5/7/2014 Boedeker Plastics : How to Identify Plastic Materials Using The Burn Test

How to Identify Plastic Materials

Using The Burn Test
904 West 6th Street, Shiner, Texas 77984 USA
Phone: 1-361-594-2941 Fax: 1-361-594-2349 E-Mail: [email protected]

1-800-444-3485
BPI Home Page | Applications Guide | Materials Guide | Contact Us!

Using The Burn Test to Identify Plastic Materials

Here is a simplified guide that will help you to identify many common types of plastic materials using a
flame source such as a cigarette lighter, torch, or bottled gas burner. Naturally, the burn test should
be used only for tentative identification. Many complex plastic compounds require a rigorous spectral
or destructive chemical analysis for a positive identification.

To initially determine whether a material is thermoplastic (meltable) or thermoset (non-meltable)

type, heat a metal or glass stirring rod until it glows red or orange (to about 500°F / 260°C) and
press it against the sample. If the sample softens, the material is a thermoplastic; if it does not, it's
probably a thermoset.

Next, hold the sample to the edge of a flame until it ignites. If no flame is produced quickly, hold the
sample in the flame for about 10 seconds. If the material burns, note the color of the flame, the
nature of the smoke, the presence of soot in the air and whether, while burning, the sample drips.

Next, extinguish the flame and cautiously smell the fumes. To identify the odor, samples of known
plastic samples for comparison can be most helpful. Finally, check your observations against the
known characteristics of each plastic as shown in the table below. Once you have made a tentative
identification, it is usually desirable to repeat the flame test once or twice to confirm the results of
the original identification. Remember that additives may affect results. For example: flame retardants
can mask the polymer material's normal flame & smoke burning characteristics.

NOTE: The Burn Test Characteristics Table below is also available for download in easy-to-print one-
page .PDF format here.

PLASTIC MATERIAL BURN TEST CHARACTERISTICS

No Flame Burns, but Extinguishes Continues to Burn after
on Removal of Flame removal of Flame Source
Source
Materials Remarks
Color Color Speed
Odor Odor of Drips Odor of Drips of
Flame Flame Burning

THERMOPLASTICS

ABS Acrid Yellow, No Acrid Yellow, Yes Slow Black smoke

blue blue with soot in
http://www.boedeker.com/burntest.htm 1/4
5/7/2014 Boedeker Plastics : How to Identify Plastic Materials Using The Burn Test
edges edges air
Acetals - - - - Formaldehyde Blue, Yes Slow
no
smoke
Acrylics - - - - Fruity Blue, No Slow Flame may
yellow (cast) spurt
tip Yes if rubber
(molded) modified
Cellulosics
Acetate - Vinegar Yellow No Vinegar Yellow Yes Slow Flame may
with spark
sparks
Acetate Butyrate - - - - Rancid butter Blue, Yes Slow Flame may
yellow spark
tip
Ethyl Cellulose - - - - Burnt sugar Yellow, Yes Rapid -
blue
edges
Nitrate - - - - camphor White No Rapid -
Propionate - - - - Burnt sugar Blue, Yes Rapid -
yellow
tip
Chlorinated - Green, No - - - - Black smoke
Polyether yellow with soot in
tip air
Fluorocarbons
FEP Faint odor of - - - - - - - Deforms;
burnt hair no
combustion,
but drips
PTFE Faint odor of - - - - - - - Deforms;
burnt hair does not
drip
CTFE faint odor of - - - - - - - Deforms;
acetic acid no
combustion,
but drips
PVDF acidic - - - - - - - Deforms
Nylons
Type 6 - - - - Burnt wool Blue, Yes Slow -
yellow
tip
Type 6/6 - Burnt wool Blue, Yes - - - Slow More rigid
or hair yellow than
tip Type 6
nylon

Phenoxies - Acridd Yellowc Noc Acridd Yellowd Yesd Slowd Black smoke
with soot in
air
Polycarbonates - Faint, Orange Yes - - - - Black smoke
sweet with soot in
aromatic air
ester
Polyethylenes - - - - Paraffin Blue, Yes Slow Floats in
yellow water
tip
Polyphenylene
Oxides (PPO) - Phenol Yellow- No - - - - Flame
orange spurts;
very difficult
http://www.boedeker.com/burntest.htm 2/4
5/7/2014 Boedeker Plastics : How to Identify Plastic Materials Using The Burn Test
to ignite
Modified Grade - Phenol Yellow- No - - - - flame
orange spurts;
difficult to
ignite,
soot in air
Polyimides b - - - - - - - Chars;
material
very rigid
Polypropylenes - Acrida Yellowa Yellowa Sweet Blue, Yes Slow Floats in
yellow water;
tip more
difficult to
scratch
than
polyethylene
Polystyrenes - - - - Illuminating Yellow Yes Rapid Dense black
Gas smoke
with soot in
air
Polysulfones - b Orange Orange - - - - Black smoke
Polyurethanes - - - - b Yellow No Slow Black smoke
Vinyls - Hydrochloric Yellow No - - - - Chars, melts
Flexible acid with
green
spurts
Rigid - Hydrochloric Yellow No - - - - Chars, melts
acid with
green
spurts
Polyblends
ABS/Polycarbonate - - - - b Yellow, No - Black smoke
blue with soot in
edges air
ABS/PVC - Acrid Yellow, No - - - - Black smoke
blue with soot in
edges air
PVC/Acrylic - Fruity Blue, No - - - -
yellow
tip

THERMOSETS

Alkyds - - - - - - - - -
Diallyl Phthalates - - - - Phenolic Yellow No Slow Black
smoke,
cracks
Diglycol - - - - Acrid Yellow No Slow Black smoke
Carbonate with soot
Epoxies - - - - Phenol Black No Slow Black smoke
smoke with soot in
air
Melamines Formaldehyde - - - - - - -
and fish
Phenolics Formaldehyde Phenol and Yellowd No - - - - May crack
and phenolc wood or
paperd
Polyesters - Hydrochloric Yellowa Noa b Yellow, No Slow Cracks and
acida blue breaks
edges
http://www.boedeker.com/burntest.htm 3/4
5/7/2014 Boedeker Plastics : How to Identify Plastic Materials Using The Burn Test
Silicones b - - - - - - - Deforms
Ureas Formaldehyde - - - - - - - -
a Flame retardant b Nondescript c Inorganic filler d Ref: Materials Engineering, Penton/IPC,
Organic filler Cleveland, Ohio

http://www.boedeker.com/burntest.htm

Boedeker Plastics, Inc.

904 West 6th Street, Shiner, Texas 77984 USA
USA TOLLFREE : 1-800-444-3485
Phone: 1-361-594-2941 Fax: 1-361-594-2349 E-Mail: [email protected]

© C opyright Boedeker Plastics, Inc. 2014

http://www.boedeker.com/burntest.htm 4/4