Engineering Materials Abbreviations and Acronyms
The Plastics Industry uses many abbreviations related to polymer type such as PVC for polyvinyl chloride or CN for cellulose nitrate. A comprehensive guide to these terms is listed on this page.
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | L | M | N | O | P | R | S | T | U | V | W | X
A | |
ABA | Poly(Acrylonitrile Butadiene Acrylate) |
ABS | Poly(Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) |
ACM | Poly(Acrylic Acid Ester Rubber) |
ACS | Acrylonitrile-Chlorinated Polyethylene-Styrene Terpolymer |
ACS | American Chemical Society |
AES | Poly(Acrylonitrile Ethylene Styrene) or Poly(Acrylonitrile Ethylene Propylene Styrene) |
AMMA | Poly(Acrylonitrile Methyl Methacrylate) |
AN | Acrylonitrile |
AO | Antioxidant |
APET | Amorphous Polyethylene Terephthlate |
API | American Petroleum Institute |
APWA | All Polymeric Wear Additive |
ARP | Poly(Arylterephthalate) Copolyester |
AS | Antistatic |
ASA | Poly(Acrylic Styrene Acrylonitrile) |
ASTM | American Society for Testing and Materials |
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B | |
BDMA | Benzyl Dimethyl Amine (Epoxy Cure Accelerator) |
BGE | Butyl Glycidyl Ether |
BIIR | Bromobutyl Rubber |
BMC | Bulk Molding Compound |
BMI | Bismaleimide |
BOPP | Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene (Film) |
BR | Polybutadiene Rubber |
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C | |
CA | Cellulose Acetate |
CAB | Cellulose Acetate Butyrate |
CAP | Cellulose Acetate Propionate |
CF | Cresol Formaldehyde |
CFR | Code of Federal Regulations (21 CFR has provisions dealing with food contact of polymers) |
CGE | Cresol Glycidyl Ether |
CHDM | Cyclohexanedimethanol |
CIIR | Chlorobutyl Rubber |
CM | Chlorinated Polyethylene Rubber |
CM | Compression Molded |
CMC | Carboxymethyl Cellulose |
CN | Cellulose Nitrate |
CO | Epichlorohydrin Rubber (Homopolymer) |
COC | Cyclo Olefin Copolymer |
COF | Coefficient of Friction |
CP | Cellulose Propionate |
CPE | Chlorinated Polyethylene |
CPVC | Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride |
CR | Polychloroprene Rubber |
CS | Casein |
CSA | Canadian Standards Associates |
CSM | Chlorosulfonated Polyethylene Rubber |
CTE | Coefficient of Thermal Expansion |
CTFE | Chlorortrifluoroethylene |
CTI | Comparative Tracking Index |
CVD | Chemical Vapor Deposition |
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D | |
DAIP | Diallylisophthalate |
DAM | Dry As Molded (applied to nylon and oher hygroscopic polymers) |
DAP | Diallyl Phthalate |
DDS | Diaminodiphenyl Sulfone (Epoxy Cure Agent) |
DGEBA | Diglycidyl Ether of Bisphenol A |
DIN | Deutches Institut für Normung |
DTUL | Deflection Temperature Under Load |
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E | |
EAA | Ethylene/Acrylic Acid Copolymer |
EBAC | Poly(Ethylene Butyl Acrylate) |
EC | Ethyl Cellulose |
ECN | Epoxy Cresol Novolac |
ECO | Epichlorohydrin Rubber (Ethylene Oxide Copolymer) |
ECTFE | Poly(Ethylene Chlorotrifluoroethylene) |
EEA | Poly(Ethylene-Ethyl Acrylate) |
EEW | Epoxy Equivalent Weight (Also called WPE) |
EMAAA | Ethylene Acid Terpolymer |
EMAC | Poly(Ethylene Methyl Acrylate) |
EMCM | Ethylene Methyl Acrylate Cyclohexene Methyl Acrylate |
EMI | Electromagnetic Interference |
EP | Epoxy; Epoxide |
EPA | Environmental Protection Agency (US Government) |
EPDM | Ethylene Propylene Terpolymer Rubber |
EPM | Ethylene Propylene Copolymer |
EPN | Epoxy Phenol Novolac |
EPS | Expanded Polystyrene |
ESCR | Environmental Stress Cracking Resistance |
ETFE | Poly(Ethylene Tetrafluoroethylene) |
ETPU | Engineering Thermoplastic Polyurethane |
EVA | Ethylene Vinyl Acetate Copolymer |
EVAC | Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate Copolymer |
EVAL | Poly(Ethylene-Vinyl Alcohol) |
EVOH | Poly(Ethylene Vinyl Alcohol) |
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F | |
FDA | Food and Drug Administration (US Government) |
FDM | Fused Deposition Modeling (Rapid Protoyping/3D Printing Technique) |
FDY | Fully Drawn Yarn |
FEP | Fluorinated Ethylene Propylene |
FF | Furan Formaldehyde |
FMQ | Fluorosilicone Rubber |
FPM | Fluorocarbon Rubber |
FPVC | Flexible Polyvinyl Chloride |
FR | Flame Retardant |
FVMQ | Fluorosilicone Rubber |
FZ | Fluorinated Polyphosphazene Rubber |
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G | |
GFR | Glass Fiber Reinforced |
GP | General Purpose |
GPO | Propylene Oxide Rubber |
GPPS | General Purpose Polystyrene |
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H | |
HAI | High Amp Arc Ignition |
HALS | Hindered Amine Light Stabilizer |
HDPE | High Density Polyethylene |
HDT | Heat Deflection Temperature or Heat Distortion Temperature |
HFP | Hexafluoropropylene |
HIPS | High Impact Polystyrene |
HNBR | Hydrogenated Nitrile Butadiene Rubber |
HPP | High Performance Polyester |
HRE | Rockwell E Hardness Number |
HRM | Rockwell M Hardness Number |
HRR | Rockwell R Hardness Number |
HSN | Highly Saturated Nitrile Rubber |
HVAR | High Voltage Arc Resistance to Ignition |
HVTR | High Voltage Tracking Rate |
HWI | Hot Wire Ignition |
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I | |
IBS | Interactive Blowing System |
IIR | Butyl Rubber |
IM | Injection Molded |
IMR | Internal Mold Release |
ISO | International Standards Organization |
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L | |
LCP | Liquid Crystal Polymer |
LDPE | Low Density Polyethylene |
LLDPE | Linear Low Density Polyethylene |
LMDPE | Linear Medium Density Polyethylene |
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M | |
MD | Metal Deactivator |
MD | Metal Detectable |
MDPE | Medium Density Polyethylene |
MEKP | Methyl Ethyl Ketone Peroxide (Thermoset Curing Agent) |
MF | Melamine-Formaldehyde |
MFD | Microfloppy Diskettes |
MFI | Melt Flow Index |
MVTR | Moisture Vapor Transmission Rate |
MWD | Molecular Weight Distribution |
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N | |
NASA | National Aeronautics and Space Administration (US) |
NB | No Break (Applied to Impact Test Results) |
NBR | Nitrile Rubber (Acrylonitrile-Butadiene Rubber) |
NHFR | Non-Halogen Flame Retardant |
NHT | High Temperature Nylon |
NSF | National Sanitation Foundation (nonregulatory agency) |
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O | |
OB | Optical Brightener |
ODP | Ozone Depletion Potential |
OEM | Original Equipment Manufacturer |
OPP | Oriented Polypropylene (Film) |
OPS | Oriented Polystyrene (Film) |
OSHA | Occupation Safety and Health Administration (US Government) |
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P | |
PA | Polyamide (Nylon) |
PA | Polyacrylate |
PAE | Polyarylether |
PAEK | Polyaryletherketone |
PAI | Polyamide-Imide |
PAMS | Poly(Alpha Methylstyrene) |
PAN | Polyacrylonitrile |
PARA | Polyarylamide (polyaramide) |
PAS | Polyarylsulfone |
PASA | Polyamide, Semi-Aromatic (Nylon) |
PASU | Polyarylsulfone |
PB | Polybutadiene |
PB | Polybutene-1 |
PBGA | Plastic Ball Grid Array |
PBI | Polybenzimidazole |
PBT | Polybutylene Terephthalate |
PC | Polycarbonate |
PCB | Printed Circuit Board |
PCP | Post-Consumer Plastic |
PCR | Post-Consumer Resin |
PCT | Polycyclohexylenedimethylene Terephthalate |
PCTFE | Polychlorortrifluoroethylene |
PCTG | Glycol-Modified PCT |
PCU | Polycarbonate Urethane |
PDAP | Poly(Diallyl Phthalate) |
PDLA | Poly d-Lactic Acid |
PDMS | Polydimethylsiloxane (Silicone) |
PE | Polyethylene |
PEBA | Polyether Block Amide |
PEEK | Polyetheretherketone |
PEF | Process Engineered Fuel |
PEG | Polyethylene Glycol |
PEI | Polyetherimide |
PEK | Polyetherketone |
PEKEKK | Polyetherketoneetherketoneketone |
PEKK | Polyetherketoneketone |
PEN | Polyethylene Naphthalate |
PEO | Poly(Ethylene Oxide) |
PEOX | Poly(Ethylene Oxide) |
PES | Polyethersulfone |
PESU | Polyethersulfone |
PET | Polyethylene Terephthalate |
PETE | Polyethylene Terephthalate |
PETG | PET Modified with CHDM |
PEVA | Poly (Ethylene Vinyl Acetate) |
PEX | Cross-linked Polyethylene |
PF | Phenol Formaldehyde (Phenolic) |
PFA | Perfluoroalkoxy |
PFPE | Polyperfluoropolyether |
PGA | Polyglycolic Acid |
PHA | Polyhydroxyalkanoate |
PHV | Polyhydroxyvalerate |
PI | Polyimide |
PIB | Polyisobutylene |
PIR | Polyisocyanurate Foam |
PISU | Polyimidesulfone |
PLA | Polylactic Acid |
PLLA | Poly-L-lactide |
PMMA | Polymethylmethacrylate |
PMP | Polymethylpentene |
PNR | Polynorborane Rubber |
PO | Polyolefin |
POB | Poly(p-Oxybenzoate) |
POM | Polyoxymethylene (Acetal) |
POP | Point of Purchase (Marketing Displays) |
POY | Partially Orientated Yarn |
PP | Polypropylene |
PPA | Polyphthalamide |
PPC | Polypropylene Copolymer |
PPC | Polyphthalate Carbonate |
PPE | Polyphenylene Ether |
PPF | Phenol-Furfural |
PPG | Polypropylene Glycol |
PPO | Polyphenylene Oxide |
PPOX | Polypropylene Oxide |
PPS | Polyphenylene Sulfide |
PPSU | Polyphenylsulfone |
PRF | Plastics Recovery Facility |
PS | Polystyrene |
PSS | Polysupersulfone |
PSU | Polysulfone |
PTFE | Polytetrafluoroethylene |
PTHV | Poly(Tetrafluoroethylene, Hexafluoropropylene and Vinylidene Fluoride) |
PTMG | Polytetramethylene Glycol |
PTT | Polytrimethylene Terephthalate |
PU | Polyurethene |
PUR | Polyurethene |
PVAC | Poly(Vinyl Acetate) |
PVAL | Poly(Vinyl Alcohol) |
PVB | Poly(Vinyl Butyral) |
PVC | Polyvinyl Chloride |
PVCA | Poly(Vinyl Chloride-Acetate) |
PVDC | Polyvinylidene Chloride |
PVDF | Polyvinylidene Fluoride |
PVFM | Poly(Vinyl Formal) |
PVK | Polvinylcarbazole |
PVOH | Polyvinyl Alcohol |
PVP | Polyvinylpyrrolidone |
PZ | Polyphosphazene Rubber |
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R | |
RH | Relative Humidity |
RIM | Reaction Injection Molding |
RPVC | Rigid Polyvinyl Chloride |
RRIM | Reinforced Reaction Injection Molding |
RTI | Relative Thermal Index (UL test) |
RTPU | Rigid Thermoplastic Polyurethane |
RTV | Room Temperature Vulcanizing (Silicone) |
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S | |
SAN | Poly(Styrene Acrylonitrile) |
SB | Styrene-Butadiene |
SBC | Styrene-Butadiene Copolymer |
SBS | Poly(Styrene Butadiene Styrene) |
SEBS | Poly(Styrene-Ethylene-Butadiene-Styrene) Elastomer |
SI | Silicone |
SI | System International (a subset of metric units) |
SIS | Poly(Styrene-Isoprene-Styrene) Elastomer |
SLA | Stereolithography (Rapid Protoyping/3D Printing Technique) |
SLS | Selective Laser Sintering (Rapid Protoyping/3D Printing Technique) |
SMA | Poly(Styrene Maleic Anhydride) |
SMC | Sheet Molding Compound |
SMMA | Styrene Methyl Methacrylate Copolymer |
SMP | Shape Memory Polymer |
SMS | Styrene-a-Methylstyrene |
SPS | Syndiotactic Polystyrene |
SPU | Segmented Polyurethane |
SRP | Self-Reinforcing Polymer |
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T | |
TAIC | Triallyl Isocyanurate |
TEEE | Thermoplastic Elastomer Ether Ester Block Copolymer |
TEEE | Ether Ester Block Copolymer (Thermoplastic Elastomer) |
TEO | Olefinic Thermoplastic Elastomer |
TES | Thermoplastic Styrenic Elastomer |
TFE | Polytetrafluoroethylene |
THV | Tetrafluoroethylene, Hexafluoropropylene and Vinylidene Fluoride |
TM | Transfer Molded |
TP | Thermoplastic |
TPE | Thermoplastic Elastomer |
TPI | Thermoplastic Polyimide |
TPO | Thermoplastic Polyolefin (often applied to elastomers) |
TPU | Thermoplastic Polyurethene (often applied to elastomers) |
TPUR | Thermoplastic Polyurethene (often applied to elastomers) |
TPV | Thermoplastic Vulcanizate |
TS | Thermoset |
TYS | Tensile Yield Strength |
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U | |
UF | Urea Formaldehyde |
UHMW | Ultra High Molecular Weight (often applied to polyethylene) |
UL | Underwriters Laboratory |
ULDPE | Ultra Low Density Polyethylene |
UP | Unsaturated Polyester (Thermoset) |
USDA | United States Department of Agriculture |
UTS | Ultimate Tensile Strength |
UV | Ultraviolet |
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V | |
VCE | Poly(Vinyl Chloride-Ethylene) |
VCEMA | Poly(Vinyl Chloride-Ethylene-Methyl Acrylate) |
VCMA | Poly(Vinyl Chloride-Methyl Acrylate) |
VCVAC | Poly(Vinyl Chloride-Vinyl Acrylate) |
VCVDC | Poly(Vinyl Chloride-Vinylidene Chloride) |
VHMW | Very High Molecular Weight (often applied to polyethylene) |
VLDPE | Very Low Density Polyethylene |
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W | |
WPE | Weight per Epoxide (also called EEW) |
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X | |
XLPE | Cross-linked Polyethylene |
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