Types of plastic

Polymer Craft Research about plastic
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An overview of the different types of plastic, these are the most common ones. We mostly work with PP, HDPE, LDPE and PS. Just because we gather that the most from our waste here. However they should al work with our machines, just requires some (temperature) testing.

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Check out this wiki page, it has some info about recycling different types of plastics, such as melting temperatures.

http://www.appropedia.org/Recyclebot

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@ninitron,

Thermoplasts can be recycled (by heat the material gets softened) (bins, bottles, bags, bottle caps, plastic cuttelry etc.)

Thermosets can not be recycled the Precious Plastic way (by heat it degrades and burns) (epoxy, urethane polyester etc.)

However most toys and kitchenware are thermoplastic so possible to recycle.

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@jostodgel, No problem, this is all open source like all of Precious Plastic. Better refer to here and credit PP than credit me.

 

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@mathijsstroober those charts are great! I was wondering if you have published them anywhere else, and if they can be shared on a website with credit to you?

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Hello All,
A little help please. I am wanting to understand thermoplastics/thermosets and wonder if they can be recycled and reused with the precious plastic method.

 

Long story short, where I work we accumulate a lot of plastic toys and kitchenware – which I am told are generally made of thermoplastics and/or thermosets. I would really like to get the big boss on board with precious plastics in order to make a change to our plastic waste, but quickly realise I have no knowledge in this area.

 

Any help or information would be HIGHLY appreciated.

Thank you so much!! 🙂

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Just found this website with more information and thought that it might be of use to some people : https://www.boedeker.com/Technical-Resources/Technical-Library/Plastic-Identification

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If you want to know anything about HDPE here’s an extremely comprehensive page including history, application, recycling, research etc. https://provprocure.com/hdpe-high-density-polyethylene/

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Does the plastic strength decreases after melting or are there other material which are mixed with the plastic to maintain its strength.

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Hi guys, just wanted to know if PP, PE and/or PS were suitable for 3D printers

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@dustin88

Add uv blocker to your material

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What can be done to reduce UV degradation

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So im new to plastic but i have a question. How are some companies making blocks or construction materials with out separating the plastic?

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@mathijsstroober,
Great ideas, Thanks again!! I’ll dig into some experiments 🙂

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@plasticinabackpack
Meting PE bags in an regular oven is relatively safe to try with. Also ironing bags in many layers together can create stiff blocks of PE

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@plasticinabackpack,
Unfortunately, it dense foam is made by thermossetting plastics and therefor not recyclable. It is not possible to make ‘foamy’ plastics with recyclable types.

HDPE does meet your requirements and is perfect for products like mallets, hammers etc

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Hi @Mathijsstroober,
Thanks for sharing these graphics! Curious if you have worked with or know any resources you could suggest for learning about turning a recycled plastic into a dense foam? I’d love to make or source a recycled plastic that is stiff but elastic enough to take some rough handling without fracturing.

Thanks for any help!
Josh

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I would also like to know as i will be doing a DIY project. Currently I have empty HDPE bottles and mostly (detergent bottles or oil bottles). Thank you!

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Hi, did anyone has an experience with HDPE? I would like to know about mechanical properties of recycled HDPE in comparison with virgin HDPE. Thanks.

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About identifying plastic types.

This is from “User’s Guide to Plastic”, a book that is used in plastic related education.

Identifying plastic types by burning.

Material – Type of fire – Odor
ABS – Yellow flame with black smoke, drips – Very characteristic for ABS
PA-Nylon – Blue flame with yellow top, melts and drips with transparent and very fluid drops – Burnt wood
PC-Polycarbonate – Yellow flame with smoke, melts and chars
PE-Polyeten – Blue flame with yellow top, transparant drops that burns – Candles
POM-Acetalplastic – Blue flame without smoke – Ammonia
PP-Polypropen – Blue flame with yellow top, swells and drips – Sweet/Wool
PS – Yellow flame, with black sooting smoke – Citygas (?)
PVC – Yellow flame with green edges, softens – Sulphuracid
SAN – Yellow with black sooting smoke