Page 31 - MATERIAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING PART 1

Polymeric Materials

Thermoplastic Thermoset

Cross-linking

atoms or

atom groups

Source: Jr., W. D. C. & Rethwisch, D. G. 2015

o Polymerization occurs when small molecules, represented by the

circles, combine to produce larger molecules or polymers. The

polymer molecules consist of many chains that are entangled but

not connected (thermoplastics) or can form three-dimensional

networks in which chains are cross-linked (thermosets).
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Politeknik Ibrahim Sultan