Why should you select a thermoplastic polymer for your next composite project?
In a previous article, we identified the differences between thermoplastic and thermosetting polymer resins. In this article, we state the benefits of using thermoplastic polymers and the advantages of fiber-reinforced thermoplastic polymers.
In today’s focus on sustainability of resources and recycling of manufactured goods, we see that thermoplastic polymers play a key and significant role in this environmentally friendly driven direction.
While thermoplastic polymers are a recoverable and a recycled material, as a composite material the recovery of fibers is also a significant advantage with thermoplastic polymers.
Recovered fibers can be reused in a somewhat different form (short fibers) and become part of a new product made from the same thermoplastic polymer through injection moulding or thermoforming over a chopped mat cloth of the reclaimed fibers.
Another environmentally friendly material is the use of biopolymers and natural fibers. The biopolymer (thermoplastic type polymer)/natural fiber (plant based) composites allow for component long-term breakdown with an induced micro-organism. As such these biopolymers and natural fibers can be broken down and used in a friendly landfill and crop fertilizer.
Basically, thermoplastic polymers provide us with a safe and environmentally sustainable future!