Which type of plastics can melt and reshape upon heating?

Thermoplastics are a category of plastics that become soft and pliable when heated, allowing them to be molded into various shapes. When the heat is removed, they harden, retaining the new shape they have been formed into. This process can be repeated multiple times, which makes thermoplastics particularly versatile for various applications, from packaging to automotive parts. Their capability to undergo melting and reshaping upon heating is a defining characteristic, distinguishing them from other types of plastics.

In contrast, thermosetting plastics undergo a chemical change when heated and cannot be remolded or reheated after the initial setting process. Biodegradable plastics are designed to decompose under specific environmental conditions, but they do not inherently possess the properties of melting and reshaping like thermoplastics. Composite plastics, meanwhile, are made from two or more constituent materials that remain separate and distinct in their final form, and they usually combine properties of different materials but do not melt and reshape like thermoplastics.