Plastic stands as one of humanity’s most remarkable materials. In our day – to – day lives, we rely on a wide variety of plastics. At home, for instance, we use plastic hoses and pipes to transport water. When we go shopping, plastic bags come in handy for carrying our purchases. Even some of our shoes incorporate plastic components. In the industrial realm, numerous plastic products are essential for production and processing. Clearly, plastic surrounds us everywhere.
There are diverse types of plastic, such as PVC, PE, PU, and more. Each type has its unique properties, which consequently leads to differences in price. Unfortunately, some suppliers may alter the material or use low – quality substances to cut costs. So, how can we distinguish between them? Orientflex is here to share four effective identification methods with you.
First Method: The Density Approach
Start by examining the density of different plastics. Use a liquid as the medium and observe how the plastics behave in it, specifically whether they sink or float. Through this observation, you can make a rough determination of the plastic’s major category. For example, if a piece of plastic floats on water, you can conclude that it isn’t PVC, since PVC has a density greater than 1.
Second Method: The Burning Test
This method focuses on analyzing the flame color, smell, and smoke produced during combustion. Generally, the burning flame of polyolefin is mostly blue or light blue, with a mild and faint odor, and the smoke is white. Many of these plastics contain benzene or chlorine. However, low – quality raw materials tend to emit black smoke and have a pungent smell after burning; ABS is a good example. Additionally, PE and PP exhibit drip ignition, while PVC does not and will self – extinguish.
Third Method: The Optical Inspection
The optical method mainly assesses the transparency of the plastic. Common transparent materials include PS, PC, PMMA, and AS. On the other hand, translucent raw materials are PE, PP, soft PVC, etc., and other raw materials are opaque.
Fourth Method: Color Analysis
Typically, if a plastic doesn’t contain additives with double bonds, it will have a slightly yellowish hue. ABS, for example, often appears slightly yellow.