Thermosetting plastics are substances that cannot be remelted or remolded once heated or transformed. They are difficult to recycle. Some key uses of thermosetting plastics include rubbers, balloons, insulated electric wires, and erasers. Thermosetting plastics have properties like durability, flame resistance, and dimensional stability due to their irreversible cross-linking process. Common types are epoxy resin, phenolic resin, and melamine formaldehyde. Advantages include high strength, heat resistance, chemical resistance, and design flexibility. Disadvantages include being irreversible, potentially brittle, and having a slow curing process.