Acronyms commonly used in the plastics industry:

ABS = Poly(Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene)

ACM = Poly(Acrylic Acid Ester Rubber)

ACS = American Chemical Society

AN = Acrylonitrile

AO = Antioxidant

APET = Amorphous Polyethylene Terephthlate

API = American Petroleum Institute

ASA = Poly(Acrylic Styrene Acrylonitrile)

ASTM = American Society for Testing and Materials

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BIIR = Bromobutyl Rubber

BMC = Bulk Molding Compound

BOPP = Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene

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CFR = Code of Federal Regulations

CIIR = Chlorobutyl Rubber

CLTE = Coefficient of Linear Thermal Expansion

COF = Coefficient of Friction

CPE = Chlorinated Polyethylene

CPVC = Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride

CSA = Canadian Standards Associates

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DIN = Deutches Institut für Normung

DTUL = Deflection Temperature Under Load

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EMI = Electromagnetic Interference

EPA = Environmental Protection Agency (US Government)

EPDM = Ethylene Propylene Terpolymer Rubber

EPM = Ethylene Propylene Copolymer

EPS = Expanded Polystyrene

EVA = Ethylene Vinyl Acetate Copolymer

EVOH = Poly(Ethylene Vinyl Alcohol)

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FDA = Food and Drug Administration (US Government)

FPVC = Flexible Polyvinyl Chloride

FR = Flame Retardant

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GFR = Glass Fiber Reinforced

GP = General Purpose

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HALS = Hindered Amine Light Stabilizer

HDPE = High Density Polyethylene

HDT = Heat Deflection Temperature or Heat Distortion Temperature

HIPS = High Impact Polystyrene

HNBR = Hydrogenated Nitrile Rubber (Acrylonitrile-Butadiene Rubber)

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IIR = Butyl Rubber

IM = Injection Molded

ISO = International Standards Organization

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LCP = Liquid Crystal Polymer

LDPE = Low Density Polyethylene

LLDPE = Linear Low Density Polyethylene

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MFI = Melt Flow Index

MVTR = Moisture Vapor Transmission Rate

MWD = Molecular Weight Distribution

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OEM = Original Equipment Manufacturer

OPS = Oriented Polystyrene (Film)

OSHA = Occupation Safety and Health Administration (US Government)

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PA = Polyamide (Nylon)

PAN = Polyacrylonitrile

PBT = Polybutylene Terephthalate

PC = Polycarbonate

PE = Polyethylene

PEEK = Polyetheretherketone

PEG = Polyethylene Glycol

PEO = Poly(Ethylene Oxide)

PET = Polyethylene Terephthalate

PETG = PET Modified with CHDM

PEX = Cross-linked Polyethylene

PIB = Polyisobutylene

PMMA = Polymethylmethacrylate

PO = Polyolefin

POM = Polyoxymethylene (Acetal)

PP = Polypropylene

PPE = Polyphenylene Ether

PPG = Polypropylene Glycol

PPO = Polyphenylene Oxide

PS = Polystyrene

PTFE = Polytetrafluoroethylene

PU = Polyurethene

PUR = Polyurethene

PVC = Polyvinyl Chloride

PVDF = Polyvinylidene Fluoride

PVOH = Polyvinyl Alcohol

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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

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SAN = Poly(Styrene Acrylonitrile)

SB = Styrene-Butadiene

SBC = Styrene-Butadiene Copolymer

SBS = Styrene-Butadiene-Styrene

SEBS = Styrene-Ethylene-Butadiene-Styrene

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

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TEO = Olefinic Thermoplastic Elastomer

TES = Thermoplastic Styrenic Elastomer

TPE = Thermoplastic Elastomer

TPO = Thermoplastic Polyolefin

TPU = Thermoplastic Polyurethene

TPV = Thermoplastic Vulcanizate

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UHMW = Ultra High Molecular Weight

UL = Underwriters Laboratory

ULDPE = Ultra Low Density Polyethylene

USDA = United States Department of Agriculture

UV = Ultraviolet

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XLPE = Cross-linked Polyethylene

 

 

Vi-Chem Corporation
55 Cottage Grove Street SW
Grand Rapids, MI 49507-1646 USA

Email: custserv@vichem.com

Phone: (616) 247-8501  ·  Fax: (616) 247-8703  ·  Toll Free: (800) 477-8501