A thermoplastic is a plastic that softens when heated and hardens again when cooled. Thermoplastics can generally go through many melt/freeze cycles with no appreciable chemical change, making them suitable for recycling.

Thermoplastic materials include many addition polymers such as polythene and polypropylene. Nearly all plastics can be catagorized as either a thermoplastic or thermosetting material.

A partial list of thermoplastics:

• Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS)
• Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
• Polypropylene
• Polyethylene
• Acrylic
• Celluloid
• Polystyrene
• Cellulose acetate

See also: Thermosetting plastic