thermoplasticadj.n.
/θəːməʊˈplastɪk/ A. adj.
Becoming soft when heated and rigid when allowed to cool, and capable of being repeatedly reheated and reshaped without loss of properties; made of such a substance.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > synthetic resins and plastics > [adjective] > thermoplastic or thermosetting
thermoplastic1883
thermosetting1931
the world > matter > constitution of matter > softness > pliableness > [adjective] > plastic > specific
thermoplastic1883
1883 Great Internat. Fisheries Exhib. Catal. 63 Thermoplastic Splints, likewise Splints for Fractures and Broken Bones.
1909 Chem. Abstr. 3 2063 Thermo-plastic composition containing keratin. Keratin is mixed with β-naphthol and the compn. subjected to heat and pressure, to form a subst. for rubber, celluloid, etc.
1937 Jrnl. Royal Aeronaut. Soc. 41 525 Some kinds of synthetic resins and to a limited extent one natural resin (shellac) have the valuable characteristic of being ‘thermosetting’, i.e., when once moulded they set to permanently infusible products. Most resins are ‘thermoplastic’, i.e., they become soft whenever the temperature exceeds a certain value.
1951 V. E. Yarsley & Kitchen in H. M. Langton Synthetic Resins (ed. 3) ii. 107 Benzyl cellulose..is thermoplastic and can be heated up to 180° C without fear of decomposition.
1958 Listener 4 Dec. 967/1 Thermoplastic tiles and rubber floors.
1976 J. Fleming To make Underworld xi. 128 These small thermo-plastic boats..were safer than houses, kids could play with them.
B. n.
A thermoplastic substance.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > synthetic resins and plastics > [noun] > plastic > capable of hardening after heating or (re)shaping
thermoplastic1929
1929 Brit. Plastics & Moulded Products Trader June 25/1 Thermoplastics are divided into pheno-plastics..and amino-plastics.
1945 Electronic Engin. 17 516 It is frequently used in association with polythene and other thermoplastics.
1967 Times Rev. Industry May 75/3 Other thermoplastics, including polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene and polyvinylidene chloride comprise about 10 per cent..of the total weight of plastics used in packaging.
1976 Shooting Mag. Dec. 33/2 (advt.) Lightweight muff-type ear protector... Earcups are manufactured from thermoplastic with soft sponge-filled ear cushions.
Derivatives
ˌthermoplaˈsticity n. the quality of being thermoplastic.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > synthetic resins and plastics > [noun] > plastic > capable of hardening after heating or (re)shaping > quality of being
thermoplasticity1935
1935 C. Ellis Chem. Synthetic Resins II. lvi. 1150 The thermoplasticity of the resins is a disadvantage.
1962 J. T. Marsh Self-smoothing Fabrics x. 141 Some of these mixed products can be used to reduce the solubility and swelling of the linear polymer but the thermoplasticity will be reduced.
1980 Nuclear Engin. & Design LVII. 323 (heading) Coupling phenomena in thermoplasticity.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1986; most recently modified version published online March 2018).
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adj.n.1883