Common Polymers
Polyethylene (PE)
Household products (eg: sandwich, supermarket and freezer bages), pipes, toys, bottles, electrical insulation.
Polypropylene (PP)
Similar to PE but with lower density, stiffer properties, water pipes, fibres, sterilizable hospital equipment.
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Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)
Film and coatings, high temperature resistance, chemically inert, electrical insuator, ‘non-stick’, very low co-efficient of friction, expensive, Teflon.
Poly(vinyl chloride) , (PVC)
Water pipes and gutters, bottles, plasticized to make PVC ‘leathercloth’, raincoats, flexible pipe and house, insulation on electrical cables.
Poly(vinyl acetate), (PVA)
Surface coatings, adhesives (glues) and chewing gum.
Polystyrene (PS)
Cheap moulded objects, lighting panels, wall tiles, flower pots. Expanded by blowing agent to produce PS foam, used in coffee cups ets.
Poly(methyl methacrylate), (PMMA)
Airplane windows, bbathroom fittings, combs etc. More expansive than PS e.g: ‘Perspex’ etc.
Poly(ethylene glycol), (PEG)
Water soluble packaging films, thickners. e.g:’carbowax’ etc.
Poly(ethylene terephthalate), (PET)
textile fibres, film, bottles, e.g: ‘Terylene’, ‘Dacron’, ‘Mylar’ etc.
Poly(hexamethylene sebacate), (Nylon 6.10)
Fibres, mouldings etc.
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