Thermosetting plastics do not melt when heated. They tend to char and burn when heated, but they are resistant to much higher temperatures than thermosoftening plastics. They are used to make electrical plugs, which must not melt, even if there is a malfunction and the wiring inside gets hot.

What happens when you heat a thermosetting polymer?

Thermoset polymers do not soften when heated because the molecules are cross-linked together and remain rigid. The chemical bonding formed within a polymer, and the shape of the resulting polymer, affect its properties.

What happens when thermoplastic is heated?

Thermoplastic pellets soften when heated and become more fluid as more heat is administered. The curing process is 100% reversible as no chemical bonding takes place. ... Depending on the resin, thermoplastics can serve low-stress applications such as plastic bags or can be used in high-stress mechanical parts.