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Thermoset vs. Thermoplastic: Crosslink Density

Interactive 3D polymer-network simulator: tune crosslink density between long chain tangles, heat the network, and run a stretch test to compare thermoplastic melting/reflow against thermoset charring and elastic snap-back.

Chemistry & Materials3DModerate60 FPS

Details

CategoryChemistry & Materials

RenderingThree.js · WebGL

DifficultyModerate

Target FPS60

ControlsCrosslink density slider (0-100%) sets how many covalent bridges tie different chains together; Heat toggle raises thermal agitation; Stretch test pulls the network from both ends for a few seconds then releases it and measures elastic recovery; Reset restores the settled tangle; drag to orbit the camera.

Three.jspolymer chemistrycrosslink densitythermosetthermoplasticvulcanizationpolymer network

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This simulator visualizes how the same tangle of polymer chains behaves completely differently once covalent crosslinks tie the chains into a network. Drag the crosslink density slider, toggle heat, and run the stretch test to compare meltable, reshapable thermoplastics against rigid, char-on-heating, elastically-recovering thermosets.

⚙ Under the hood

Tune crosslink density on a tangle of long polymer chains and watch the same material behave completely differently: at 0% crosslinks the chains slide past each other and melt/flow when heated (a reshapable, recyclable thermoplastic); with covalent crosslinks added, the chains lock into one 3D network that resists heat-driven flow and chars/decomposes instead of melting. A stretch test shows the uncrosslinked material staying permanently deformed while the crosslinked network snaps back elastically, with live crosslink density, meltability state and elastic-recovery readouts.

Three.jspolymer chemistrycrosslink densitythermosetthermoplasticvulcanizationpolymer network

3D · Three.js / WebGL renderer · 60 FPS target · runs fully client-side, no install