Plastic: Thermosets
In some respects thermosets are the opposites of thermoplastics: When heated they aren’t getting soft or even melting, but decompose, since their melting temperature is above the decomposition temperature.
Furthermore, if forced, they don’t deform, but rather break. Overall they are much harder and more brittle than thermoplastics. If you want to process them, you have to do that machanically – as e.g. with wood by sawing, filing or rasping (in practice, however, PVC items are produced in the desired form right away and don’t need mechanical treatment).
Important thermosets are:
| Polyester (PES) | Formaldehyde resins |
| Epoxy resins | Polyurethanes |
Please note:
The following materials are always available: steel sheets, stainless steels and non-ferrous metal, like brass, copper, nickel silver (white silver) and aluminium.