What is thermo softening?

Thermoplastic materials or polymers are those plastics that, once shaped by heat and pressure, can be reshaped by reheating. This reshaping can be repeated (hence “thermoplastic”) many times. This reshaping, or the ability to flow when heated, is due to the movement of long-chain molecules that make up the polymer. This characteristic has made thermoplastics very important for recycling, because scrap and by-products can be re-melted and reformed into new shapes, reducing the need for new plastic. Another term used to refer to this material is TS material. Examples of thermoplastic polymers include polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride(PVC), polystyrene (often called Styrofoam® when expanded with air bubbles) and the various forms of Teflon®.

In contrast to thermosetting polymers or plastics, those that also become soft and fluid when heated, but they then “set” into a permanent shape. Thermoset items typically degrade rather than melt with repeated reheating.