Which term describes a plastic that can be heated and re-formed into a new shape multiple times?

• A. Thermosetting plastic
• B. Thermoplastic
• C. Thermo-electricity
• D. Toughness

Answer: (B)

Plastics that can be heated and re-formed into a new shape multiple times are thermoplastics. They soften when heated, can be moulded or reshaped, and then harden again as they cool. This heating–cooling cycle can be repeated many times, which also makes recycling and reprocessing easier. In contrast, thermosetting plastics cure into a rigid, cross-linked network during manufacture and do not melt or re-soften with heat, so they can’t be reshaped by heating. The other terms aren’t about how a plastic responds to heat: thermo-electricity deals with converting heat to electricity, and toughness refers to a material’s resistance to breaking, not its re-forming behavior.