AAGR

average annual growth rate

ABA

acrylonitrile-butadiene-acrylate

ABS

acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer

ACM

acrylic acid ester rubber

ACS

acrylonitrile-chlorinated PE-styrene

AES

acrylonitrile-ethylene terephalate

AMMA

acrylonitrile-methyl methacrylate

AN

acrylonitrile

AO

antioxidant

APET

amorphous polyethylene terephthalate

APP

atactic polypropylene

AS

atomic absorption spectroscopy

ASA

acrylic-styrene-acrylonitrile

ASTM

American Society for Testing and Materials

ATH

aluminum trihydrate

AZ(O)

azodicarbonamide

BATF

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms

BM

blow molding

BMC

bulk molding compounds

BMI

bismaleimide

BO

biaxially-oriented (film)

BOPP

biaxially-oriented polypropylene

BR

butadiene rubber

BS

butadiene styrene rubber

CA

cellulose acetate

CAB

cellulose acetate butyrate

CAD

computer aided design

CAE

computer aided engineering

CAM

computer aided manufacturing

CAP

cellulose acetate propionate

CAP

controlled atmosphere padkaging

CEA

chemical blowing agent

CF

cresol formaldehyde

CFA

chemical foaming agent

CFC

chlorofluorocarbons

CFR

Code of Federal Regulations

CHDM

cyclohexanedimethanol

CIM

computer integrated manufacturing

CN

cellulose nitrate

COP

copolyester

COPA

copolyamide

COPE

copolyester

CP

cellulose propionate

CPE

chlorinated polyethylene

CPET

crystalline polyethylene terephthalate

CPP

cast polypropylene

CPVC

chlorinated polyvinyl chloride

CR

chloroprene rubber

CS

casein

CSD

carbonated soft drink

CTA

cellulose triacetate

CVD

chemical vapor deposition

DABCO

diazobicyclooctane

DAM

days after manufacture

DAM

diallyl maleate

DAP

diallyl phthalate

DCPD

dicyclopentadiene

DE

diotamaceous earth

DEA

dielectric analysis

DETDA

diethyltoluenediamine

DMT

dimethyl ester of terephthalate

DWV

drain, waste, vent (pipe grade)

EAA

ethylene acrylic acid

EB

electron acrylic beam

EBA

ethylene butylic acrylate

EC

ethyl cellulose

ECTFE

ethylene-chlorotrifluorothylene copolymer

EEA

ethylene-ethyl acrylate

EG

ethylene glycol

EMA

ethylene-methyl acrylate

EMAC

ethylene-methyl acrylate copolymer

EMI

electromagnetic interference

EMMA

ethylene methacrylic acid

EMPP

elastomer modified polypropylene

EnBA

ethylene normal butyl acrylate

EP

epoxy resin, also ethytlene-propylene

EPA

Environmental Protection Agency

EPDM

ethylene-propylene terpolymer rubber

EPM

ethylene-propylene rubber

EPS

expandable polystyrene

ESCR

environmental stress crack resistance

ESI

ethylene styrene copolymers

ETE

engineering thermoplastic elastomers

ETFE

ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene copolymer

ETP

engineering thermoplastics

EVA(C)

polyethylene-vinyl acetate

EVOH

polyethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymers

FDA

Food and Drug Administration

FEP

fluorinated ethylene propylene copolymer

FPVC

flexible polyvinyl chloride

FR

flame retardant

FRP

fiber reinforced plastic

GAIN

gas-assisted injection

GIM

gas injection molding

GIT

gas injection technique

GMT(P)

glass mat reinforced thermoplastics

GPC

gel permeation chromotography

GPPS

general purpose polystyrene

GRP

glass fiber reinforced plastics

GTP

group transfer polymerization

HALS

hindered amine light stabilizer

HAS

hindered amine stabilizers

HB

Brinell hardness number

HCFC

hydrochlorofluorocarbons

HCR

heat-cured rubber

HDI

hexamethylene diisocyanate

HDPE

high-density polyethylene

HDT

heat deflection temperature

HFC

hydrofluorocarbons

HIPS

high-impact polystyrene

HMDI

diisocyanato dicyclohexylmethane

HMW

high molecular weight

HNP

high nitrile polymer

IM

injection molding

IMC

in-mold coating

IMD

in-mold decoration

IRI

isophorone diisocyanate

IV

intrinsic viscosity

LCP

liquid crystal polymers

LDPE

low-density polyethylene

LIM

liquid injection molding

LLDPE

linear low-density polyethylene

LP

low-profile resin

MAP

modified atmosphere packaging

MbOCA

methylene-bis-orthochloro aniline

MBS

methyacrylate-butadiene-styrene

MC

methyl cellulose

MDI

methylene diphenylene diisocyanate

MEKP

methyl ethyl ketone peroxide

MF

melamine formaldehyde

MFI

melt flow index

MIS

management information systems

MMA

methyl methacrylate

MPE

metallocene polyethylene

MPF

melamine-phenol-formaldehyde

MPR

melt-processable rubber

MRP

manufacturing requirement planning

MWD

molecular weight distribution

NBR

nitrile rubber

NDI

naphthalene diisocyanate

NR

natural rubber

ODP

ozone depleting potential

OEM

original equipment manufacturer

OFS

organofunctional silanes

OPET

oriented polyethylene terephthalate

OPP

oriented polypropylene

OSA

olefin-modified styrene-acrylonitrile

OSHA

Occupational Safety and Health Admin.

O-TPV

olefinic thermoplastic vulcanizate

PA

polyamide

PAEK

polyaryletherketone

PAI

polyamide imide

polyacrylonitrile

PB

polybutylene

PB

polybenzimidazole

PBA

physical blowing agent

PBAN

polybutadiene-acrylonitrile

PBN

polybutylene naphthalate

PBS

polybutadiene styrene

PBT

polybutylene terephthalate

PC

polycarbonate

PCC

precipitated calcium carbonate

PCD

polycarbodiimide

PCR

post-consumer recyclate

PCT

polycyclohexylenedimethylene terephthalate

PCTA

copolyester of CHDM and PTA

PCTFE

polychlorotrifluoroethylene

PCTG

glycol-modified PCT copolymer

PE

polyethylene

PEBA

polyether block polyamide

PEC

chlorinated polyethylene

PEDT

3,4 polyethylene dioxithiophene

PEEK

polyetheretherketone

PEI

polyether imide

PEK

polyetherketone

PEKEKK

polyetherketoneetherketoneketone

PEL

permissible exposure level

PEN

polyethylene naphthalate

PES

polyether sulfone

PET

polyethylene terephthalate

PETG

PET modified with CHDM

PF

phenol formaldehyde

PFA

perfluoroalkoxy resin

PI

polyimide

PIBI

butyl rubber

PID

proportional, integral, derivative

PIM

powder injection molding

PLC

programmable logic controller

PMDI

polymeric MDI

PMMA

polymethyl methacrylate

PMP

polymethylpentene

PO

polyolefins

POM

polyacetal

PP

polyproplene

PPA

polyphthalamide

PPC

chlorinated polypropylene

PPE

polyphenylene ether, modified

ppm

parts per million

PPO

polyphenylene oxide

PPS

polyphenylene sulfide

PPSU

polyphenylene sulfone

PS

polystyrene

PSU

polysulfone

PTA

purified terephthalic acid

PTFE

polytetrafluoroethylene

PU

polyurethane

PUR

polyurethane

PVC

polyvinyl chloride

PVCA

polyvinyl chloride acetate

PVDC

polyvinylidene chloride

PVDF

polyvinylidene fluoride

PVF

polyvinyl fluoride

PVIDA

polyvinylidene acetate

PVOH

polyvinyl alcohol

QMC

quick mold change

RFI

radio frequency interference

RHDPE

recycled high density polyethylene

RIM

reaction injection molding

RPET

recycled polyethylene terephthalate

RTD

resistance temperature detector

RTM

resin transfer molding

RTV

room temperature vulcanizing

SAN

styrene acrylonitrile copolymer

SB

styrene butadiene copolymer

SBC

styrene block copolymer

SBR

styrene butadiene rubber

SI

silicone plastic

SMA

styrene maleic anhydride

SMC

sheet molding compound

SMC-C

SMC-continuous fibers

SMC-D

SMC-directionally oriented

SMC-R

SMC-randomly oriented

SPC

statistical process control

SQC

statistical quality control

SRIM

structural reaction injection molding

T/N

terephthalatel/naphthalate

TA

terephthalic acid

TDI

toluene diisocyanate

TEO

thermoplastic elastomeric olefin

TLCP

thermoplastic liquid crystal polymer

TMC

thick molding compound

TP

thermoplastic

TPA

terephthalic acid

TPE

thermoplastic elastomer

TPO

thermoplastic olefins

TPU

thermoplastic polyurethane

TPV

thermoplastic vulcanizate

TS

thermoset

TWA

time-weighted average

UF

urea formaldehyde

UHMW

ultrahigh molecular weight

ULDPE

ultralow-density polyethylene

UP

unsaturated polyester resin

UR

urethane

UV

ultraviolet

VA(C)

vinyl acetate

VC

vinyl chloride

VDC

vinylidene chloride

VLDPE

very low-density polyethylene

VOC

volatile organic compounds

WTE

waste to energy

ZNC

Ziegler-Natta cataly