thermoplastic (redirected from Thermosoftening)

thermoplastic

A polymer material that turns to liquid when heated and becomes solid when cooled. There are more than 40 types of thermoplastics, including acrylic, polypropylene, polycarbonate and polyethylene. Dating back to the mid-1800s, celluloid was the first thermoplastic, which remained popular until the mid-1900s. See thermoset.

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thermoplastic

1. (of a material, esp a synthetic plastic or resin) becoming soft when heated and rehardening on cooling without appreciable change of properties

2. a synthetic plastic or resin, such as polystyrene, with these properties

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thermoplastic [′thər·mə‚plas·tik]

(materials)

A polymeric material with a linear macromolecular structure that will repeatedly soften when heated and harden when cooled; for example, styrene, acrylics, polyethylenes, vinyls, nylons, and fluorocarbons. Also known as thermoplastic resin.