Polymer
A material made from long chains of repeating building blocks. A polymer is the main ingredient in many plastics.
THE POLY-CYCLE MATERIAL GUIDEPlastics.
Plastics.
Made understandable.
What does PET stand for? How is nylon different from rubber? Explore the names, familiar uses and recycling questions behind the materials your business encounters.
4 categories · 69 individual material guides · Full names, clearly explained
START WITH A MATERIAL FAMILY
Choose a category, then a material.Four ways to find your material.
39 guides
Engineering Plastics
Durable components, clear plastics, flexible polymers and related material families.
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17 guides
High Performance Plastics
Technical polymers, fluoropolymers and speciality materials explained.
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8 guides
Additives and Modifiers
The ingredients that change colour, processing and material performance.
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7 guides
Fibres
Glass and carbon reinforcement, from continuous rovings to chopped strands.
Explore the categoryKnow the code? Start here.
69 material guides — type above to filter the list.
PA
Polyamide (nylon)
A family of tough plastics used for parts that rub, flex or carry a load. Nylon is the familiar name for many polyamides.
Understand this material PA 4.6Polyamide 4,6 (nylon 4,6)
A nylon grade chosen for demanding components that need to retain stiffness when warm.
Understand this material PA 6Polyamide 6 (nylon 6)
A widely used nylon for durable moulded components and fibres.
Understand this material PA 6.6Polyamide 6,6 (nylon 66)
A strong engineering nylon found in mechanical and electrical parts.
Understand this material PA 6/66Polyamide 6/66 copolymer
A nylon made using building blocks associated with both PA6 and PA66, allowing processing and flexibility to be adjusted.
Understand this material PA 12Polyamide 12 (nylon 12)
A nylon used where flexibility and low moisture uptake are useful, particularly in tubing.
Understand this material PPAPolyphthalamide
A group of partly aromatic nylons used for parts exposed to higher temperatures.
Understand this material PBTPolybutylene terephthalate
An engineering polyester used to mould stable, precise components.
Understand this material PETPolyethylene terephthalate
A polyester used in bottles, sheet, film, fibres and engineering components. It is the material many people recognise from clear drinks bottles.
Understand this material TPEThermoplastic elastomer
A family of rubber-like materials that can be shaped using thermoplastic processing.
Understand this material TPOThermoplastic polyolefin
A polyolefin-based material designed to combine plastic processing with a degree of rubber-like toughness.
Understand this material SBSStyrene-butadiene-styrene
A block copolymer with hard styrene sections and softer butadiene sections: useful where a material needs to flex.
Understand this material SEBSStyrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene
A hydrogenated styrenic elastomer used in soft, flexible compounds.
Understand this material EPDMEthylene-propylene-diene rubber
A synthetic rubber used for weather-exposed seals and hoses. Finished EPDM is commonly cured into a permanent network.
Understand this material SBRStyrene-butadiene rubber
A synthetic rubber used where repeated contact and abrasion are important.
Understand this material SISilicone rubber
A flexible material based on a silicon-oxygen backbone, rather than the carbon backbone of many everyday plastics.
Understand this material POMPolyoxymethylene (acetal)
A rigid engineering plastic that helps moving parts slide smoothly.
Understand this material HMWPEHigh molecular weight polyethylene
A polyethylene grade with long molecular chains, used for toughness and wear performance.
Understand this material PENPolyethylene naphthalate
A specialist polyester used where a stronger barrier or greater temperature capability is wanted than standard packaging polyester can offer.
Understand this material PCTPolycyclohexylenedimethylene terephthalate
A heat-resistant polyester used in precision electrical components.
Understand this material PCPolycarbonate
A clear, tough engineering plastic used where impact resistance matters.
Understand this material SBCStyrene-butadiene copolymer
A styrenic polymer family that can offer a useful balance of transparency and toughness.
Understand this material COCCyclic olefin copolymer
A transparent specialist plastic used for clear, precise parts and films.
Understand this material ABSAcrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene
A common rigid plastic that balances a hard surface with resistance to knocks.
Understand this material MABSMethyl methacrylate-acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene
A modified styrenic plastic that offers transparency alongside impact performance.
Understand this material SANStyrene-acrylonitrile copolymer
A rigid, often transparent plastic used for durable clear products.
Understand this material GPPSGeneral purpose polystyrene
A rigid polystyrene grade that can be clear, but is generally more brittle than impact-modified polystyrene.
Understand this material HIPSHigh impact polystyrene
Polystyrene modified with rubber to make it tougher than general purpose polystyrene.
Understand this material PPO / PPEPolyphenylene oxide / polyphenylene ether
An engineering polymer usually used as a blend to balance heat performance, stability and processing.
Understand this material SMMAStyrene-methyl methacrylate copolymer
A clear styrenic copolymer used for rigid products where appearance matters.
Understand this material PMMAPolymethyl methacrylate (acrylic)
A clear rigid plastic often used as a lightweight alternative to glass.
Understand this material EVAEthylene-vinyl acetate copolymer
A material that ranges from flexible plastic to soft foam, depending on its formulation.
Understand this material EMAEthylene-methyl acrylate copolymer
In polymer compounding, EMA usually means a flexible ethylene-acrylate resin used to modify other materials.
Understand this material EBAEthylene-butyl acrylate copolymer
A flexible ethylene copolymer used to modify plastics and help certain coatings and adhesive formulations perform.
Understand this material EAAEthylene-acrylic acid copolymer
An ethylene copolymer containing acid groups, often used where bonding to another material is helpful.
Understand this material PVA / PVOHPolyvinyl alcohol
A polymer used in films, binders and coatings; some grades dissolve in water under particular conditions.
Understand this material PVBPolyvinyl butyral
A tough, adhesive polymer best known as the interlayer between sheets of laminated safety glass.
Understand this material POEPolyolefin elastomer
A family of soft, flexible polyolefin materials used on their own or to modify the toughness of other plastics.
Understand this material PB / PB-1Polybutene-1 (polybutylene)
A polyolefin used in flexible pipe systems and to modify packaging or adhesive performance.
Understand this material PEIPolyetherimide
A high-performance, often amber-coloured plastic used in precise components exposed to heat.
Understand this material PEEKPolyether ether ketone
A high-performance thermoplastic used when demanding mechanical, temperature and chemical conditions rule out many ordinary plastics.
Understand this material PPSUPolyphenylsulfone
A tough, high-temperature sulfone polymer used for demanding technical parts.
Understand this material PPSPolyphenylene sulfide
A high-performance engineering thermoplastic used for stable components in hot or chemically demanding environments.
Understand this material PES / PESUPolyethersulfone
A heat-resistant sulfone polymer used in demanding parts and membranes.
Understand this material PSUPolysulfone
A rigid, high-temperature polymer used where hot water, dimensional stability or electrical performance are important.
Understand this material PVDFPolyvinylidene fluoride
A fluoropolymer used for specialist piping, coatings and components exposed to demanding chemicals.
Understand this material LCPLiquid crystal polymer
A polymer family that can form very precise, thin-walled technical components.
Understand this material ETFEEthylene-tetrafluoroethylene copolymer
A tough fluoropolymer used in specialist film, insulation and chemical-service applications.
Understand this material FEPFluorinated ethylene propylene
A melt-processable fluoropolymer used where a combination of clarity, chemical resistance and insulation is useful.
Understand this material PTFEPolytetrafluoroethylene
A fluoropolymer known for its low-friction surface and chemical resistance.
Understand this material SAPSuperabsorbent polymer
A material designed to take up liquid and hold it in a gel-like network. Many hygiene SAPs are based on crosslinked sodium polyacrylate.
Understand this material CACellulose acetate
A cellulose-derived plastic used for clear or decorative items and fibres.
Understand this material Hydrocarbon resinHydrocarbon tackifying resin
A resin used to help adhesive formulations stick, rather than a single structural plastic like nylon.
Understand this material PLAPolylactic acid (polylactide)
A thermoplastic polyester often made from plant-derived feedstocks and used for packaging or 3D-printing filament.
Understand this material PHAPolyhydroxyalkanoates
A family of polyesters produced by microorganisms, with properties that vary substantially by chemistry and formulation.
Understand this material PHBPolyhydroxybutyrate
A member of the PHA polyester family, commonly discussed for bio-based products.
Understand this material PE waxPolyethylene wax
A low-molecular-weight polyethylene material used to change processing or surface behaviour.
Understand this material PP waxPolypropylene wax
A polypropylene-based processing additive used in suitable formulations for lubrication or dispersion.
Understand this material MasterbatchConcentrated pigment or additive in a carrier resin
A concentrated ingredient that manufacturers dose into another plastic to add colour or a particular function.
Understand this material AdditivesIngredients that modify a plastic formulation
A broad group of substances used to change processing, colour, durability or other behaviour. It is a role rather than one chemical identity.
Understand this material Chopped glass fibreShort-cut glass reinforcement
Short lengths of glass fibre used to reinforce a polymer or other matrix. The fibre is glass, not a plastic resin.
Understand this material Chopped carbon fibreShort-cut carbon reinforcement
Short carbon fibres that can be mixed into a suitable polymer to increase stiffness or alter conductivity.
Understand this material Maleic anhydrideMaleic anhydride (MAH)
A reactive chemical building block used to make resins and to functionalise some polymers.
Understand this material Butyl acrylateButyl ester of acrylic acid (BA)
A liquid monomer used to make acrylic polymers; a monomer is a small building block that becomes part of a larger polymer chain.
Understand this material Glass fibreGlass filaments for reinforcement
Very fine strands of glass that can be supplied as yarns, rovings, mats or chopped fibres.
Understand this material Multi-end assembled rovingsBundled continuous glass-fibre strands
Several glass-fibre strands brought together into a larger roving package for composite processing.
Understand this material Glass-fibre direct rovingsContinuous single-end glass-fibre reinforcement
A continuous roving wound into a package and used to make reinforcing fabrics or structural composite shapes.
Understand this material CSMChopped strand mat (glass fibre)
A sheet made from short glass strands held together, used to reinforce suitable resin systems.
Understand this material Carbon fibreCarbon filaments for reinforcement
Fine carbon-rich filaments used in yarn, woven fabric and composite reinforcement.
Understand this materialNo matches yet. Try a shorter name, or ask our team.
A LITTLE KNOWLEDGE GOES A LONG WAY
Six useful words, without the jargon.
Thermoplastic
A polymer that can soften with heat and be shaped again. A usable recycling route still depends on grade and condition.
Elastomer
A material with rubber-like flexibility. Cured rubber behaves differently from a thermoplastic elastomer.
Compound
A formulated material: the base polymer plus ingredients such as colour, filler or reinforcement.
Reinforcement
A material such as glass or carbon fibre added to improve particular properties of the surrounding resin.
Grade
The manufacturer’s specific formulation. Two products with the same polymer abbreviation can perform differently.
FROM INFORMATION TO A PRACTICAL NEXT STEPA guide to materials.
A guide to materials.
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This library is educational, not an acceptance list. Poly-Cycle’s published services cover engineering and polyolefin polymers, alongside cardboard and certain fibres. Suitability is assessed using the actual grade, quantity, form and condition.
Some directory entries are chemicals, additives or cured composites rather than melt-recyclable plastics. Contact the team before making collection arrangements.
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