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
KEY
TS = Tensile Strength at Yield @ 23oC
EAB =
TM =
Elongation at break
Tensile Modulus @ 23oC
Increasing performance
LTST = Long Term Service Temperature
HDT = Heat Deflection Temperature @ 1.8 MPa
Cost = Relative Cost

All properties are for the natural injection moulding

grade resin only and do not include polymers with
reinforcements or other functional fillers.
Commodity Engineering Performance

Random molecular PS-HI PS-GP ABS SAN PMMA PPO (Modified) PC PAR PSU PES PPSU
High Impact General Purpose Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene Acrylonitrile Polymethylmethacrylate Polyphenylene Oxide Polycarbonate Polyarylate Polysulphone Polyethersulphone Polyethersulphone
orientation in both Polystyrene Polystyrene Styrene (Copolymer) (Copolymer) (Acrylic) (Block copolymer)
TS: 19 - 33 MPa TS: 40 - 50 MPa TS: 40 - 60 MPa TS: 47 - 72 MPa TS: 56 - 70 MPa TS: 40 - 90 MPa TS: 55 - 75 MPa TS: 68 - 71 MPa TS: 70 - 76 MPa TS: 70 - 95 MPa TS: 83 MPa
molten and solid EAB: 40 - 50% EAB: < 3% EAB: 3 - 20% EAB: 2.0 - 10% EAB: 3.0 - 3.5% EAB: 10 - 60% EAB: 110 - 120% EAB: 50 - 100% EAB: 10 - 80% EAB: 40 - 80% EAB: 40 - 80%
phases. TM: 1.8 GPa TM: 3.2 - 3.5 GPa TM: 2.0 - 2.6 GPa TM: 2.3 - 4.1 GPa TM: 3.0 GPa TM: 2.0 - 5.4 GPa TM: 1.6 - 2.4 GPa TM: 2.0 - 2.2 GPa TM: 1.5 - 2.7 GPa TM: 2.4 - 2.6 GPa TM: 2.65 GPa
LTST: 55 - 60oC LTST: 70 - 85oC LTST: 80 - 95oC LTST: 55 - 60oC LTST: 90oC LTST: 80 - 260oC LTST: 95 - 154oC LTST: 130 - 150oC LTST: 150 - 180oC LTST: 180 - 220 oC LTST: 180oC
HDT = 60 - 80oC HDT: 72 - 82oC HDT = 90 - 100oC HDT = 84 - 95oC HDT = 85 - 95oC HDT = 129oC HDT = 135 - 140oC HDT = 165 - 175oC HDT = 160 - 174oC HDT = 200 - 210oC HDT = 204oC
Cost: Cost: Cost: Cost: Cost: Cost: Cost: Cost: Cost: Cost: Cost:

PVC-P SBS SMA ASA SB PEI PAI PI PBI

Plasticised Styrene-Butadiene- Styrene-Maleic Acrylonitrile Styrene Styrene-Butadiene Polyetherimide Polyamideimide Polyimide Polybenzimideazole
Polyvinylchloride Styrene (Copolymer) Anhydride (Copolymer) Acrylate (Copolymer) (Copolymer)
TS: 6 - 20 MPa TS: 35 - 40 MPa TS: 40 - 52 MPa TS: 38 - 70 MPa TS: 26 - 30 MPa TS: 100 - 105 MPa TS: 90 - 150 MPa TS: 72 - 90 MPa TS: 120 - 160 MPa
EAB: 50 - 460% EAB: 40% EAB: 1.8% EAB: 15 - 45% EAB: 20 - 80% EAB: 40 - 60% EAB: 2.6 - 12% EAB: 6 - 8% EAB: 2.6 - 3.0%
Amorphous

TM: 0.002 - 0.020 GPa TM: 1.8 - 2.0 GPa TM: 2.0 GPa TM: 2.3 - 2.9 GPa TM: 1.8 GPa TM: 2.7 - 4.5 GPa TM: 2.5 - 8.8 GPa TM: 1.3 - 4 GPa TM: 4.0 - 6.5 GPa
LTST: 50oC LTST: 60oC LTST: 100oC LTST: 82 - 120oC LTST: 65 - 77oC LTST: 170 - 215oC LTST: 220 - 280oC LTST: 260 - 300oC LTST: 260 - 400oC
General HDT: 20 oC HDT = 67oC HDT = 105oC HDT = 82 - 120oC HDT = 70 - 77oC HDT = 200 - 215oC HDT = 275 - 280oC HDT = 280 - 360oC HDT = 220oC
Characteristics Cost: Cost: Cost: Cost: Cost: Cost: Cost: Cost: Cost:
Soften gradually.
Generally transparent. PVC-U CA CAB CAP CP PET-G PVC-UX PVC-C
Lower Tensile Strength Unplasticised Cellulose Acetate Cellulose Acetate Cellulose Acetate Cellulose Propionate Glycolised Polyethylene Crosslinked Chlorinated
Polyvinylchloride Butyrate Propionate terephthlate Unplasticised PVC Polyvinylchloride
and Tensile Modulus. TS: 45 - 55 MPa TS: 30 - 55 MPa TS: 26 - 50 MPa TS: 26 - 47 MPa TS: 30 - 45 MPa TS: 55 MPa TS: 28 - 40 MPa TS: 53 - 58 MPa
Lower Density. EAB: 25 - 60 % EAB: 5 - 55% EAB: 8 - 80% EAB: 30 - 100% EAB: 45 - 65% EAB: 300% EAB: 150 % EAB: 25 - 45%
Low Creep Resistance. TM: 2.50 - 3.02 GPa TM: 1.6 GPa TM: 0.7 - 1.5 GPa TM: 0.7 - 1.5 GPa TM: 0.8 - 1.5 GPa TM: GPa TM: 2.5 - 3.0 GPa TM: 2.6 - 2.7 GPa
LTST: 60 - 70 oC LTST: 45 - 70oC LTST: 75 - 100oC LTST: 75 - 100oC LTST: 68 - 100oC LTST: 60oC LTST: 70 - 95oC LTST: 90 - 110oC
High Dimensional HDT: 70oC
HDT: 64 - 70oC HDT: 48 - 65oC HDT: 62 - 70oC HDT: 45 - 75oC HDT: 61 - 73oC HDT: 120oC HDT: 105oC
Stability. Cost:
Cost: Cost: Cost: Cost: Cost: Cost: Cost:
Increasing crystallinity

Low fatigue resistance.

Easy to bond using PVC-U PA 6/3/T PPA PARA
adhesives and solvents High-Impact Unplasticised Amorphous polyamide Polyphthalamide Polyaryl amide
(high surface energy). PVC (Amorphous)
TS: 45 - 55 MPa TS: 60 - 100 MPa TS: 85 MPa TS: 60 MPa
EAB: 25 - 60 % EAB:> 50 % EAB: 2.6% EAB: 100%
TM: 2.5 - 3.0 GPa TM: 1.4 - 2.3 GPa TM: 3.7 GPa TM: 24 GPa
LTST: 60 - 70 oC LTST: 125oC LTST: 140oC LTST: 150oC
HDT: 64 - 70oC HDT = 102 - 123oC HDT = 138oC HDT = 150oC
Cost: Cost: Cost: Cost:

Random molecular PE-LD

Low Density
PE-LLD
Linear Low Density
PE-MD
Medium Density
PMP
Polymethyl pentene
EVA
Ethylene-vinyl Acetate
PE-X
Crosslinked
PB
Polybutene-1
PE-UHMW
Ultra-high Molecular
PA 11
Polyamide 11
PA 12
Polyamide 12
PPA
Polyphthalamide
PA 46
Polyamide 46
PEK
Polyetherketone
PEEK
Polyetheretherketone
orientation in Polyethylene Polyethylene Polyethylene (12% VA) Polyethylene (Polybutylene) Weight Polyethylene (Nylon 11) (Nylon 12) (Nylon 46)
TS: 7.0 - 25 MPa TS: 8.0 - 20 MPa TS: 14 - 25 MPa TS: 25 - 28 MPa TS: 10 - 19 MPa TS: 18 MPa TS: 12 - 17 MPa TS: 35 MPa TS: 20 - 60 MPa TS: 50 MPa TS: 85 MPa TS: 100 MPa TS: 52 - 214 MPa TS: 90 - 110 MPa
molten phase, EAB: 50 - 400% EAB: 50 - 500% EAB: 50 - 300% EAB: 15 - 30% EAB: 50 - 750% EAB: 350% EAB: 300 - 380% EAB: 500% EAB: 30 - 400% EAB: 200% EAB: 2.6% EAB: 40% EAB: 1.3 - 330% EAB: 2.5 - 100%
densely packed TM: 0.15 - 0.35 GPa TM: 0.2 - 1.0 GPa TM: 0.25 - 0.70 GPa TM: 1.0 - 2.2 GPa TM: 0.04 - 0.14 GPa TM: 0.6 GPa TM: 0.21 - 0.26 GPa TM: 0.5 GPa TM: 1.0 - 2.0 GPa TM: 1.2 - 1.6 GPa TM: 3.7 GPa TM: 3.3 GPa TM: 1.5 - 18.6 GPa TM: 3.1 - 8.3 GPa
LTST: 40 - 70oC LTST: 44 - 50oC LTST: 38 - 70oC LTST: 55 - 60oC LTST: 50oC LTST: 90oC LTST: 110oC LTST: 55oC LTST: 74 - 147oC LTST: 70 - 80oC LTST: 140oC LTST: 130oC LTST: 90 - 334oC LTST: 154 - 315oC
crystallites in solid HDT = 35oC HDT = 37 - 44oC HDT = 38 - 43oC HDT = 40 - 50oC HDT = 20 - 23oC HDT = 60oC HDT = 54 - 60oC HDT = 42oC HDT = 38 - 55oC HDT = 55oC HDT = 138oC HDT = 190oC HDT = 93 - 334oC HDT = 154 - 295oC
phase. Cost: Cost: Cost: Cost: Cost: Cost: Cost: Cost: Cost: Cost: Cost: Cost: Cost: Cost:

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

Chlorinated Very Low Density Ethylene-methyl Polybutylene- Polyamide 6 Polyamide 66 Liquid Crystal Polymer Perfluoroalkoxy Ethylene- Polychloro- Polytetrafluorethylene
Semicrystalline

Polyethylene Polyethylene Acrylate terephthlate (Nylon 6) (Nylon 66) (Aromatic copolyester) chlorotrifluoroethylene trifluoroethylene
TS: 12.5 MPa TS: 34 - 400 MPa TS: 9 - 12 MPa TS: 30 - 105 Mpa TS: 40 - 50 MPa TS: 40 - 86 MPa TS: 55 - 165 Mpa TS: 15 - 30 MPa TS: 42 - 48 MPa TS: 30 - 40 MPa TS: 17 - 21 MPa
EAB: 700% EAB: 400 - 700% EAB: 750 - 800% EAB: 250% EAB: 150 - 250% EAB: 4.8 - 300% EAB: 1.3 - 2.8% EAB: 300% EAB: 200% EAB: 175% EAB: 140 - 400%
TM: 0.002 GPa TM: 0.10 - 0.20 GPa TM: 0.03 GPa TM: 1.5 - 5.2 GPa TM: 1.2 - 2.8 GPa TM: 0.7 - 5.5 GPa TM: 2 - 20 GPa TM: 0.60 GPa TM: 1.4 GPa TM: 1.3 GPa TM: 0.35 - 0.75 GPa
LTST: 60oC LTST: 60oC LTST: 55oC LTST: 65 - 120oC LTST: 80 - 120oC LTST: 60 - 200oC LTST: 230oC LTST: 260oC LTST: 140 - 166oC LTST: 140 - 150oC LTST: 250 - 260oC
HDT = 25oC HDT = 75 - 95oC HDT = 59oC HDT: 70oC HDT = 60 - 90oC HDT = 50 - 150oC HDT: 200oC HDT = 48 - 60oC HDT = 63 - 67oC HDT = 67 - 75oC HDT = 50 - 60oC
Cost: Cost: Cost: Cost: Cost: Cost: Cost: Cost: Cost: Cost: Cost:
General
Characteristics PP PP PET PA 6/10 PA 6/12 POM EVOH PPS FEP ETFE PVDF
Sharp melting point. Polypropylene Polypropylene Crystalline Polyethylene- Polyamide 6/10 Polyamide 6/12 Polyoxymethylene Ethylene-vinyl Alcohol Polyphenylene Sulphide Fluorinated Ethylene- Polyvinylidenefluoride
(Homopolymer) (Copolymer) terephthlate (Nylon 6/10) (Nylon 6/12) (Acetal Copolymer) ethylene-propylene tetrafluoroethylene
Generally translucent TS: 33 MPa TS: 25 MPa TS: 57 - 75Mpa TS: 50 - 60 MPa TS: 17 - 60 MPa TS: 62 - 70 MPa TS: 37 - 205 MPa TS: 69 - 124 MPa TS: 15 - 21 MPa TS: 35 - 45 MPa TS: 30 - 55 MPa
or opaque. EAB: 150% EAB: 300% EAB: 50 - 200% EAB: 70 - 150% EAB: 4 - 600% EAB: 20 - 75% EAB: 100 - 330% EAB: 1 - 5% EAB: 240 - 350% EAB: 200 - 500% EAB: 50%
Higher Tensile TM: 1.5 GPa TM: 1.2 GPa TM: 2.47 - 3.0 GPa TM: 1.5 - 2.8 GPa TM: 0.29 - 5.5 GPa TM: 2.8 - 3.1 GPa TM: 1.9 - 3.5 GPa TM: 2.2 - 5.5 GPa TM: 0.35 - 0.50 GPa TM: 1.00 GPa TM: 1.3 GPa
Strength and Tensile LTST: 100oC LTST: 90oC LTST: 63 - 100oC LTST: 60 - 110oC LTST: 42 - 190oC LTST: 104oC LTST: 80 - 100oC LTST: 190 - 260oC LTST: 60 - 204oC LTST: 160oC LTST: 150oC
Modulus. HDT = 65oC HDT = 60oC HDT: 63 - 100oC HDT = 65 - 85oC HDT = 50 - 90oC HDT = 110oC HDT =70 - 90oC HDT = 174oC HDT = 48 - 60oC HDT = 90oC HDT = 75 - 82oC
Cost: Cost: Cost: Cost: Cost: Cost: Cost: Cost: Cost: Cost: Cost:
Higher Density.
High Creep Resistance.
PE-HD POM
Low Dimensional High Density Polyoxymethylene
Stability. Polyethylene (Acetal Homopolymer)
High fatigue TS: 10 - 50 MPa TS: 67 - 85 MPa
resistance. EAB: 400 - 800% EAB: 15 - 70%
TM: 0.18 - 1.6 GPa TM: 2.9 - 3.6 GPa
Difficult to bond using LTST: 55oC LTST: 85 oC
adhesives and solvents HDT = 46oC HDT = 124oC
(low surface energy). Cost: Cost:

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.
Issue 7: February 2008