The Periodic Table of the elements by Mendeleev was a historic achievement in

chemistry and enabled chemists to see the relationship between structure and TANGRAM Consulting
properties of the basic elements.

Polymers also have a strong relationship between structure and properties and this
Periodic Table of Polymers is a first attempt to provide a simple codification of the
Tangram Technology TECHNOLOGY Engineers

basic polymer types and structures.

The diversity of polymer types makes it impossible to include all of the variations in
one simple table and this table only includes the most common polymers.
Periodic Table of Thermoplastics
Increasing performance

Commodity Engineering Performance

Random molecular
orientation in both PS-HI PS-GP ABS SAN PMMA PPO PC PAR PSU PES PPSU
molten and solid High Impact General Acrylonitrile Styrene Polymethyl (Modified) Polycarbonate Polyarylate Polysulphone Poly- Poly-
phases. Polystyrene Purpose Butadiene Acrylonitrile methacrylate Polyphenylene ethersulphone ethersulphone
Polystyrene Styrene (Copolymer) (Acrylic) Oxide (Block
(Copolymer) copolymer)

PVC-P SBS SMA ASA SB PEI PAI PI PBI

Plasticised Styrene- Styrene-Maleic Acrylonitrile Styrene- Polyetherimide Poly- Polyimide Polybenzimide
Amorphous

Poly- Butadiene- Anhydride Styrene Butadiene amideimide azole

General vinylchloride Styrene (Copolymer) Acrylate (Copolymer)
Characteristics (Copolymer) (Copolymer)
Soften gradually.
Generally transparent.
Lower Tensile Strength
and Tensile Modulus. PVC-U CA CAB CAP CP PET-G PVC-UX PVC-C
Lower Density. Unplasticised Cellulose Cellulose Cellulose Cellulose Glycolised Crosslinked Chlorinated
Low Creep Resistance. Poly- Acetate Acetate Acetate Propionate Polyethylene Unplasticised PVC
High Dimensional vinylchloride Butyrate Propionate terephthlate PVC
Stability.
Increasing crystallinity

Low fatigue resistance.

Easy to bond using
adhesives and solvents
(high surface energy). PVC-U PA 6/3/T PPA PARA
High-Impact Amorphous Poly- Polyaryl amide
Unplasticised polyamide phthalamide
PVC (Amorphous)

Random molecular
orientation in PE-LD PE-LLD PE-MD PMP EVA PE-X PB PE- PA 11 PA 12 PPA PA 46 PEK PEEK
molten phase, Low Density Linear Low Medium Polymethyl Ethylene-vinyl Crosslinked Polybutene-1 UHMW Polyamide 11 Polyamide 12 Poly- Polyamide 46 Poly- Polyetherether
densely packed Polyethylene Density Density pentene Acetate Polyethylene (Polybutylene) Ultra-high (Nylon 11) (Nylon 12) phthalamide (Nylon 46) etherketone ketone
crystallites in solid Polyethylene Polyethylene (12% VA) Molecular
phase. Weight PE

PE-C PE-VLD EMA PBT PA 6 PA 66 LCP PFA ECTFE PCTFE PTFE

Semicrystalline

Chlorinated Very Low Ethylene- Polybutylene- Polyamide 6 Polyamide 66 Liquid Crystal Perfluoroalkoxy Ethylene- Polychloro- Poly-tetrafluor-
Polyethylene Density methyl Acrylate terephthlate (Nylon 6) (Nylon 66) Polymer chlorotrifluoro- trifluoro- ethylene
Polyethylene (Aromatic ethylene ethylene
copolyester)
General
Characteristics
Sharp melting point.
Generally translucent
PP PP PET PA 6/10 PA 6/12 POM EVOH PPS FEP ETFE PVDF
or opaque. Polypropylene Polypropylene Crystalline Polyamide 6/10 Polyamide 6/12 Poly- Ethylene-vinyl Polyphenylene Fluorinated Ethylene- Poly-
Higher Tensile (Homopolymer) (Copolymer) Polyethylene- (Nylon 6/10) (Nylon 6/12) oxymethylene Alcohol Sulphide ethylene- tetrafluoro- vinylidene-
Strength and Tensile terephthlate (Acetal propylene ethylene fluoride
Modulus. Copolymer)
Higher Density.
High Creep Resistance.
Low Dimensional
Stability. PE-HD POM
High fatigue High Density Poly-
resistance.
Difficult to bond using
Polyethylene oxymethylene
adhesives and solvents (Acetal
(low surface energy). Homopolymer)

KEY TO MAJOR POLYMER FAMILIES: Styrenes Polyolefins Vinyls Cellulosics Polyesters Polyamides Acrylics Polycarbonates Acetals Polysulphones Imides Fluoropolymers

This table is for comparison only and no responsibility can be taken for the accuracy or the use of the information contained herein. Copyright: Tangram Technology Ltd. (www.tangram.co.uk). The table may be freely reproduced for non-profit purposes provided full acknowledgement of the copyright is given. Comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.
Reduced Version. Issue 2: February 2008