COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE

Department of Engineering Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry

Mendoza Adrian A. 08/02/2021

Course & Year Section Group Date Submitted
Number
BSCE – 1 M15 5 Mrs. Dangin
Family Name First Name Middle Initial Instructor

Experiment No. 6 ︎ ︎

PLASTICS AND POLYMERS

I. Objectives:

1. To list properties of plastic and polymers belonging to different

families.

2. To compare the relative activities of plastic and polymers

3. To identify the density of the plastic and polymers

II. Materials: Different plastic samples

Water

Rubbing alcohol

Cooking oil
III. Procedure and Observations

The 7 different types of plastic, their codes, names, and properties were
being searched for and ensured that the ASTM International Resin Identification
Coding System was being used. It was shown the different plastic symbols, their
code, complete name, visual description, and the flexibility of each plastic. Looked
inside the house and found at least one example. Take a picture of yourself with
all the samples. The plastic sample of each was taken, and the plastic code should
be visible. Last, combine the pictures through the making of a collage.
IV. Illustration
V. Tables

A. Plastic Type, Visual Description, and Flexibility

Plastic Type
Plastic Symbol Visual Flexibility
Code Complete Description
Name

PETE or PET Polyethylene Transparent Semi-rigid

Terephthalate

HDPE High – density Translucent Semi-rigid

Polyethylene

V / PVC Polyvinyl Opaque Rigid

Chloride

LDPE Low – Density Translucent Flexible

Polyethylene

PP Polypropylene Transparent Semi-rigid

PS Polystyrene Opaque Semi-rigid

OTHER Other Plastics Opaque Flexible

B. Physical Properties

1. Density Test
Check which type of plastic (for 1-6 only) will float on water, rubbing
alcohol, and cooking oil. Put a check mark on the appropriate cell.
Plastic Water Isopropyl Alcohol Oil
Type Code float sink float sink float sink
1 ✓ ✓ ✓
2 ✓ ✓ ✓
3 ✓ ✓ ✓
4 ✓ ✓ ✓
5 ✓ ✓ ✓
6 ✓ ✓ ✓

Plastic Copper Wire Test Acetone Test Heat Test

sample green orange/ with no Will not
flame yellow reaction reaction will liquefy liquefy
flame
1 ✓ ✓ ✓
2 ✓ ✓ ✓
3 ✓ ✓ ✓
4 ✓ ✓ ✓
5 ✓ ✓ ✓
6 ✓ ✓ ✓
VI. Discussion of Results

Plastic isn't as straightforward as you may imagine. Every single one of

them is distinct from the others. Some are re-usable, while others create toxic
compounds with repeated usage. Some materials are easily recyclable, while
others require more complex and time-consuming processing throughout the
recycling process (Bahrain, 2018).

For table A, it was searched on what are the different plastic types, visual
description, and flexibility of the given plastic symbol. In the no. 1 plastic symbol,
it was Polyethylene Terephthalate (PETE), the visual is transparent, and semi-
rigid. This was used for food and drink packaging purposes. For the no.2 plastic
symbol, High – density Polyethylene (HDPE), the visual is opaque, and it was semi-
rigid. It was frequently used as a grocery bag, juice container, and medicine bottle.
For no. 3 plastic symbol, Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), the visual is opaque, and it was
rigid. It was often used in toys, detergent bottles, blood bags, and medical tubing.
For the no. 4 plastic symbol, Low–Density Polyethylene (LDPE), the visual is
opaque, and it was flexible. It was used as bags, plastic wraps, food storage
containers, container closures, and also used to wrap wires and cables. For the
no. 5 plastic symbol, Polypropylene (PP), the visual is translucent and was semi-
rigid. It was used for hot food containers and also included in the disposable diaper
and sanitary pad liners. For the no. 6 plastic symbol, Polystyrene (PS), the visual
is opaque, and it is semi-rigid. It was used for food containers, egg cartons,
throwaway cups and bowls, packaging, and even bike helmets are all made of
Styrofoam. Lastly, no.7 plastic symbol, Other Plastics (OTHER), the visual is
transparent, and semi-rigid. ︎It’s ︎for ︎all ︎ plastics ︎not ︎included ︎in ︎numbers ︎1-6, as
well as plastics that can be layered or blended with other forms of plastic, such as
bioplastics. In table B for density test, it resulted that the Polyethylene
Terephthalate (PETE), Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), and Polystyrene (PS) are the
plastics that could float in the water while the High – density Polyethylene (HDPE),
Low – Density Polyethylene (LDPE), and Polypropylene (PP) are the plastics that
sink in the water. For isopropyl alcohol, the Polyethylene Terephthalate (PETE),
Low – Density Polyethylene (LDPE), and Polypropylene (PP) are the plastics that
could float while the plastics that sink in isopropyl alcohol are the High – density
Polyethylene (HDPE), Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), and Polystyrene (PS). In the oil,
the plastic that could float are Polyethylene Terephthalate (PETE), Low – Density
Polyethylene (LDPE), and Polypropylene (PP) while for plastic that sinks are the
High – density Polyethylene (HDPE), Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), and Polystyrene
(PS).
 The plastics that turned green flame in the copper test are the Polyvinyl
Chloride (PVC) while for the plastic turned orange/yellow flame are the
Polyethylene Terephthalate (PETE), High–density Polyethylene (HDPE), Low–
Density Polyethylene (LDPE), and Polypropylene (PP), and Polystyrene (PS). For
the acetone test, the plastics that reacted was the Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) and
Polystyrene (PS) while the plastics that have not reacted are the Polyethylene
Terephthalate (PETE), High–density Polyethylene (HDPE), Low–Density
Polyethylene (LDPE), and Polypropylene (PP). Last, in the heat test, the plastic
that is liquefy was the Polyethylene Terephthalate (PETE), High – density
Polyethylene (HDPE), Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), Low – Density Polyethylene
(LDPE), Polypropylene (PP), and Polystyrene (PS).
VII. Significance of the Experiment

The significance of this experiment was to answer the objectives that were
stated above, which were to list the properties of plastics and polymers, to identify
the density, and to compare. It was useful for us to knew the different types of
plastics, what are their codes, and their names for us to be aware if we saw those
symbols. It can help especially in the environment, and the people.

Where people could throw their plastics in the proper disposable and
could be aware of what plastic they could encounter. It could give knowledge
especially for the students who were going to school to learn and to be disciplined.

It could be having big help for the environment like it could reduce weight,
increased fuel economy because it helps the vehicles safer and plastics are much
lighter than the metals and glasses. It also helps cars get better gas mileage
because internal components don't have to work as hard to drive the vehicle's
weight forward. More efficient fuel consumption means fewer trips to the gas
station and less use of fossil fuels. It can help for energy savings because plastics
are also commonly employed as construction materials in both business and
residential buildings. Plastic windows and other building components may filter UV
radiation, keeping buildings cool in the summer and keeping them warm in the
winter. Last, strength and durability because plastic is resistant to corrosion,
impact, UV radiation, and a variety of other environmental variables, it does not
require as a frequent replacement as other materials. It can help save time and
money by decreasing the need for maintenance and replacement, whether it's for
components in machinery, subterranean sewage piping, or a reusable water bottle
(Acplasticsinc).
VIII. Reference

• https://waste4change.com/blog/7-types-plastic-need-know/
 https://www.qualitylogoproducts.com/promo-university/different-types-
ofplastic.htm
• https://www.acplasticsinc.com/informationcenter/r/good-things-about-
plastic