PLASTICS AND ELASTOMERS IDENTIFICATION CHART

PLASTIC MATERIALS ELASTOMERS

SOFTENS PRESS A SOLDERING IRON

THERMOPLASTICS OR A HOT ROD (500 F) THERMOSETS
AGAINST THE SAMPLE
Floats Sinks
Drop a small
BURN A SMALL CORNER OF THE SAMPLE sample in water
FLOATS DROP A SMALL SINKS
SAMPLE IN
WATER SELF-EXTINGUISHING CONTINUES TO BURN
TPV
TPO
MATERIAL MELAMINE PHENOL UREA
DAP FORMALDE- FORMALDE- FORMALDE- POLYESTER SILICONE EPOXY
OBSERVATIONS HYDE HYDE HYDE
PP, PE ALL OTHERS YELLOW YELLOW Self-Extinguishing
YELLOW Burn a small corner
COLOR OF FLAME YELLOW WITH WITH BRIGHT
WITH YELLOW
GREENISH BLUE YELLOW YELLOW of the sample
BLUE TIP BLUE EDGE EDGES

FAINT FISH SOUR PUNGENT

ODOR ODOR OF PHENOL FORMALDEHYDE NONE
LIKE CINNAMON AMINE TPV TPO
PHENOL Continues
BLACK to burn
OTHER SWELLS MAY OR MAY SWELLS SMOKE CONTINUES
BLACK BLACK Blue Base Blue with
MATERIAL SMOKE
AND NOT BE AND WITH TO
SMOKE
CHARACTERISTICS CRACKS SELF-EXTING. CRACKS BURN Large Yellow Yellow Tip Silicone
PE PP SOOT Tip
OBSERVATIONS
BLUE WITH BLUE WITH Burning Rubber Paraffin Wax Yellow
COLOR OF FLAME YELLOW YELLOW BURN A SMALL CORNER OF THE SAMPLE SELF-EXTINGUISHING
TIP TIP Sample
Glows
ACRID OR
ODOR PARAFFIN DIESEL NO FLAMES CONTINUES TO BURN Fast Slow
FUMES URETHANE
None
SPEED OF BURNING STYRENIC POLYESTER POLYAMIDE
ABS, ACRYLICS NYLON Black Smoke Melts & Drips POLYETHER POLYESTER
SLOW ≤ 3 INCHES FAST SLOW POLYCARBONATE
ACETALS Slow TYPE TYPE
FAST > 3 PER MIN. PPO
PTFE CELLULOSE ACETATE POLYSULFONE BLUE WHITE
MELTS CTFE CELLULOSE ACETATE BUTYRATE PVC YELLOW YELLOW
OTHER White YELLOW YELLOW SMALL YELLOW
& PVF CELLULOSE PROPIONATE ORANGE ORANGE
CHARACTERISTICS Smoke, TIP
DRIPS FEP CELLULOSE NITRATE Burned Part
POLYSTYRENE BURNT
Turns White FAINT BURNING
POLYURETHANE SWEET WOOL OR
APPLE RUBBER
POLYESTER HAIR
DRIPS
DRIPS DRIPS FAST SLOW FAST SLOW SLOW

YES NO YES NO YES NO

GRAY/BLACK SMOKE BLACK SOOTY
NO SMOKE
BUBBLES AND SPUTTERS SMOKE SMOKE
MATERIAL CELLULOSE
FEP CTFE PTFE PVF ABS ACETAL ACRYLICS CELLULOSE ACETATE CELLULOSE POLY- POLYESTER CELLULOSE POLY- NYLON POLY- POLY- PPO PPS PVC
ACETATE BUTYRATE PROPIONATE STYRENE NITRATE URETHANE SULFONE CARBONATE
OBSERVATIONS
BLUE BLUE YELLOW YELLOW YELLOW
YELLOW PALE BLUE WITH ORANGE YELLOWISH YELLOW- WITH
COLOR OF FLAME WITH YELLOW BLUE WITH YELLOW WITH WITH BLUE YELLOW YELLOW WITH BLUE YELLOW YELLOW ORANGE OR
YELLOW ORANGE ORANGE GREEN
EDGES TIP SPARKS TIP EDGES TIP YELLOW EDGES
BURNT
BURNT ACETIC BURNT FORMALDE- FRUITY/ RANCID BURNT ILLUMINATING BURNING FAINT WOOL ODOR FAINT HYDRO-
ODOR ACIDIC ACRID VINEGAR GAS OR CAMPHOR OF PHENOL PHENOL ROTTEN CHLORIC
HAIR ACID HAIR HYDE FLORAL BUTTER SUGAR RUBBER APPLE OR
MARIGOLD HAIR SULFUR EGGS ACID

SPEED OF BURNING
SLOW ≤ 3 INCHES SLOW SLOW FAST SLOW SLOW FAST FAST FAST FAST FAST SLOW FAST SLOW SLOW SLOW SLOW
FAST > 3 PER MIN.
BLACK FROTHS BLACK SOME SOME DENSE BLACK SAMPLE SLIGHT BLACK BLACK DIFFICULT METALLIC
OTHER NO SOUND WHITE
SMOKE AND SMOKE SMOKE BLACK SMOKE SMOKE BURNS BLACK FROTHS SMOKE SMOKE TO IGNITE
CHARACTERISTICS SMOKE WITH SOOT WITH SOOT COMPLETELY SMOKE WITH SOOT WITH SOOT SMOKE WHEN SMOKE
WITH SOOT CRACKLES WITH SOOT WITH SOOT SMOKE DROPPED

© Vishu Shah, Consultek, LLC, 460-D West Lambert Road, Brea, CA 92821, 714-674-1981
The Plastics identification technique is laid out in flowchart for eash step-by-step identification by process of elimination. This is shown in the
plastics Identification Chart. There are some basic guidelines one must follow in order to simplify the procedure. The first step is to determine
whether the material is thermoplastic or thermoset. This distinction is made by simply probing the sample with a soldering iron or a hot rod heated
to approximately 500°F. If the sample softens, the material is thermoplastic. If not, it is thermoset. The next step is to conduct a flame test. It is
desirable to use a colorless Bunsen burner. A matchstick can also be used in place of a Bunsen burner. However, care must be taken to distinguish
between the odor of the materials used in the match and the odor given off by burning plastic materials. Before commencing the burning test, it is
advisable to be prepared to write down the following observations:
1.Does the material burn? 2.color of flame 3.Odor 4.Does the material drip while burning 5.Nature of smoke and color of smoke.
6. The presence of soot in the air. 7. Self-extinguishes or continues to burn. 8. Speed of burning--fast or slow
To identify the material, compare the actual observations with the ones listed in the flowchart. The accuracy of the test can be greatly improved by
performing similar tests on a known sample. While performing the identification tests, one must not overlook safety factors. The drippings from
the burning plastic may be very hot and sticky. After extinguishing the flame, inhale the smoke very carefully. Certain plastics like acetals give off
a toxic formaldehyde gas that may cause a severe burning sensation in the nose and chest.