Question

Explain why the following are made of thermosetting plastics. (a) Saucepan handles (b) Electric plugs/switches/plug boards.

Answer 1

Thermosetting plastics:

1. These are types of plastics that do not get deformed or softened on heating when molded once.
2. Thermosetting plastics are made up of cross-linked long chains of molecules.
3. Poor conductivity of heat and electricity are the main characteristics of these types of plastics.
4. They are made up of very rigid structures.
5. The main examples of thermosetting plastics are bakelite and melamine.

Reasons

1. As thermosetting plastics are bad heat conductors and do not get soft when heated, these are often used to manufacture saucepan handles.
2. Bakelite is also a thermosetting plastic which is also a poor conductor of heat and electricity. Generally, It is used to make electric plugs, switches, and plugboards because of this characteristic.

Saucepan handles and electric switches/plugs are made up of thermosetting plastics.