A manufacturer is designing lightweight, impact-resistant insulating brackets for electrical heating elements that operate at 180∘C180^\circ\text{C}180∘C inside portable medical sterilizers.
| Property | Thermoplastic polymer | Thermosetting polymer | Ceramic (Alumina) | Metal (Copper) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical conductivity | Very low | Very low | Very low | Very high |
| Effect of heating to 200∘C200^\circ\text{C}200∘C | Softens and deforms | Does not melt / remains rigid | Does not melt / remains rigid | Does not melt / remains rigid |
| Brittleness | Low (tough) | Low (tough) | High (brittle) | Very low (malleable) |
| Density | Low | Low | High | Very high |
Explain, using information from the table, why a thermosetting polymer is the most suitable material to make these brackets compared to:
Practise Edexcel GCSE Chemistry Polymers with exam-style questions for Foundation and Higher tier. 100 questions, matched to the Edexcel GCSE Chemistry (1CH0) specification and written in Paper 1 and Paper 2 style. Every question includes a full worked solution and mark scheme, so you can see where marks are awarded rather than just whether you got the answer right.