Plastics identification table

As an aid in the identification of the type of plastic used in semifinished plastic materials or in plastic moldings, the Plastics Identification Table by Hj. Saechtling included in this book (Section 9.1) has proved to be quite useful. Starting from the appearance of the material and its elastic behavior, the table leads to a series of simple tests that allow further differentiation between types of plastics. Procedures used in these tests, mentioned in the headings of the table, are described in detail at appropriate places in the text of this book. For such tests it is sufficient to take small splinters or filings removed from the sample at some inconspicuous place. 

An extensive compilation of physical properties, solubilities, pyrolysis behavior, and some characteristic identification of individual plastics are contained in the Plastics Identification Table of Hj. Saechtling (see Section 9.1). 

Table 11.12 Combustion and density tests for plastics identification...

Waste Production, Problems and Prevention Table 2.3 Plastic identification codes... 

When using the type of TGA programme given in Section 6.2.1, enough data have been generated using standard materials to enable some qualitative identification to be made from the pyrolysis derivative peak maximum. For example, the following temperature-polymers matches have been made for some polymer rubbers and plastics (see Table 6.3). 

Identification of hot spots. Localized overheating of a tube causes localized high-temperature creep. This leads to the plastic deformation of a tube, and hence thin tube walls. Such hot spots are indicated by the color of the tube, as shown in Table 21.1. This chart is not a function of... 

The formers (and clamps) used must be completely resistant to the fluid being tested, and radii between 30 and 500 mm are found to give an adequate range of strains for most plastics over thicknesses from 2 to 4 mm. The preferred test temperatures are 23. 40, and 55 C. and the preferred durations are 22 to 24 hours for the short-term test and 1.000 hours for the long-term test, although other values may be used. A number of failure criteria are laid down in the standard to facilitate easy identification for specification purposes, and the table here illustrates these. 

The solubility of a plastic material depends very much on its chemical structure and to some extent on the size of the molecules (molecular weight). The solvents mentioned in Table 3.2, therefore, do not always permit an unambiguous identification. 

Previous chapters have described simple methods of identification, and generally these are sufficient in order to assign an unknown sample to a certain group of plastics. Of course, with these simple methods, especially in dealing with plastics of complicated composition, one can only obtain some qualitative information. In order to obtain more detailed information it is necessary to use more advanced methods of analysis (Table 8.1), which can only be carried out by specially trained personnel. 

Section 8.3 shows the infrared spectra of the most important polymers discussed in this book. IR-spectra of many other plastics and additives can be found in various extensive collections and databanks available and also from the manufacturers of IR-spectrometers. It should be kept in mind that the infrared absorption bands of additives, such as plasticizers, antioxidants, fillers, and pigments will interfere with those of the pure plastic therefore, for the identification of the plastic, these substances will first have to be removed or other additional analytical methods will have to be employed. Table 8.2 coordinates various polymers with their IR-absorption bands. In addition, one should compare the spectrum of any unknown sample with spectra of known polymers either from personally prepared materials or from available spectra collections. It should be noted that spectra shown in various publications are not always recorded using the same units for the vertical and horizontal axes and, therefore, may have a completely different appearance. 

The Conservation of Plastics provides important information on the definition of plastics, their history, technology, properties, identification, degradation, conservation and future preservation. Most importantly, it describes the state of the art of one of the newest fields in cultural heritage — plastics conservation. The information in this book is placed in context, and is illustrated with many examples that those involved in decision-making processes for conserving plastics objects will find helpful. This book will be present on every conservation table, in aU museums, training schools and universities, where it will be used on a daily basis. The beneficiaries will be the objects themselves plastics for everyday use, designer objects, furniture, toys and, most of all, modern and contemporary art. 

The ehallenge in this analysis lies in the efficient extraction and analysis of the complex matrices in which PBDEs are found. The compounds are used in a variety of plastic materials found in consumer products, and samples are prepared typically using either Soxhlet extraction or microwave digestion, followed by few or no clean-up steps. MS/MS can be used to isolate M + and [M-2Br] + isotopic cluster ions for accurate identification and quantitation. Three stages of the MS/ MS analysis of a PBDE are shown in Eigure 15.43. Eigure 15.44 shows a TIC of the common PBDE isomers that are tested for under the RoHS regulations these common PBDE isomers are listed in Table 15.2. Excellent quantitative results... 

The data in Table 10.2 show that it is possible to identify the plasticizer based on results of NMR measurements. A mass spectral guide is available for a quick identification of diall l phthalates using GC-MS analysis. ... 

Physical characteristic. Melting temperatures (melting ranges) and glass transition temperature Tg are characteristic constants of plastics and thus can be used for their identification and quality control. Table 1 lists Tg and Tm values for selected polymers. 

Table 14.10 Technologies Developed for Rapid Identification of Postconsumer Plastics by Resin Type [10]...

Identification of allergens can be performed with chromatographic/mass spectrometric (GC/MS) analysis. Here, we review recent data in which GC/MS analysis was compared with data given in MSDSs (Kanerva et al. 1997). The chemicals identified in the various plastics are given in Tables 2-7. 

The measurement of melt mass-flow rate and density is usually the first step in the specification and identification of polyethylene materials. It should be noted that the density of the base polymer differs from the density of the finished geomembrane mixed with carbon black. The confusion, which can occur in the classification of the PE resin, has briefly been dealt with in Sect. 2.1. As a rule, only geomembianes coloured black by carbon black, and not their natural-coloured resin, reach a density which properly meets the classification of HOPE plastic material (see Sect. 2, Tables 2.2 and 2.3). However, one may not consider these classification limits as strict technical criteria even if the density of the black geomembianes is just below 0.940 g/cm, it may correspond to what is ealled HOPE geomembrane over the whole spectrum of its characteristics. 

Today, recycling of plastics has become paramount in preserving the environment. On the bottom of plastic bottles and other plastic items is an identification number and letters see Table 1.5. This information serves to help in separation of the plastics prior to recycling. Observation of the properties of the plastic such as modulus, together with the identification, will help... 

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