Plastics

The majority of plastics consists of the elements carbon, chlorine, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen and sulphur and are thus part of the domain of organic chemicals.

Thermoplastics

Are high molecular weight polymers with molecules which are not chemically linked together and can be softened and shaped by heating and then hardened by cooling resulting in a substantially physical rather than chemical change. Nylon and PVC are examples of traditional thermoplastic coatings.

Thermosets

In contrast, are low molecular weight polymers that are chemically linked together. Once cross linked by heat, thermosets irreversibly remain solid up to their decomposition temperature and are thus not recyclable nor repairable. Thermoset powders are generally unstable in warmer climates and may gradually undergo cross linking even in stored packaging above 30c (86F). They can become partially cross linked in some powder spray coating processes or worse as large lumps in powder tank dip coating applications.

 
To achieve a smooth coating, thermoplastics and thermoset polymers must all melt and flow out to a continuous and even film. Epoxy and thermosetting polyester powder are examples of a cross linked thermoset coating.
Intechem thermoplastics are speciality polymer alloys specifically formulated to offer enhanced properties as corrosion resistant coating materials. Our thermoplastic polymer alloys are formulated to adhere to rust free cleaned metal without the need for a costly base primer thus saving on processing cost, eliminating a two stage coating process, environmentally safe and regulatory compliant at workplace by avoiding solvent based flammable primers. Intechem does not manufacture thermoset powders such as epoxy polyesters nor do we manufacture PVC vinyl coating powders for environmental and health reasons.