List of synthetic polymers

Synthetic polymers are often referred to as "plastics", such as the well-known polyethylene and nylon. However, most of them can be classified in at least three main categories: thermoplastics, thermosets and elastomers.

They are not limited to having carbon backbones, elements such as silicon form familiar materials such as silicones. Coordination polymers may contain a range of metals in the backbone, with non-covalent bonding present.

Man-made polymers are used in a wide array of applications: food packaging, films, fibers, tubing, pipes, etc. The personal care industry also uses polymers to aid in texture of products, binding, and moisture retention (e.g. in hair gel and conditioners).

Organic examples

Some of the most important polymers, according to monomer composition, are:

• Polyacrylates
• Polyamides
• Polyesters
• Polycarbonates
• Polyimides
• Polystyrenes

However, a polymer need not be wholly made from one class of monomer, in which case it is classified as a copolymer.

A non-exhaustive list of ubiquitous materials includes:

• acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS)
• polyacrylonitrile (PAN) or Acrylic
• polybutadiene
• poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT)
• poly(ether sulfone) (PES, PES/PEES)
• poly(ether ether ketone)s (PEEK, PES/PEEK)
• polyethylene (PE)
• poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)
• poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET)
• polypropylene (PP)
• polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)
• styrene-acrylonitrile resin (SAN)
• poly(trimethylene terephthalate) (PTT)
• polyurethane (PU)
• polyvinyl butyral (PVB)
• polyvinylchloride (PVC)
• polyvinylidenedifluoride (PVDF)
• poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP)

Inorganic examples

• Polysiloxanes
• Polyphosphazenes

Brand names

These polymers are often better known through their brand names, for instance:

• Bakelite, i.e. phenol-formaldehyde resin
• Kevlar, Twaron, i.e. para-aramid
• Kynar, i.e. PVDF
• Mylar, i.e. polyethylene terephthalate film
• Neoprene i.e. Polychloroprene
• Nylon, i.e. polyamide 6,6
• Orlon, i.e. polyacrylonitrile
• Rilsan, i.e. polyamide 11 & 12
• Technora, i.e. copolyamid
• Teflon, i.e. PTFE
• Ultem, i.e. polyimide
• Vectran, i.e. aromatic polyamide
• Viton, i.e. poly-tetrafluoroethylene
• Zylon, i.e. poly-p-phenylene-2,6-benzobisoxazole (PBO)

See also

• Polymerization
• Radical polymerization
• RAFT (chemistry)