Materials List / Abbreviations for Common Polymers

 Polymers are commonly referred to by both their names and abbreviations. Commercial polymers are also frequently referred to by the trade names of their manufacturer.
 

Plastics
ABS - acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene terpolymer
BMC - thermoset polyester bulk Moulding compound
EVA - ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer
LCP - liquid crystal polymer
PA - polyamide, commonly called nylon
PAN - polyacrylonitrile
PAS - polyarylsulfone
PBD - polybutadine
PBT - polybuylene terephthalate
PC - polycarbonate
PE - polyethylene see also:
HDPE - high density PE
LDPE - low density PE
LLDPE - linear low density PE
VLDPE - very low density PE
HMW-HDPE - high molecular weight HDPE
UHMWPE – ultra high-molecular-weight polyethylene
PEEK - polyetheretherketone
PEK - polyetherketone
PEI - polyetherimide
PES - polyethersulfone
PET - polyethylene terephthalate
PET-G - glycol modified PET
PI - polyisoprene
PS-b-PI - polystyrene/polyisoprene block copolymer
PI - polyimide
PK - polyketone
PMMA - polymethyl methacrylate, commonly called acrylic
PMP - polymethylpentene
POM - polyoxymethylene, commonly called acetal
PP - polypropylene
PPA - polyphthalamide
PPO/PPE - polyphenylene oxide, polyphenylene ether
PPS - polyphenylene sulfide
PS - polystyrene
EPS - expanded polystyrene
HIPS - high impact polystyrene
PSO,PSU - polysulfone
PTFE - polytetrefluoroethylene
PU,PUR - polyurethane
PVA - polyvinyl alcohol (sometimes used for polyvinyl acetate)
PVAC - polyvinyl acetate
PVC - polyvinylchloride, commonly refered to as vinyl
PVOH - alternate abbreviation for polyvinyl alcohol

RUBBER
EPR - ethylene propylene rubber
SBR - styrene butadiene rubber
EPDM - ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber
SAN - styrene acrylonitrile copolymer
SI - silicone
SMC - thermoset polyester sheet Moulding compound
TPE - thermoplastic elastomer
TPO - thermoplastic olefin
TPU - thermoplastic urethane
UF - urea formaldehyde