The simple identification method for plastic materials can be carried out in various ways. The following are some commonly used methods aimed at helping people preliminarily identify different types of plastic materials.
1. Appearance observation method for color and transparency: - Observe the color and transparency of plastic materials. For example, polystyrene (PS) is usually transparent or semi transparent, while polyvinyl chloride (PVC) may exhibit different levels of transparency due to variations in plasticizers and fillers- Pay attention to the surface gloss of materials, some materials such as polycarbonate (PC) have glass like transparency and gloss.
Shape and texture: Touch the surface of the material to feel its smoothness, hardness, and whether there is a wax like smoothness. For example, polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) typically have a hard wax like smoothness, while nylon (PA) may be more tough.
2. Physical testing method bending test: - Attempt to bend plastic materials by hand or instrument and observe whether they can be restored to their original state. Soft and flexible materials such as LDPE (low-density polyethylene) differ significantly from hard and non flexible HDPE (high-density polyethylene) or ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymer) in this regard.
Elasticity testing: Testing the elasticity of materials through stretching or compression. Observe its rebound speed and whether it can fully recover its deformation. For example, rubber materials typically have excellent elasticity.
Tap test: Tap the material and listen for its sound. Different materials produce different sounds when struck, such as PE and PP having a lower sound when struck, while PS and ABS may have a clearer sound.
3. Density testing method - using the principle of buoyancy of water, placing plastic materials in water to observe their buoyancy and sinking. Generally speaking, PE and PP have a lower density than water and will float on the surface of the water; PS and most other plastics have a higher density than water and will sink to the bottom of the water. Nylon (PA) has a density close to water and may be in a suspended state.
4. Combustion testing method - ignite a small piece of plastic material and observe its combustion process, flame color, smoke, and odor. Different materials will exhibit different behaviors during combustion. For example, when PE burns, the upper end of the flame is slightly yellow, the lower end is blue, and there is a small amount of black smoke. After the fire is extinguished, there is a smell of paraffin burning; When PVC burns, the flame is yellow with a green background and emits white smoke, with a spicy and pungent odor.
5. Solvent testing method - Contact plastic materials with different solvents to observe whether they dissolve, expand, or change color. Different materials react differently to different solvents, and this method can preliminarily determine the type of material.
6. Infrared spectroscopy analysis method - For situations that require more accurate identification, an infrared spectrometer can be used to analyze plastic materials. Different types of plastic materials have different infrared absorption spectral characteristics, and the material type can be determined through comparative analysis.
Conclusion: The above methods are all simple discrimination methods for plastic materials, suitable for preliminary identification and differentiation of different types of plastic materials. However, for situations that require precise identification, it is recommended to use professional testing instruments and methods for further analysis.
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A simple method for distinguishing plastic materials
View：359 Release Date：2024/8/30 20:45:57