The plastics family generally includes materials with a wide range of chemical compositions, including variations of carbon and hydrogen molecules. Examples of plastics consist of polyethylene, PVC, nylon, and ABS. Strictly speaking, thermoset polyurethanes are NOT considered "plastic". Instead, the long flexible polymer molecules that comprise thermoset polyurethanes make this material a true elastomer. Typically, thermoset polyurethanes are either cast molded or Reaction Injection Molded (RIM), while plastics are often injection molded. Unlike thermoset polyurethane, plastics will tend to remain permanently deformed or even break when stretching, abrasion, or impact forces are applied.
Thermoset polyurethanes have many advantages over plastics for a variety of applications, including:
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