IDENTIFICATION OF PLASTICS

FredleyKrej V. Aseocheb, Joshua C. Enriquezb, Benevide M. Gatusb, Joseph Amiel R. Rempilloa, Lady
Carmela O. Sacuezab
a
Department of Civil Engineering
b
Institute of Agricultural Engineering
Engineering Science 18 Section V-1L

ABSTRACT

Spark testing is one of the different methods that determine and identify classifications of metals
since they have unique and identifiable pattern of sparks. The spark test is commonly applicable
only on ferrous metals and not on nonferrous metals. It is economical and can be accomplished
easily however it gives less accurate data unlike in other methods like in chip test and magnetic
test. Spark testing is performed in this experiment on four unknown scrap metal specimens with
labels A, B, C, and D. The operator holds each specimen next to an abrasive wheel at a certain
angle to produce sparks. The color, length, and number of sparks the metals produce are then
recorded and analysed to classify the specimens. It is concluded that the larger the number of
sparks the metal produces, the higher carbon content it has.

1.0 INTRODUCTION on the material density and have the values of 1-6
and 7 for other classifications aside from the first six
Polymers are materials whose structures consist of or for materials made with more than one polymer
large molecules, most commonly called resin. They are as follows: 1) Polyethylene
macromolecules, which are bonded by covalent Terephthalate (PETE), 2) High Density Polyethylene
interatomic bonds (Callister &Rethwisch, 2009). (HDPE), 3) Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), 4) Low
They also have large molecular weights by virtue of Density Polyethylene (LDPE), 5) Polypropylene
their long polymer chains. One way to identify (PP), 6) Polystyrene (PS), and 7) others.
polymers is by observing how the polymer structure
and strength changes in high temperature settings
since the reaction of the material would depend on its
structure. 2.0 EXPERIMENTAL SECTION

Thermosets are polymer materials that do not become 2.1 Materials

soft when heated but instead become harder.
Thermoplastics, on the other hand, react the opposite The materials used in the experiment were acetone,
to heat at high temperatures and only harden upon beakers, cooking oil, copper wire, isopropyl alcohol,
cooling. Processes wherein thermoplastics are LPG gas stove and tank, plastic samples and
subjected to are reversible and can be done toothpicks.
repeatedly. Thermoplastics have branched flexible
chains in their structures. Thermosets are network 2.2 Procedures
and cross-linked structures. Elastomeric polymers
There were six unknown polymer samples given to
have the ability to handle large deformations without
the students and were subjected to several tests to
plastic deformation. These, commonly called
identify the resin code of each polymer. The color of
elastomers, have twisted, coiled and kinked
each specimen and their corresponding label were
molecular chains.
noted. The tests on the flowchart which is shown in
To better facilitate the segregation of plastic materials Figure 1 were then conducted for the identification of
and/or plastic wastes, Identification Codes based on the plastics.
Polymer Resins were developed by the Society of
Plastics Industry Inc. on 1988. This is also based on
the composition of plastics that go over a wide range
of variable properties due to their contents and
molecular structures. The codes are highly dependent
Identification of Plastics
Aseoche, Enriquez, Gatus, Rempillo, Sacueza
Figure 1. Flowchart of the test for the identification
of the plastic samples.
2.2.1 Water Test
The plastic chips were placed in the beaker filled
with water. A toothpick was used to push down the
chips to overcome any surface tension and also to
knock off any adhering bubbles. The results whether
the chips sank or floated were then recorded. Those
plastic chips that floated were subjected to alcohol
test and those chips that sank were subjected to
copper wire test.
2.2.2 Copper Wire Test
The copper wire was carefully held in the blue flame
until it became red and hot. It was then removed from
the flame and was put in contact with the plastic chip.
The wire was placed back to the flame and the color
of the flame was observed. The chip that produced a
green flame was identified while the other two were
subjected to acetone test.
2.2.3 Acetone Test
The two chips were placed on the beaker and drops
of acetone were applied to them. After soaking the
chips for 30 seconds, the chip was removed and
scratched to check if it has changed its consistency.
The observations were noted and the samples were
identified.
2.2.4 Alcohol Test
Just like in the water test, the plastic chips were
placed in the beaker but this time filled with alcohol
solution. A toothpick was also used to poke the chips
to knock off any adhering bubbles and overcome any
surface tension. The chip that sank was identified and
the others that floated were subjected to oil test.
2.2.5 Oil Test
2 of 3
Engineering Science 18
29 March 2018
The plastic samples were put in the beaker of oil. To
knock off any adhering bubbles, the toothpick was
again used to poke the plastic sample. The result
whether the chip sank or floated was noted. The
samples were then identified.
3.0 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
A series of tests were made to identify what type of
plastic the specimens are. Figure 2 shows the result of
these tests. The polymers were identified as PVC, PS,
PETE, HDPE, LDPE and PP. The tests helped
emphasize the properties of the specimens, making
the identification of plastics possible.
Figure 2. The series of tests made to identify the type
of polymer.
Water test was first done to separate the specimens
having higher and lower densities than that of water
(pwater=1.00 g/mL). The specimens that floated, D, E
and F, were subjected to the alcohol test. D sank,
classifying it as HDPE. The test showed that D has a
higher density than that of the alcohol solution. The
density of polyethylene is dependent on its degree of
branching (High Density Polyethylene, n.d.). HDPE
lacks this branching which makes it a closely packed
structure (Tarnate, Ignacio & Anit, 2011). E and F,
the plastics that floated in the alcohol test, were
further subjected to the oil test to identify them as
LDPE or PP. The former sank because it has a higher
density than oil (poil=0.91-0.93 g/mL) while the
latter floated because it has a lower density than
oil. Table 1 summarizes the density ranges of the
polymers. It shows that PP is the lightest among the
common plastics. D, E and F are thermoplastics
whose strengths and thermal behavior are determined
by their molecular structure (Tarnate, Ignacio & Anit,
2011).
Identification of Plastics
Aseoche, Enriquez, Gatus, Rempillo, Sacueza

Density Ranges delay and other groups will not wait for the
Polymer Name
(g/mL) group before them to finish conducting the
polyethylene terephthalate 1.38 – 1.39 experiment.
polyvinyl chloride 1.16 – 1.35  The size of the polymer specimens should also
polystyrene 1.05 – 1.07 be slightly bigger than the size of the samples
high density polyethylene 0.95 – 0.98 that we used so that the reaction will clearly be
low density polyethylene 0.92 – 0.94 seen.
polypropylene 0.90 – 0.91
Table 1. Density ranges of the common plastics to
aid in their identification. 6.0 REFERENCES

The samples that sank in the water test are A, B and
C. These were subjected to the copper wire test to
distinguish them from producing an orange or a
green flame. A produced a green flame and was
identified as PVC. The green flame was due to the
presence of chlorine in its composition. B and C
both produced orange flames. They were soaked in
acetone to see if they will have a reaction or not.
After a few seconds, B was observed to turn into a
white film and produced marks after being
scratched. It was identified as PS. This thermoplastic
is generally non-reactive to chemicals but is highly
reactive to acetone (Tarnate, Ignacio & Anit, 2011).
C, on the other hand, was unaffected by the acetone
drops. It was identified as PETE.
3.1 Density of the Alcohol Solution
1. Tarnate, P.M., Ignacio, M.C.C. &Anit, G.M.
(2011). Laboratory Manual for ENSC 18
(Materials of Engineering). Department of
Engineering Science. College of Engineering and
Agro-IndustrialTechnology. University of the
Philippines Los Baños.
2. Callister, W. D., Jr., &Rethwisch, D. G.
(2009). Materials Science and Engineering An
Introduction (8th ed.). p. 535-599. Retrieved
March 28, 2018.
3. Wilhelm, Richard. “Resin Identification
Codes.” ASTM International - Standards
Worldwide, 2008, URL:
www.astm.org/SNEWS/SO_2008/wilhelm_so08
.html

The density of the alcohol solution may be 4. High Density Polyethylene. (n.d.). Retrieved
approximated to range from 0.91 to 0.92 g/mL. Math 27, 2018 from
Following the principle of Archimedes that in a http://wwwcourses.sens.buffalo.edu/ee435/.Poly
solution having lesser density than the sample, the ethylene/CE435Kevin.htm.
sample will sink and the displaced volume will be
the mass of the object. Since (LDPE), having a 5. Flame tests. (n.d.). Retrieved March 27, 2018
density that ranges from 0.92 to 0.94 g/mL, sank and from
polypropylene (PP), with density ranging from 0.90 https://www.chemguide.co.uk/inorganic/group1/
to 0.91 g/mL, floated, we can approximate the flametests.html
density of the alcohol to lie between the density
ranges of the two polymers.

3.2 Importance of Dislodging any Adhering Bubbles

and Overcoming Surface Tension in the Density
Tests

The presence of the bubbles will add to the

buoyancy of the material. If not removed, the
flotation of the samples will be affected and the
density tests will fail.

4.0 CONCLUSION

5.0 RECOMMENDATIONS

 There should be a complete set of materials for

all the groups so that there will be no cause of

3 of 3
Engineering Science 18
29 March 2018