how to identify a plastic material using the burn test
Posted by beauty33 on September 14th, 2018
So you have a plastic part and you need to know what it is made of but you have no idea what plastic it is. This can be a challenging task. Many plastics look and feel alike but we will take a closer look here at some of the ways using a burn test. Please note, this test should be done in an industrial setting and not at home since proper safety protocol must be observed. Burning plastics can give off toxic fumes and plastic drips are very hot.
You might narrow down your search using:
Color
Feel
Texture
Whether the material will burn freely in air when the gas ignition flame is removed
Color of the flame
Smell
Presence of molten drips and color or properties of the smoke
Whether it will float
Change in color of the crease line
Flame-retardants can mask the normal flame and smoke characteristics of a material although stock shapes usually do not include these additives unless. Not all these characteristics can be used to examine every plastic. We will discuss those that do apply.
The first thing to do is determine if the material is a thermoplastic or a thermoset. Remember it is important to work in a well ventilated area.* Heat a metal or glass rod, for example a stirring rod to 500°F/260°C. Press it against the sample. If it is a thermoplastic it will melt, but if it is a thermoset it will not.
Thermoplastics
Here are some common thermoplastics and the ways that you may be able to identify them.
ABS has an acrid smell when a heat source is applied. The flame is yellow with blue edges and will not drip. ABS will continue to burn when the flame source is removed and the odor continues to be acrid, the flame color is the same yellow with blue edges and the material will drip. The rate of burning is slow and black smoke with soot is admitted into the air.
Nylon 6/6 is an off-white plastic material. It is fairly hard and cannot be marred with a fingernail. When burned it gives off the odor of burnt wool or hair. The flame is blue with a yellowish tip. Additionally, the material drips when flame is applied. It will continue to burn slowly after the flame source is removed.
Polycarbonate gives off a faint, sweet aromatic ester smell. The flame is orange in color and PC will drip when a flame is applied. The smoke is black and gives off soot into the air.
Polypropylene smells acrid when a flame is applied and the flame is yellow in color. It will continue to burn after the flame source is removed giving off a sweet smell. The flame at this point is blue with a yellow tip. PP produces drips as it continues to burn slowly. When bent, polypropylene sheet will turn white on the crease line. Interestingly, PP floats in water.
PTFEis a fluorocarbon. It is very white and has a waxy feel. It is also fairly soft. You can mar it with your thumb nail. A piece of PTFE with no flame applied gives off the faint smell of burned hair. When a flame is applied, the material does not drip. PTFE has one of the lowest coefficients of friction of all the thermoplastics. When rubbed against a surface, it will slide easily but will not wear well.
Thermosets
Polyesters, when burned, smell of hydrochloric acid and the flame is yellow in color. There are no drips. Polyesters are flame retardant. When the flame source is removed the material will continue to burn. The smell is nondescript but the flame is a yellow color with blue edges. Again. there are no drips and the material burns slowly. Polyesters will crack and break when flame is applied.
Phenolics smell like formaldehyde and phenol with no flame applied. When a flame source is present the materials will smell of phenols and wood or paper. The flame color is yellow and the material will not drip. The heat source may make phenolics crack.
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