AQA GCSE Design and Technology · 8552
Paper 1
A plastic that softens when heated and hardens when cooled, allowing it to be reheated and reshaped. Also called a thermoforming polymer.
Revise: Shaping, forming and joining polymersThermoplastics, such as acrylic, high-impact polystyrene (HIPS), ABS and PLA, soften when heated and harden when cooled. This makes them suitable for heat forming and several welding methods. Thermosetting polymers, including casting resins, cure into a permanent solid that cannot simply be melted and reshaped.
- Revise: Prototyping tools and processes
- Revise: Commercial processes for polymers
A polymer that softens when heated and hardens when cooled, allowing it to be shaped using heat.