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Plastics Identification Flow Chart

This document provides a flow chart for identifying plastic materials. It outlines the process of determining if a sample is a thermoplastic or thermosetting plastic by seeing if it softens when pressed with a heated metal tip. For thermoplastics, a small sample is then burned to see if it floats, sinks, self-extinguishes or continues burning to identify if it is a polyolefin or other plastic. For thermosetting plastics, similar burning tests are used to identify the material.

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Sam Fraser
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2K views1 page

Plastics Identification Flow Chart

This document provides a flow chart for identifying plastic materials. It outlines the process of determining if a sample is a thermoplastic or thermosetting plastic by seeing if it softens when pressed with a heated metal tip. For thermoplastics, a small sample is then burned to see if it floats, sinks, self-extinguishes or continues burning to identify if it is a polyolefin or other plastic. For thermosetting plastics, similar burning tests are used to identify the material.

Uploaded by

Sam Fraser
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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PLASTICS IDENTIFICATION FLOW CHART

PLASTIC MATERIALS
1030 Cavendish Rd. Mt. Gravatt East Brisbane Qld.4122 Ph 07 3849 7878

www.partec.qld.edu.au

THERMOPLASTIC

SOFTENS

PRESS A HEATED METAL TIP AGAINST THE SAMPLE, DOES IT GO SOFT?

DOES NOT SOFTEN

THERMOSETTING

BURN A SMALL SECTION OF THIS SAMPLE FLOATS DROP A SMALL SAMPLE IN WATER SINKS SELF-EXTINGUISHING CONTINUES TO BURN

MATERIAL
OBSERVATIONS

POLYOLEFINS

ALL OTHERS

COLOUR OF FLAME ODOUR


OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

BURN A SMALL SECTION OF THIS SAMPLE BURN A SMALL SECTION OF THIS SAMPLE NO FLAMES CONTINUES TO BURN

SELF-EXTINGUISHING DRIPS DRIPS NO YES NO YES NYLON YES DRIPS NO

MATERIAL
OBSERVATION

PolySulphone

PPE

COLOUR OF FLAME ODOUR SPEED OF BURNING


OTHER FEATURES
BLACK SMOKE WITH SOOT

YELLOW WITHGREEN EDGES

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