|
Acronym |
Chemical description* |
| ABA |
Acrylonitrile Butadiene Acrylate, thermoplastic copolymer |
| AAS |
Acrylonitrile Acrylate (ester) Styrene, thermoplastic copolymer |
| ABA |
acrylonitrile-butadiene-acrylate |
| ABR |
Acrylate (ester) Butadiene Rubber, elastomeric copolymer |
| ABS |
Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene, thermoplastic copolymer |
| Acetal |
PolyOxyMethylene |
| ACM |
Acrylic Acid Ester Rubber |
| ACRYLIC |
Poly- or co-polymethyl methacrylate, thermoplastic copolymer |
| ACS |
Acrylonitrile Chlorinated Polyethylene Styrene Terpolymer, thermoplastic copolymer |
| AECO |
Allyl Epichlorohydrin Co-Ethylene Oxide terpolymer, thermoset elastomer ** |
| AEM |
Ethylene acrylic elastomer, thermoset terpolymer aka EAM |
| AES |
Acrylonitrile Ethylene Styrene or Acrylonitrile Ethylene Propylene Styrene, thermoplastic copolymer |
| AMMA |
Acrylonitrile Methyl Methacrylate, thermoplastic copolymer |
| APET |
Amorphous Polyethylene Terephthlate, thermoplastic copolymer |
| APP |
Atactic PolyPropylene, thermoplastic copolymer*** |
| ARP |
ARylterephthalate coPolyester, thermoplastic copolymer |
| ASA |
Acrylic (acrylates) Styrene Acrylonitrile, thermoplastic copolymer |
| BIIR |
Bromobutyl Rubber |
| BO |
Biaxially-Oriented (film) |
| BOPP |
Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene (film) |
| BR |
Butadiene Rubber, thermoset elastomer |
| BS |
Butadiene styrene rubber, thermoset elastomer |
| CA |
Cellulose Acetate (acetate rayon fiber), thermoplastic organic resin |
| CAB |
Cellulose Acetate Butyrate (Butyrate), organic thermoplastic resin |
| CAP |
Cellulose Acetate Propionate (Cellulose Propionate), organic thermoplastic resin |
| CP |
Cellulose Propionate (cellulose acetate propionate), organic thermoplastic resin |
| CIIR |
Chlorobutyl Rubber, thermoset elastomer |
| CM |
Chlorinated Polyethylene Rubber, thermoset elastomer |
| CO |
Epichlorohydrin homopolymer rubber (AKA Chlorohydrin rubber), thermoset elastomer |
| COP |
Copolyester, thermoplastic copolymer--broad class of modified polyesters |
| COPE |
Copolyester, thermoplastic copolymer--broad class of modified polyesters |
| COPA |
Copolyamide, thermoplastic copolymer--broad class of modified polyamides |
| CPE |
Chlorinated polyethylene , thermoplastic elastomer |
| CPET |
Crystalline polyethylene terephthalate, thermoplastic copolymer (PETP or PET-P are obsolete) |
| CPP |
cast polypropylene (film), thermoplastics |
| CPVC |
Chlorinated polyvinylchloride , thermoplastic copolymer |
| CR |
Polychloroprene Rubber, thermoset elastomer. |
| CSM |
Chlorosulfonated Polyethylene Rubber, thermoset elastomer |
| CTA |
Cellulose triacetate, thermoplastic cast film |
| CTFE |
Chlorortrifluoroethylene, fluoropolymer liquid for ECTFE |
| DAM |
Dry As Molded (often applied to nylon) |
| DAP |
Poly(Diallyl Phthalate), thermoset copolymer (aka PDAP) |
| EAA |
Ethylene Acrylic Acid, thermplastic copolymer |
| EAM |
Ethylene acrylate rubber, or Ethylene Alkene elastomer, (aka AEM) |
| EBA, EBAC |
Ethylene Butyl Acrylate |
| EC |
Ethyl Cellulose, thermoplastic copolymer |
| ECO |
Epichlorohydrin Co-Ethylene Oxide copolymer, thermoset elastomer**** |
| ECTFE |
Ethylene-ChloroTriFluoroEthylene copolymer, thermoplastic copolymer |
| EEA |
Ethylene Ethyl Acrylate, thermoplastic copolymer |
| ELAST. |
Elastomer |
| EMA |
Ethylene Methyl Acrylate, or Ethylene Methacrylate, thermoplastic copolymer (aka EMAC) |
| EMAA |
Ethylene Methyl Acrylate Acid, or Ethylene Methacrylate, thermplastic terpolymer |
| EMAC |
Ethylene Methyl Acrylate, or Ethylene Methacrylate, thermoplastic copolymer (aka EMA) |
| EMCM |
Ethylene Methyl Acrylate Cyclohexene Methyl Acrylate |
| EMPP |
Elastomer Modified Polypropylene |
| EnBA |
Ethylene normal Butyl Acrylate |
| EP |
Ethylene-Propylene |
| EPDM |
Ethylene Propylene Diene terpolymer rubber, thermoset elastomer (M = saturated resin backbone) |
| EPM |
Ethylene Propylene rubber, thermoset copolymer |
| EPN |
Epoxy Phenol Novolac, thermoset plastic |
| EPR |
Ethylene Propylene Rubber, thermoset copolymer elastomer |
| EPS |
Expanded Polystyrene, thermoplastic monomer foam beads |
| ESI |
Ethylene Styrene Interpolymer, thermplastic |
| ETE |
Engineering Thermoplastic Elastomers |
| ETFE |
Ethylene TetraFluoroEthylene, thermoplastic copolymer |
| ETP |
Engineering ThermoPlastics |
| ETPU |
Engineering Thermoplastic PolyUrethane |
| EVA |
Ethylene Vinyl Acetate, thermoplastic copolymer |
| EVAC, EVA(C) |
Ethylene Vinyl Acetate, thermoplastic Copolymer |
| EVOH, EVAL |
Ethylene Vinyl Alcohol, thermoplastic copolymer |
| FEP |
Fluorinated Ethylene Propylene, thermoplastic copolymer [Teflon] |
| FMQ |
Fluorosilicone Rubber, thermoset elastomer (aka FVMQ) |
| FPM, FKM |
Fluorocarbon Rubber, thermoset elastomer |
| FPVC |
Flexible Polyvinyl Chloride, thermoplastic copolymer |
| FRP |
Fiber Reinforced Plastic, often appliced to epoxy composit |
| FVMQ |
Fluorosilicone Rubber, thermoset elastomer (aka FMQ) |
| FZ |
Fluorinated Polyphosphazene Rubber, thermoset rubber |
| GF |
Glass Fiber |
| GFR |
Glass Fiber Reinforced |
| GMT(P) |
Glass Mat Reinforced Thermoplastics |
| GP |
General Purpose |
| GPO |
Propylene Oxide Rubber, thermoset copolymer (also see PO) |
| GPPS |
General Purpose PolyStyrene |
| GRP |
Glass fiber Reinforced Plastics |
| HCR |
Heat Cured Rubber |
| HDPE |
High Density Polyethylene, thermoplastic homopolymer |
| HIPS |
High Impact PolyStyrene, thermoplastic copolymer |
| HMW |
high molecular weight |
| HNBR |
Hydrogenated Nitrile Butadiene Rubber, themoset elastomer ( see NBR) |
| HNP |
High Nitrile Polymer, thermoset elastomer |
| IIR |
Isobutylene-Isoprene Rubber, thermoset elastomer (aka Butyl Rubber) |
| IR |
Synthetic cis-1,4-polyIsoprene Rubber , thermoset elastomer (aka Synthetic Natural Rubber) |
| LCP |
Liquid Crystal Polymer, thermoplastic copolymer |
| LDPE |
Low Density Polyethylene, themoplastic homopolymer |
| LLDPE |
Linear Low Density Polyethylene, thermoplastic homopolymer |
| LMDPE |
Linear Medium Density Polyethylene, thermplastic homopolymer |
| LP |
Low Profile resin, modified polyester liquid resin |
| MBS |
Methacrylate Butadiene Styrene, thermoplastic copolymer |
| MDPE |
Medium Density Polyethylene, themoplastic homopolymer |
| MMA |
Methyl MethAcrylate, colorless liquid resin for production of PMMA (acylic plastic) |
| MPE , mPE |
Metallocene PolyEthylenes, thermplastic elastomer |
| MPF |
Melamine Phenol Formaldehyde, thermoset adhesive resin |
| MPR |
Melt-Processable Rubber |
| NBR |
Acrylonitrile Butadiene Rubber, thermoset elastomer, (aka Nitrile Rubber, Buna-N, see HNBR) |
| NHT |
High Temperature Nylon |
| NR |
Natural rubber |
| Nylon |
Polyamide (PA), commonly known as Nylon 6 or 66 which is not a trade name |
| OPET |
Oriented Polyethylene Terephthalate, thermoplastic copolymer (aka boPET /Biaxially-Oriented) |
| OPP |
Oriented PolyPropylene (Film), thermoplastic monomer |
| OPS |
Oriented PolyStyrene (Film), thermoplastic monomer |
| OSA |
Olefin-modified Styrene-Acrylonitrile, thermplastic copolymer |
| O-TPV |
Olefinic ThermoPlastic Vulcanizate, thermoset elastomer modified with polyolefin |
| PA |
Polyamide (nylon), thermoplastic monomer |
| PA |
PolyAcrylate, thermoplastic monomer |
| PA |
PolyAmide, thermoplastic monomer [nylon] |
| PAA |
PolyAcrylic Acid , colorless liquid for dispersant in water systems |
| PAE |
PolyArylEther, thermoplastic monomer of polyester family |
| PAEK |
PolyArylEtherKetone, thermoplastic copolymer |
| PAES |
Polyarylethersulfone , thermoplastic copolymer |
| PAI |
PolyAmide-Imide, thermoplastic copolymer |
| PAMS, PaMs |
Poly(Alpha-Methylstyrene), themoplastic copolymer in alpha form |
| PA-MXD6 |
Polyarylamide , thermoplastic copolymer of the aromatic amide family (aka PARA) |
| PAN |
PolyAacryloNitrile, thermoplastic monomer |
| PAr |
Polyarylate , thermoplastic copolymer (similar to PET and PBT) |
| PARA |
Polyarylamide , thermoplastic copolymer of the aromatic amide family (aka PA-MXD6) |
| PAS, PASU |
PolyArylSulfone, thermoplastic copolymer (aka PES and PESU /polyethersulfone) |
| PASA |
Polyamide, Semi-Aromatic (Nylon), thermplastic copolymer |
| PB |
PolyButadiene, thermoset elastomer monomer |
| PB, PB-1 |
PolyButylene, thermoplastic polyolefin (isotactic, aka polybutene-1, not polybutene) |
| PBAN |
PolyButadiene-AcryloNitrile, thermoset copolymer (PolyButadiene-acrylic acid-AcryloNitrile) |
| PBN |
PolyButylene 2,6-Naphthalate, thermoplastic copolymer (PolyAlkylene Naphthalate) |
| PBS |
PolyButadiene Styrene, thermoset elastomer (aka Styrene Butadiene Rubber, SBR) |
| PBT |
PolyButylene Terephthalate, thermoplastic copolymer of the polyester family |
| PC |
PolyCarbonate, thermoplastic monomer |
| PCP |
Post-Consumer Plastic, recycled thermoplastic resin (aka PCR) |
| PCR |
Post-Consumer Resin or Recyclate, recycled thermoplastic resin (aka PCB) |
| PCT, PCTA |
PolycyClohexylenedimethylene Terephthalate, thermoplastic copolymer |
| PCTFE |
PolyChlororTriFluoroEthylene |
| PCTG |
PolycyClohexylenedimethylene Terephthalate Glycol, thermoplastic copolymer |
| PCU |
PolyCarbonate Urethane, thermoplastic urethane copolymer |
| PDAP |
Poly(Diallyl Phthalate), thermoset copolymer (aka DAP) |
| PDMS |
PolydiMethylSiloxane (Silicone), thermoset elastomer |
| PE |
Polyethylene, thermoplastic monomer |
| PEBA |
PolyEther Block polyAmide, thermoplastic elastomer ( HO-(CO-PA-CO-O-PE-O)n -H) |
| PEC |
PolyEsterCarbonate , thermplastic compolymer of polyester family (PC & Par) |
| PEC |
Chlorinated PolyEthylene, thermplastic elastomer (aka CPE) |
| PEDT, PEDOT |
PolyEthylene DioxiThiophene, thermoplastic conductive polymer |
| PEEK |
PolyEtherEtherKetone, thermoplastic copolymer |
| PEG |
PolyEthylene Glycol, water-soluable liquid/waxy solid copolymer (aka PEO and POE) |
| PEI |
PolyEtherImide, thermoplastic copolymer |
| PEK |
PolyEtherKetone, thermoplastic copolymer |
| PEKEKK |
PolyEthrKetoneEtherKetoneKetone, thermoplastic copolymer |
| PEKK |
PolyEtherKetoneKetone, thermoplastic copolymer |
| PEN |
PolyEthylene 2,6-Naphthalate, thermoplastic copolymer (PolyAlkylene Naphthalate) |
| PEO, PEOX |
PolyEthylene Oxide, water-soluable liquid/waxy solid copolymer (aka PEG and POE) |
| PES, PESU |
PolyEtherSulfone, thermoplastic copolymer (aka PAS and PASU /polyarylsulfone) |
| PET, PETP, PET-P |
Polyethyleneterephthalate , thermoplastic copolylmer (aka PETE /obsolete) |
| PETG |
PET Modified with CHDM |
| PEVA |
Poly (Ethylene Vinyl Acetate) |
| PEX |
Cross-linked Polyethylene, thermoplastic elastomer |
| PF |
Phenol Formaldehyde (Phenolic) |
| PFA, PFE |
PerFluoroAlkoxy, thermoplastic fluoropolymer [Teflon] |
| PFEP |
PolyFluoroEthylene Propylene, thermoplastic copolymer |
| PI |
PolyImide, thermoplastic monomer |
| PIB |
PolyIsoButylene, thermoset elastomer [butyl rubber] |
| PIBI, IIR |
PolyIsoButylene toughened with PMMA, thermoplastic elastomer [butyl rubber] (aka IIR) |
| PIR |
PolyIsocyanurate Foam, thermoset elastomer |
| PISU |
PolyImideSulfone, thermoplastic copolymer |
| PMA |
PolyMethylAcrylate , themoplastic copolymer |
| PMMA |
PolyMethylMethAcrylate, thermoplastic copolymer (acrylic) |
| PMP, TPX |
PolyMethylPentene, thermoplastic monomer |
| PNR, PNB |
PolyBorBorane Rubber, thermoset elastomer |
| PO |
Polyolefin, thermoplastic monomer or elastomer (TPE) |
| PO |
Propylene Oxide Rubber, thermoset homopolymer |
| POB, POBA |
Poly(p-Oxybenzoate), thermoplastic liquid crystal aromatic polymer |
| POE |
PolyOxyEthylene, water-soluable liquid/waxy solid copolymer (aka PEO and PEG) |
| POM |
PolyOxyMethylene (Acetal) |
| PP |
Polypropylene, thermoplastic monomer |
| PPA |
PolyPhthalAmide, thermoplastic copolymer of the polyamide family (nylon) |
| PPC |
Chlorinated PolyPropylene, thermoplastic resin |
| PPE |
Polyphenylene Ether, thermoplastic coplymer (aka PPO although chemically slightly different) |
| PPF |
Phenol-Furfural, thermoplastic resin |
| PPO, PPOX, POX |
PolyPhenylene Oxide, thermoplastic coplymer (aka PPE although chemically slightly different) |
| PPS |
Polyphenylene Sulfide, thermoplastic copolymer |
| PPSU |
PolyPhenylSulfone, thermoplastic copolymer |
| PS |
Polystyrene, thermoplastic monomer |
| PSO, PSU |
Polysulfone, thermoplastic amorphous monomer |
| PSS |
PolySuperSulfone, thermoplastic amorphous monomer |
| PSU, PSO |
Polysulfone, thermoplastic amorphous monomer |
| PPSU |
PolyPhenyleneSulfone, thermoplastic amorphous monomer |
| PTFE |
PolyTetraFluoroEthylene, thermoplastic fluoropolymer [Teflon/Fluon] |
| PTMG, PTMEG |
PolyTetraMethylene Glycol, liquid used to produce elastomers e.g. Spandex using isocyanate |
| PTR |
Polysulfide rubber, thermoset elastomer |
| PTT |
Polytrimethylene Terephthalate, thermoplastic copolymer |
| PU |
Polyurethene, thermoset elastomer or coating |
| PVAC |
PolyVinyl Acetate, thermoplastic copolymer |
| PVAL, PVOH |
PolyVinyl Alcohol, thermoplastic copolymer |
| PVB |
PolyVinyl Butyral, thermoplastic copolymer (polyvinyl butyrate / reactant from PVAL & PVAC) |
| PVC |
PolyVinyl Chloride, thermoplastic copolymer |
| PVCA |
PolyVinyl Chloride Acetate, thermoplastic copolymer |
| PVDA |
PolyVinyliDene Acetate, thermoplastic copolymer |
| PVDC |
PolyVinyliDene Chloride, thermoplastic copolymer |
| PVDF |
PolyVinyliDene Fluoride, thermoplastic fluorocopolymer |
| PVF |
Polyvinyl fluoride, thermoplastic fluorocopolymer [Teflon] |
| PVFM |
PolyVinyl Formal, thermoplastic copolymer |
| PVK |
Polvinylcarbazole, thermoplastic copolymer |
| PVOH, PVAL |
PolyVinyl Alcohol, thermoplastic copolymer |
| PVP |
PolyVinylPyrrolidone, thermoplastic copolymer |
| PZ |
PolyPhosphaZene Rubber, thermoset elastomer |
| RHDPE |
Recycled High Density Polyethylene, thermoplastic monomer |
| RPET |
Recycled PolyEthylene Terephthalate, thermoplastic copolymer of the polyester family |
| RPVC |
Rigid PolyVinyl Chloride, thermoplastic copolymer (PVC without plasticizers) |
| RTPU |
Rigid Thermoplastic Polyurethane, thermoplstic monomer (as compared to elastic TPU) |
| RTV |
Room Temperature Vulcanizing (common for silicone and polyurethanes chemistries) |
| SAN |
PolyStyrene Acrylonitrile, thermoplastic copolymer |
| SB, SBC, SBR |
Styrene-Butadiene, thermoset eleastomer (aka PolyButadiene Styrene , PBS) |
| SBC, SB, SBR |
Styrene Butadiene Copolymer, thermoset eleastomer (aka PolyButadiene Styrene , PBS) |
| SBR, SB, SBC |
Styrene Butadiene Rubber, thermoset elastomer (aka PolyButadiene Styrene , PBS) |
| SBS |
PolyStyrene Butadiene Styrene block copolymer, thermoplastic elastomer |
| SEBS |
PolyStyrene Ethylene Butadiene Styrene Elastomer, thermoset elastomer (hydrogenated SIS) |
| SEPS, SEP |
Styrene Ethylene Propylene Styrene, thermoplastic elastomer (TPE ) (aka S-EPDM) |
| S-EPDM |
Styrene Ethylene Propylene, thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) (aka SEPS and SEP) |
| SI |
Silicone |
| SIS |
PolyStyrene Isoprene Styrene block copolymer, thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) |
| SMA |
Styrene Maleic Anhydride block copolymer, thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) |
| SMMA |
Styrene Methyl Methacrylate, thermoplastic copolymer |
| SMS |
Styrene-a-Methylstyrene, thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) |
| SPS |
Syndiotactic Polystyrene, thermoplastic copolymer |
| SPU |
Segmented Polyurethane, thermplastic elastomer |
| TEEE |
Thermoplastic Elastomer Ether Ester Block Copolymer |
| TEO |
Olefinic Thermoplastic Elastomer |
| TES |
Thermoplastic Styrenic Elastomer (TPE) |
| TFE |
PolyTetraFluoroEthylene, thermoplastic fluoropolymer [Teflon/Fluon] |
| TLCP |
Thermoplastic Liquid Crystal Polymer |
| TP |
Thermoplastic |
| TPE |
ThermoPlastic Elastomer |
| TPEs |
Thermoplastic PolyEsters, e.g. PBT, PET, ... |
| TPI |
Thermoplastic PolyImide, themoplastic copolymer |
| TPO |
Thermoplastic PolyOlefin (often applied to elastomers) |
| TPU |
Thermoplastic Polyurethene (often applied to elastomers) |
| TPUR |
Thermoplastic Polyurethene (often applied to elastomers) |
| TPV |
Thermoplastic Vulcanizate, thermoplastic elastomer |
| TPX , PMP |
PolyMethylPentene, thermoplastic monomer |
| TS |
ThermoSet |
| UF |
Urea Formaldehyde resin |
| UHMW |
Ultra High Molecular Weight ( as in polyethylene UHMPE) (molar mass over 3 Mgimol) |
| ULDPE |
Ultra Low Density Polyethylene, thermoplastic monomer (ca. 900 to 915 kgim3) |
| UP |
Unsaturated Polyester (thermoset monomer) |
| UR |
Urethane, themoplastic and thermoset polymers |
| VA(C) |
Vinyl Acetate, thermoplastic monomer |
| VCE |
PolyVinyl Chloride Ethylene, thermoplastic compolymer |
| VCEMA |
PolyVinyl Chloride Ethylene Methyl Acrylate, thermoplastic copolymer |
| VCMA |
PolyVinyl Chloride Methyl Acrylate, thermoplastic copolymer |
| VCVAC |
PolyVinyl Chloride Vinyl Acrylate, thermoplastics copolymer |
| VCVDC |
PolyVinyl Chloride Vinylidene Chloride, thermoplastics copolymer |
| VDC |
Vinylidene Chloride, thermoplastic monomer |
| VHMW |
Very High Molecular Weight (often applied to polyethylene) |
| VLDPE |
Very Low Density Polyethylene , thermoplastic monomer(ca. 885 kgim3) |
| XLPE |
Cross-linked Polyethylene, thermoplastic monomer and elastomer |
| |
| **Toxic, possible carcinogen due to ethylene oxide |
| ***Atactic = methyl groups attached randomly on both sides of the ethylene chain versus isotactic |
| ****Toxic, possible carcinogen due to ethylene oxide |
| |
| *Sources: |
| Concise Encyclopedia of Plastics, Marlene G. Rosato |
| Polymer Alloys and Blends, Leszek A. Utracki |
| Polymers for Engineering Applications, Raymond B. Seymour |
| Product Design with Plastics, Joseph B. Dym |
| Assistance from various plastic manufacturers' and distributors' websites |