Plastics Abbreviations and Acronyms

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
  Back to top
   
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
  Back to top
   
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
  Back to top
   
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
  Back to top
   
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)
  Back to top
   
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
  Back to top
   
G  
GFR Glass Fiber Reinforced
GP General Purpose
GPO Propylene Oxide Rubber
GPPS General Purpose Polystyrene
  Back to top
   
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
  Back to top
   
I  
IBS Interactive Blowing System
IIR Butyl Rubber
IM Injection Molded
IMR Internal Mold Release
ISO International Standards Organization
  Back to top
   
L  
LCP Liquid Crystal Polymer
LDPE Low Density Polyethylene
LLDPE Linear Low Density Polyethylene
LMDPE Linear Medium Density Polyethylene
  Back to top
   
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
  Back to top
   
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)
  Back to top
   
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)
  Back to top
   
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
  Back to top
   
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)
  Back to top
   
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
  Back to top
   
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
  Back to top
   
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
  Back to top
   
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
  Back to top
   
W  
WPE Weight per Epoxide (also called EEW)
  Back to top
   
X  
XLPE Cross-linked Polyethylene
  Back to top