Glossary

Please e-mail us at info@plastics.org.nz if you have any comments or suggestions.

Definitions of commonly used terms for Plastics & the Environment Definitions of commonly used terms for Plastics & the Environment

AAC Adipic acid aliphatic/aromatic copolyesters
AB acrylonitrile‑butadiene plastic
ABAK aerylonitrile‑butadiene‑acrylate plastic; preferred term for ABA
ABS acrylonitrile‑butadiene‑styrene plastic
ACS acrylonitrile‑cliforinated polyethylene‑styrene; preferred term for
ACPES
AEPDS acrylonitrile‑(ethylene‑propylene‑diene)‑styrene plastic; preferred term
for AEPDMS
AMMA acrylonitrile‑methyl methacrylate plastic
ASA acrylonitrile‑styrene‑acrylate plastic
CA cellulose acetate
CAB cellulose acetate butyrate
CAP cellulose acetate propionate
CEF cellulose formaldehyde
CF cresol‑formaldehyde resin
CMC carboxymethyl cellulose
CN cellulose nitrate
COC cycloolefin copolymer
CP cellulose propionate
CPLA polylactic acid aliphatic copolymer
CS casein
CTA cellulose triacetate
EAA ethylene‑acrylic acid plastic
EBAK ethylene‑butyl acrylate plastic; preferred term for EBA
EC ethyl cellulose
EEAK  ethylene‑ethyl acrylate plastic; preferred term for EEA
EMA  ethylene‑methacrylic acid plastic
EP epoxide; epoxy resin or plastic 
E/P ethylene‑propylene plastic; preferred term for EPM
ETFE ethylene‑tetrafluoroethylene plastic
EVAC ethylene‑vinyl acetate plastic; preferred term for EVA
EVOH ethylene‑vinyl alcohol plastic
FEP  perfluoro(ethylene‑propylene) plastic; preferred term for PFEP
FF  furan‑formaldehyde resin
GRP  Glass Reinforced Plastic
LCP liquid‑crystal polymer
MABS methyl methacrylate‑acrylonitrile‑butadiene‑styrene plastic
MBS methyl methacrylate‑butadiene‑styrene plastic
MC methyl cellulose
MF melamine‑formaldehyde resin
MP melamine‑phenol resin
MSAN alpha‑methyistyrene‑acrylonitrile plastic
PA polyamide
PAA poly(acrylic acid)
PAEK polyaryletherketone
PAI polyamidimide
PAK polyacrylate
PAN polyacrylonitrile
PAR polyarylate
PARA poly(aryl amide)
PB polybutene
PBAK poly(butyl acrylate)
PBAT polybutyrate adipate terephthalate
PBD 1,2‑polybutadiene
PBN poly(butylene naphthalate)
PBS polybutylene succinate
PBSA polybutylene succinate co-adipate
PBT poly(butylene terephthalate)
PC polycarbonate
PCCE poly(cyclohexylene dimethylene cyclohexanedicarboxylate)
PCL polycaprolactone
PCT poly(cyclohexylene dimethylene terephthalate) 
PCTFE polychlorotrifluoroethylene
PDAP poly(diallyl phthalate)
PDCPD polydicyclopentadiene
PE polyethylene
PE‑C polyethylene, chlorinated; preferred ISO term for CPE
PE‑HD polyethylene, high density; preferred ISO term for HDPE
PE‑LD polyethylene, low density; preferred ISO term for LDPE
PE‑LLD polyethylene, linear low density; preferred ISO term for LLDPE
PE‑MD polyethylene, medium density; preferred ISO term for IMIDPE
PE‑UHMW polyethylene, ultra high molecular weight; preferred ISO term for UHMWPE
PE‑VLD polyethylene, very low density; preferred ISO term for VLDPE
PEC polyestercarbonate
PEEK polyetheretherketone
PEEST polyetherester
PEI polyetherimide
PEK polyetherketone
PEN poly(ethylene naphthalate)
PEOX poly(ethylene oxide)
PESTUR polyesterurethane
PESU polyethersulfone
PET poly(ethylene terephthalate)
PETP Polyester
PEUR polyetherurethane
PF phenol‑formaldehyde resin
PFA perfluoro alkoxyl alkane resin
PHA polyhydroxyalkanoates
PHB polyhydroxybutyrate
PHBV polyhydroxybutyrate-valerate copolymer
PI polyimide
PIB polyisobutylene
PIR polyisocyanurate
PK polyketone
PLA Polylactic acid
PMI polymethacrylimide
PMMA poly(methyl methacrylate)
PMMI poly‑N‑methyimethacrylimide
PMP poly‑4‑methyl pent‑1‑en e
PMS poly‑alpha‑methylstyrene
POM polyoxymethylene; polyacetal; polyformaldehyde
PP polypropylene
PP‑E polypropylene, expandable; preferred ISO term for EPP
PP‑HI polypropylene, high impact; preferred ISO term for HIPP
PPE poly(phenylene ether)
PPOX poly(propylene oxide)
PPS poly(phenylene sulfide) 
PPSU poly(phenyiene sulfone)
PS polystyrene 
PS‑E polystyrene, expandable; preferred ISO term for EPS
PS‑HI polystyrene, high impact; preferred ISO term for HIPS
PSU polysulfone
PTFE polytetrafluoroethylene
PTT poly(trimethylene terephthalate)
PUR polyurethane
PVAC poly(vinyl acetate)
PVAL poly(vinyl alcohol), preferred term for PVOH
PVB poly(vinyl butyral)
PVC poly(vinyl chloride)
PVC‑C poly(vinyl chloride), chlorinated; preferred term for CPVC
PVC‑U poly(vinyl chloride), unplasticized; preferred term for UPVC
PVDC poly(vinylidene chloride)
PVDF poly(vinylidene fluoride)
PVF poly(vinyl fluoride)
PVFM poly(vinyl formal)
PVK poly‑N‑vinylcarbazole
PVP poly‑N‑vinylpyrrolidone
SAN styrene‑acrylonitrile plastic
SB styrene‑butadiene plastic
SI silicone plastic
SMAH styrene‑maleic anhydride plastic; preferred term for S/MA or SMA
SMS styrene‑alpha‑methylstyrene plastic
TDPA totally degradable plastic additives
UF urea‑formaldehyde resin
UP unsaturated polyester resin
VCE vinyl chloride‑ethylene plastic
VCEMAK vinyl chloride‑ethylene‑methyl acrylate plastic; preferred term for
VCEMA
VCEVAC vinyl chloride‑ethylene‑vinyl acetate plastic
VCMAK vinyl chloride‑methyl acrylate plastic; preferred term for VCMA
VCMMA vinyl chloride‑methyl methacrylate plastic
VCOAK vinyl chloride‑octyl acrylate plastic; preferred term for VCOA
WVAC vinyl chloride‑vinyl acetate plastic
VCVDC vinyl chloride‑vinylidene chloride plastic
VE vinyl ester resin


Symbols indicating special characteristics

Symbol Meaning
A acid (modified)
A amorphous, atactic
B biaxial 
B block 
B brominated
C chlorinated
C crystalline, isotactic
D density
E elastomer
E expanded; expandable
E epoxidised
F flexible
F fluorinated
F fluid
G glycol (modified)
H high
H homo
I impact
L linear
L low
M medium
M molecular
N normal
N novolak
O orientated
P plasticized
P thermoplastic
R raised
R random
R resol
R rigid
S saturated
S syndiotactic
S thermosetting
T temperature (resistance)
T toughened
U ultra
U unplasticized
U unsaturated
V very
W weight
X crosslinked; crosslinkable