Year 9 Science · Unit 2 · Lesson 17
Apply Worksheet
Learning Goals
Compare two
Complete the table to compare thermoplastic and thermoset polymers. Fill in as many cells as you can using your lesson notes.
| Feature | Thermoplastic | Thermoset |
|---|---|---|
| Can be remelted? | ||
| Cross-linking present? | ||
| Typical applications | ||
| Recyclability | ||
| Example polymer |
Order the steps
Number the events from 1 to 6 to show the correct order of PET drink bottle recycling. Event 1 = what happens first.
| Order | Event |
|---|---|
| Bottles sorted by polymer type using the resin identification code (code 1 = PET) | |
| PET flakes are melted and reprocessed into pellets or extruded into new material | |
| Consumer discards PET drink bottle into the recycling bin | |
| A new product is formed, such as fleece fabric, carpet fibre, or new drink bottles | |
| Collection trucks deliver bottles to a material recovery facility (MRF) | |
| Sorted PET bottles are cleaned, then shredded into small flakes |
1. A food technologist needs a polymer that can hold boiling water (100 °C) in a container without deforming. Should she choose a thermoplastic or a thermoset? Justify your answer using the lesson's property explanation.
2. Explain why PET bottles can be recycled into fleece fabric, but car tyres (vulcanised rubber) cannot be recycled back into rubber. Reference the difference in polymer structure in your answer.
Wrap Up
In one sentence, what was the main idea of this lesson?