High Performance Plastics
Meet specialist materials chosen for demanding conditions, alongside speciality and bio-based polymers that need their own explanation.
17 guides · Every abbreviation explained
From short name to clear explanation.
This is a browsing group, not a performance ranking or a claim that every material is accepted for recycling. It includes the wider polymer families in the reference directory.
17 material guides
Polyetherimide
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.
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