There are 2 major families of plastic materials: thermoplastics
and thermosetting materials. In a solid state, at normal
temperatures, they melt, beginning to lose their mechanical
properties at temperatures of more than around 120°C. This
phenomenon is reversible. All SOFTERFIX™ insert designs are well
suited to these materials. Thermoplastics subdivide into 2
categories, with reference to their internal molecular
arrangements: amorphous, and semi-crystalline. The molecular
structure of amorphous polymers is randomly arranged, and is
characterized by a wide temperature range within which it
gradually softens, as the temperature increases. Conversely, the
molecular structure and narrow fusion interval of the semi-
crystalline polymers enables a rapid transition from the solid
or mushy state to the fluid state, through increase to the
temperature. Their operating temperature is higher than that of
amorphous polymers. A wide range of charges and plasticizers are
used to obtain desired characteristics, such as: E