Lab #1: Polymers Testing: How to identify different

plastics

1. Introduction
Material Testing is important in identifying the materials types and identifying the properties of
those material. Mechanical tests such as tensile testing and hardness testing are excellent ways to
provide mechanical properties of the material. But it is important to determine the reaction of
materials to specific changes such as chemicals, flames, high heat, etc. Those reactions will
depend on the plastics structure.

Plastics are different based on their differences in their characteristics. There are different
plastics types, such as, polyolefin (HDPE, LDPE, PP), aromatic plastics (PS, benzene, toluene),
elastomers (e.g. silicone), and thermosets (e.g. epoxy, phenolic). Knowing characteristics of
plastics will allow you to correctly design parts made with plastic.

2. Objectives: The purpose of this experiment is to:

- Explain the different characteristics of different types of plastics. Such as, PVC, silicone,
polystyrene, HDPE (high density polyethylene), and PP.
- Introduce you to different types of materials with their recycling code ID.
- Identify different types of plastics using The Plastics and Elastomers ID Chart.

3. Procedure:
You will be divided into 4 groups of 4 students each. We will use five different types of
materials (PVC, Silicone, PS, HDPE, and PP). We will use five different types of tests. Those
tests are Visual Appearance, buoyancy, solvency (Reaction to Acetone &other solvents), Flame
test (includes observations about smoke, flame color, speed of burning, and whether it is self-
extinguishing), and heat gun (basically a test if the material melts).

The Plastics and Elastomers Identification Chart (attached) Procedure will be used in this
test:
1. The material should be classified if it is Thermoplastics, Thermosets, or Elastomers using
the visual test and the Heat gun test depending on the Plastics and Elastomers
Identification Chart attached.
2. Then Buoyancy Test will be used to test if the material floats or sinks.
3. Once the material is known if it floats or sinks, the flame test will be performed to specify
exactly the type of the material that we are using. The details of all the tests are as follow:

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Step 1: Visual Appearance

Translucency, transparency, and opaqueness are important distinguishing characteristics of a

plastic. For the purpose of this lab, we will include the qualitative tactile characteristics of the
plastic (i.e. what it feels like, e.g. hard, soft, rubbery, etc.).

Step 2: Heat Gun Effect

This test will help us determine if the plastic is a thermoset or a thermoplastic. It will also help
us determine how much heat the plastic will absorb before it distorts and may reach a melting
temperature. The melting temperature can convey some important information about a plastic.

Step 3: Buoyancy Test

Buoyancy Test is used to check if the material sinks or floats. The five types of materials will be
put in a beaker filled with water. A comparison between the five materials can be performed.

Step 4: Flammability

We will use a lighter to ignite a small sample of each plastic. Refer to the Plastics Identification
Chart for flammability characteristics shown below. Smoke, dripping, odor, self-extinguishing,
and other observations will help you refine your identification of an unknown plastic.

Step 5: Chemical Solubility: for the chemical solubility, the chart available in the Lab. will be
used to specify if the material is affected by specific chemicals or not. Acetone will be used in
this test.

Polymers, like all materials, may be affected by exposure to various chemicals. The most
common effects are various degrees of dissolution. During exposure, the polymer may swell,
soften, or dissolve. These reactions can be used to identify either the individual polymer or at
least the family of polymers the individual represents.

We will use acetone and expose the various plastics to it. Plastics exposed to solvents for long
periods of time will show the full extent to which a plastic is affected. There are many solvents
that can affect plastics, from water to strong acids.

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Use the space below to record your observations.
Material Visual Appearance (Color, Flexibility, texture, etc.)

_______

_______

_______

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_______

Material Heat Gun Effect (material melts, change in color and surface, transparency to
opaqueness? etc,)

_______

_______

_______

_______

_______

Material Buoyancy Test (sink or float)

_______

_______

_______

_______

_______

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Does it burn on its own? Must the flame be held on the specimen constantly? What is the color
of the flame? What is the appearance of the smoke?

Material Flame test results

_______

_______

_______

_______

_______

Material Reaction to Acetone & Other Solvents (swell, soften, disintegrate, melt, etc.)

_______

_______

_______

_______

_______

Material Identification using Recycling Codes:

Often plastics are stamped with the material ID. The recycle chart can be used to help identify
the plastic with a recycle ID. However, not all are labeled, or the labeling may be destroyed. In
these cases, the polymer may be identified by means of a few tests.

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Questions:
1. What are some typical applications for each of the following: chemically resistant
plastics, gas permeable plastics, gas impermeable plastics, UV resistant plastics, and self-
extinguishing plastics. Only show two applications of each with pictures.