers include acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polystyrene (PS) (ABS). Since crystallites deflect light, amorphous polymers are employed in applications where optical clarity is essential. However, these amorphous polymers lack a crystalline structure and are less resilient to chemical assault and environmental stress cracking.

Before a thermoplastic polymer can be utilized, it is typically combined with additives to enhance its functionality, stability, or appearance. Additives may include stabilizers, plasticizers, lubricants, flame retardants, and colorants. Stabilizers are added, for instance, to lessen deterioration brought on by heat or sunlight. At the same time, plasticizers are used to make amorphous chain segments more mobile, lowering the glass transition temperature and reducing brittleness.

Amorphous and Semi-Crystalline

Types of Thermoplastics

The majority of thermoplastics are made from polymeric resins. These are extended chains of several smaller monomers joined by covalent bonds. Condensation polymers and addition polymers are the two primary categories of thermoplastics. Plastics that create covalent connections without losing atoms or molecules are classified as extra polymers. On the other hand, during bonding, condensation polymers consistently lose a molecule, typically water.

Based on their chemical makeup and how they form bonds, the materials within these classifications can be divided into monomers, intermediates, binders, base polymers, elastomers, and rubber materials. The unique characteristics of thermoplastics might further categorize them. To improve or change the properties of plastic material, thermoplastic makers can add additives like powders, fibers, plasticizers, and ceramics in addition to the polymerized ingredients. These are crucial in the manufacture and processing of thermoplastics.

Considerations When Purchasing Thermoplastics

Thermoplastics come in a wide range of densities and crystalline structures, and they all have unique features. Therefore, understanding a plastic's specifications concerning the finished product or application is crucial. The correct thermoplastic for a given application depends on various criteria, including additives, manufacturing, and raw material availability. Physical, mechanical, electrical, and optical characteristics, as well as melting point, size, and flexibility, are additional factors.

When considering any thermoplastic, one must specifically consider the following factors.

  • The resin viscosity needs to be low enough to penetrate the reinforcement.
  • The size of the molding: Because cure reactions are sometimes exothermic, thick moldings may require a slower rate of curvature to prevent an uncontrolled temperature rise during the curing process, which could be enough to harm the molding.
  • The speed of reaction plays a significant role in the volume of articles produced.
  • The resin needs to moisten and stick to the reinforcement to be compatible.
  • Moisture content: Some polymers do not perform as well as others in wet conditions. Ingress of moisture into a laminate might result in a serious loss of characteristics.
Thermoplastics Application

Choosing the Right Thermoplastics Supplier

To make sure you have the most beneficial outcome when purchasing thermoplastics from a thermoplastic supplier, it is important to compare at least 5 companies using our list of thermoplastic suppliers. Each thermoplastic supplier has a business profile page that highlights their areas of experience and capabilities and a contact form to directly communicate with the supplier for more information or request a quote. Review each thermoplastic company website using our patented website previewer to get an idea of what each company specializes in, and then use our simple RFQ form to contact multiple thermoplastic companies with the same form.

Thermoplastic Manufacturers Informational Video

 
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