Refractive Index of Common Polymers and Plastics
The following table provides a comprehensive list of refractive index values for different polymers and plastics, taken at room temperature (approximately 20°C or 68°F) and wavelength (λ) of 589 nm.
| Acrylonitrile butadiene-styrene (ABS) | 1.49 |
| Butyl rubber (IIR) | 1.508 |
| Cellulose acetate (CA) | 1.49 |
| Cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB) | 1.478 |
| Cellulose acetate propionate (CAP) | 1.478 |
| Cellulose nitrate (CN) | 1.46 - 1.58 |
| Ethylene propylene diene rubber (EPDM) | 1.474 |
| Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) | 1.4028 |
| Nylon 6 (PA6) | 1.53 |
| Polyamide-imide (PAI) | 1.42 - 1.46 |
| Polycarbonate (PC) | 1.585 |
| Polyethersulfone (PESU) | 1.65 |
| High-density polyethylene (HDPE) | 1.53 - 1.54 |
| Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) | 1.51 - 1.52 |
| Medium-density polyethylene (MDPE) | 1.52 - 1.53 |
| Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) | 1.58 - 1.64 |
| Polyimide (PI) | 1.42 |
| Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) | 1.49 |
| High-impact polystyrene (HIPS) | 1.59 - 1.60 |
| Polystyrene (PS) | 1.59 - 1.60 |
| Polysulfone (PSU) | 1.63 |
| Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) | 1.38 |
| Polyvinyl acetate (PVA) | 1.4669 |
| Polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC) | 1.63 |
| Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) | 1.42 |
| Polyvinyl fluoride (PVF) | 1.46 |
| Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) | 1.54 |
The refractive index of a polymer can vary depending on its composition, structure, and temperature.
Related Tables
References: 1) Cardarelli, François. Materials Handbook: A Concise Desktop Reference. Switzerland: Springer International Publishing, 2018. 2) CRC Materials Science and Engineering Handbook. United States: CRC Press, 2000.