Acronyms

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 ARP Poly(Arylterephthalate) Copolyester AS Antistatic ASA Poly(Acrylic Styrene Acrylonitrile) ASTM American Society for Testing and Materials 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 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) 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 DAM Dry As Molded (often applied to nylon) 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 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) FDA Food and Drug Administration (US Government) 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 GFR Glass Fiber Reinforced GP General Purpose GPO Propylene Oxide Rubber GPPS General Purpose Polystyrene 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 Rubber (Acrylonitrile-Butadiene Rubber) HRE Rockwell E Hardness Number HRM Rockwell M Hardness Number HRR Rockwell R Hardness Number HVAR High Voltage Arc Resistance to Ignition HVTR High Voltage Tracking Rate HWI Hot Wire Ignition IBS Interactive Blowing System IIR Butyl Rubber IM Injection Molded IMR Internal Mold Release ISO International Standards Organization LCP Liquid Crystal Polymer LDPE Low Density Polyethylene LLDPE Linear Low Density Polyethylene LMDPE Linear Medium Density Polyethylene MD Metal Deactivator 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 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) 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) PA Polyacrylate PA Polyamide (Nylon) PAEK 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) PDSM 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 PETG PET Modified with CHDM PEX Cross-linked Polyethylene PF Phenol Formaldehyde (Phenolic) PFA Perfluoroalkoxy PFPE Polyperfluoropolyether PI Polyimide PIB Polyisobutylene PIR Polyisocyanurate Foam PISU Polyimidesulfone PMMA Polymethylmethacrylate PMP Polymethylpentene PNR Polynorborane Rubber PO Polyolefin POB Poly(p-Oxybenzoate) POM Polyoxymethylene (Acetal) POP Point of Purchase (Marketing Displays) PP Polypropylene PPA Polyphthalamide 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 PSU Polysulfone PTFE Polytetrafluoroethylene 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 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) 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 SMA Poly(Styrene Maleic Anhydride) SMC Sheet Molding Compound SMMA Styrene Methyl Methacrylate Copolymer SMS Styrene-a-Methylstyrene SPS Syndiotactic Polystyrene SPU Segmented Polyurethane TAIC Triallyl Isocyanurate TEEE Ether Ester Block Copolymer (Thermoplastic Elastomer) TEEE Thermoplastic Elastomer Ether Ester Block Copolymer TEO Olefinic Thermoplastic Elastomer TES Thermoplastic Styrenic Elastomer TFE Polytetrafluoroethylene 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 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 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) WPE Weight per Epoxide (also called EEW) XLPE Cross-linked Polyethylene