The aim of this article is to provide a first key of access to engineering polymers. For each of the materials reported, we develop a short history; the chemical structure, CAS Registry Number of the neat resin; the industrial production methods; physical, thermal, mechanical, electrical, and chemical properties; processing technologies; and finally their main applications are discussed. Because property values can vary greatly, representative figures are reported mostly from the commercial data sheets compiled by producers; these data are available online and are continuously updated.
The following polymers are considered: cyclic olefin copolymers, syndiotactic polystyrene, acetal resins (polyoxymethylene), polyester resins [ie, poly(ethylene terephthalate), poly(butylene terephthalate), and poly(ethylene naphthalate), polyarylates, liquid-crystal polymers, poly(phenylene ether), polycarbonate, aliphatic and aromatic polyketones, acrylic resins, poly(phenylene sulfide), polysulfones, styrene copolymers, aliphatic and aromatic polyamide resins, polyimides, polyamide imide, polyphthalamide, polyetherimide and fluoropolymers [poly(tetrafluoroethylene), ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene copolymers, fluorinated ethylene–propylene copolymers, perfluorovinylether–tetrafluoroethylene copolymers]. In addition to individual consideration of the materials used, some of the main properties are compared on the frame of interpolymer competition.