1.1 This part of ISO 12086 establishes a system of designation for fluoropolymer materials that may be used as the basis for specifications. It covers the homopolymers and various copolymers of fluoromonomers used as dispersions and for moulding, extrusion and other specialized applications. This part of ISO 12086 describes the designation system and provides codes and tables of values for the designatory properties. The designation system is applicable both to conventional thermoplastic fluoropolymers, processed by various techniques, and those materials that are processed by the unique operations required for the non-conventional thermoplastic polytetrafluoroethylene. The materials include both the fluorocarbon polymers and the various other fluoropolymers as virgin polymers or processed for reuse or recycling. This part of ISO 12086 also includes an extension of the designation system that provides a basis for specification of the materials. This basis for specification may be used to prepare specifications related to well-defined applications. As explained in Clause 5, these specifications will use data blocks 1 to 4 and, if necessary, data block 5 as a complement, the last-mentioned data block containing the specific requirements in relation to the application. Fluoroelastomers are specifically excluded. 1.2 Fluoropolymers are long-chain homopolymers and copolymers of fluoromonomers. Fluoropolymers can be modified with small amounts of different fluoromonomers. In general, provided the polymer is not modified with more than five percent by mass of modifying fluoromonomer(s), it can be classed as the base polymer. PVDF is classed as the base polymer when it is modified during polymerization with up to two percent by mass of additional fluoromonomers in the polymer structure. For PTFE, up to one percent by mass of a modifying comonomer is the limit for the material to be classed as polytetrafluoroethylene. A general discussion of members of the fluoropolymer family is included in Annex C. This part of ISO 12086 is particularly concerned with, but is not limited to, the materials listed in 4.2. The accepted abbreviated term for each material is included in 4.2. 1.3 The various types of fluoropolymer are differentiated from each other by a classification system based on the fluoropolymer genus and appropriate levels of the designatory properties, along with information about basic polymer parameters, intended application or method of processing, important properties, additives, colorants, fillers and reinforcing materials. Designatory properties for each fluoropolymer are selected from the general list in 5.4, and those properties to be designated for each fluoropolymer are listed in 5.7 and in Annexes A and B. 1.4 Provision is made for designation of materials involved in reuse and recycling of the fluoropolymers covered by this part of ISO 12086. A set of designatory properties is provided for reprocessed PTFE because of its special requirements. For non-virgin conventional thermoplastic fluoropolymers, the same designatory properties as used for virgin materials are used with inclusion of the code Z1, Z2 or Z3 in data block 1 as specified in Table 1. 1.5 It is not intended to imply that materials having the same designation necessarily give the same performance. The converse should also be emphasized, i.e. materials with different designations may be suitable for use in the same application. This part of ISO 12086 does not provide engineering data, performance data or processing conditions which may be required to specify materials for particular end-use applications (see the discussion on use of data block 5 in Clauses 5 and 7). If such additional properties are required, they can be determined in accordance with the test methods specified in ISO 12086-2, if suitable.