Thermoplastics are a very common material with a huge range of different uses, but many people don’t know what they actually are. Whether you’re using them for hobbies and crafts or looking at changing your buying habits, understanding the basics of thermoplastics can be really important.

About Thermoplastics

Thermoplastics are a polymer resin-based plastic that can be softened by heating it, making it a very versatile material. These easy-to-use plastics are also very simple to recycle and can be reused over and over again by re-heating them into other shapes.

These thermoplastics are used in a wide variety of applications and products, from individual commercial toys to larger-scale construction work. Not only are they resistant to chemicals, but they can be surprisingly strong and versatile, working well in a massive range of applications.

What Are Thermoplastics For?

Thermoplastics have many different uses, both due to their flexibility and their durability. This often sees them being used in manufacturing as part of larger industrial components, as well as major pieces of equipment designed to handle volatile or corrosive chemicals.

On the other hand, they can easily be shaped into all kinds of more casual items, from electrical casinos to radios to the bodies of plastic toys. Thermoplastics have even been turned into powder coatings that can protect all kinds of metal surfaces, allowing them to resist chemical attacks extremely well.

What Makes Thermoplastics So Useful?

The many different uses of thermoplastics allow them to be used in a wide range of applications, all while minimizing costs and providing excellent protection against common sources of damage. Since they can be formed into almost any shape, there are very few roles that they can’t fill in some way.

However, there are also a few other major benefits that make them worth using, whether that’s in smaller-scale hobby projects or industrial production lines.

Cost

Thermoplastics are highly efficient and easy to get hold of. While they might be more expensive than some other materials initially, they can also be much cheaper in the long term, since failed products or damaged equipment can be recycled by heating the thermoplastics into a new, usable shape.

This cuts down on raw material costs and enables near-instant re-use of the salvaged thermoplastics, something that very few other materials can allow.

Versatility

The higher amount of versatility and flexibility offered by thermoplastics means that they can serve in nearly any role, both for sale or for more practical reasons. For example, they can be just as effective for a children’s toy as they can provide protection to workers on an assembly line.

Thanks to this, they are an incredibly effective alternative to a lot of other materials, and can also be re-used over and over again in different roles as needed.

Strength

Thanks to the Kydex appLab, thermoplastics can be a high-strength alternative to existing materials, boasting a longer lifespan and a higher level of protection. This helps create prototypes and custom solutions using Kydex products. The added durability, both in terms of chemical resistance and tensile strength, means that it can be an effective option in all industries.