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  • Case Study

Material Information for Plastics Testing and Certification

Understand the symbols that are commonly used on individual Recognitions to represent generic material types.

Two men consulting over pallets of plastic products

The following symbols are commonly used on individual Recognitions to represent generic material types. These symbols are based on terminology developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) publications covering “plastics-symbols” (ISO 1043) and “rubbers and lattices” (ISO 1629).

Generic material

Symbol

Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene

ABS

Acrylonitrile styrene acrylate

ASA

Alkyd molding compound

AMC

Cellulose acetate

CA

Cellulose acetate butyrate

CAB

Cellulose acetate propionate

CAP

Chloroprene rubber

CR

Diallyl phthalate

DAP

Dough molding compound

MC

Epoxy

EP

Ethylene/propylene/diene

EPDM

Ethylene/propylene

E/P

Ethylene/vinyl acetate

E/VAC

Ethylene/tetrafluoroethylene

E/TFE

Liquid crystal polymer

LCP

Melamine-formaldehyde

MF

Melamine/phenolic

M/P

Methyl methacrylate butadiene styrene

MMBS

Natural rubber

NR

Neoprene (chloroprene butadiene) rubber

CBR

Nitrile rubber

NBR

Perfluoro alkoxyl alkene

PFA

Phenol-formaldehyde (phenolic)

PF

Polyamide (nylon)

PA

Polyamide imide

PAI

Polyarylate

PAR

Polybutadiene rubber

PBR

Polybutylene terephthalate

PBT

Polycarbonate

PC

Polycarbonate/acrylic

PC/A

Polychlorotrifluoroethylene

PCTFE

Polyetheretherketone

PEEK

Polyether imide

PEI

Polyethersulfone

PES

Polyethylene

PE

Polyethylene terephthalate

PET

Polymethyl pentene

PMP

Polyoxymethylene (acetal)

POM

Polyphenylene ether

PPE

Polyvinyl acetate

PVAC

Perfluoroethylene propylene

FEP

Polyimide

PI

Polymethyl methacrylate

PMMA

Polyphenylene oxide

PPHOX

Polyphenylene sulfide

PPS

Polypropylene

PP

Polystyrene

PS

Polysulfone

PSU

Polytetrafluoroethylene

PTFE

Polyurethane

PUR

Polyvinyl chloride

PVC

Polyvinylidene fluoride

PVDF

Polyvinyl fluoride

PVF

Polyester

PER

Sheet molding compound

SMC

Silicone rubber

SI

Silicone molding compound

SIR

Styrene acrylonitrile

AS

Styrene/butadiene

S/B

Styrene (butadiene) rubber

SBR

Styrene maleic anhydride

SMA

Styrene/methylmethacrylate

S/MMA

Thermo elastomeric

TEE

Urea-formaldehyde

UF

Unsaturated polyester

UP

Foamed materials

Materials that have been foamed with the introduction of chemical blowing agents or inert gas may have significantly different properties than non-foamed or solid material forms; ratings that are established for solid (non-foamed) material do not automatically apply to the foamed version of the same material.

Materials used for structural parts

Where the retention of physical properties for a material has been investigated for structural parts in specific applications, e.g., room air conditioners, this is noted in the individual Recognitions and meets a minimum level beyond which consideration depends on the actual design and use of the part.

Materials for use in special environments

Investigation of materials for specific end-use product applications where requirements exist for the retention of properties after exposure to certain critical operating and/or environmental conditions may be indicated in the individual Recognitions.

Composite materials

These materials consist of a sandwich-type construction – a metal and a plastic – and have been tested for flammability to determine compliance with UL 94, the Standard for Safety of Flammability of Plastic Materials for Parts in Devices and Appliances testing, only. Materials may also contain an adhesive that serves to bond the individual components into a composite structure.

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