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Article: Thermosets bounce back after a tough period: North American recovery drives the industry. (Industry Overview)
- Article from:
- Chemical Week
- Article date:
- June 1, 1994
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1994 Access Intelligence, LLC. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Thermoset resins are a diverse group, but they have one important thing in common: Construction and transportion industries are their most important markets. With the recovery of those markets in North America well under way, thermosets are faring better, despite weakness in regions such as Europe. Meanwhile, companies continue to push thermosets into new, less cyclical applications.
Unlike thermoplastics, thermosets are sold as a combination of components that are polymerized or cross-linked in the end use by heating or using a curing agent. They do not soften with heat, which makes them suitable for use in structural applications. The most widely used thermosets ...