Concept explainers
Bakelite, the first commercially produced
Interpretation:
The polymer type(thermoplastic or thermosetting) of Bakelite is to be determined and whether it can be recycled or not is to be stated.
Concept introduction:
A thermoplastic becomes soft on heating and can be remolded and reshaped.
Thermosetting plastics are permanent solids, and hence cannot be remolded or reshaped.
Answer to Problem 1QP
Solution: Bakelite is a thermosetting polymerand cannot be recycled easily.
Explanation of Solution
Thermoplastics and thermosetting plastics are two different classes of polymers, which are distinguished on the basis of their behavior when subjected toheat. Thermoplastics have lower melting points and become soft by the effect of heat. They can be remolded and reshaped to a new material, and henceit can be recycled.
However, thermoset plastics have a high melting point. They are permanent solids, and once hardened, they cannot be remolded and reshaped. Hence, they cannot be recycled.
Bakelite shows the properties similar to thermosetting plastics, and hence cannot be recycled.
Hence, the polymer type of Bakelite is thermosetting polymerand Bakelite cannot be recycled easily.
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Chapter 12 Solutions
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