HIGH DENSITY POLYETHYLENE (HDPE): HDPE refers to a plastic used to make bottles for milk, juice, water and laundry products. Unpigmented HDPE bottles are translucent and have good barrier properties and stiffness. They are well suited to packaging products with short shelf lives such as milk. Pigmented HDPE bottles generally have better stress crack and chemical resistance than bottles made with unpigmented HDPE. These properties are needed for packaging such items as household chemicals and detergents, which have a longer shelf life. Made via a low-pressure process at 1 atm and 170 degrees. Relative density: 0.941 to 0.965 grams/cubic centimetres. HDPE does not become pliable until temperatures over water’s boiling point, i.e. 100 degrees. HDPE remains stable down to -45 degrees. Good welding properties, weldable at 130 to 170 degrees. LOW DENSITY POLYETHYLENE (LDPE): A plastic used predominantly in film applications due to its toughness, flexibility and relative transparency. LDPE has a low melting point, making it popular for use in applications where heat sealing is necessary. Typically, LDPE is used to manufacture flexible films such as those used for plastic retail bags and garment dry cleaning and grocery bags. LDPE is also used to manufacture some flexible lids and bottles, and it is widely used in wire and cable applications for its stable electrical properties and processing characteristics Made via a high pressure process at 3000 atm and 300 degrees. Low relative density: 0.91 to 0.925 grams/cubic centimetres. LDPE is a tough, semi-transparent material. LDPE becomes pliable at around 60 to 80 degrees. LDPE remains stable down to -60 degrees. Good welding properties, weldable at 110 to 140 degrees. Low permeability to aqueous vapour (steam). High permeability to gases like oxygen. LINEAR LOW DENSITY POLYETHYLENE (LLDPE): A plastic that is used predominantly in film applications due to its toughness, flexibility and relative transparency. LLDPE is the preferred resin for mixing with LDPE, because of its superior toughness and is used in items such as grocery bags, garbage bags and landfill liners. Made via a low-pressure process at 1 atm and 170 degrees. Low relative density: 0.91 to 0.925 grams/cubic centimetre. The production method reduces the tension in the material. This enables the production of thinner foils with good mechanical properties. Typically used as an additive since pure LLDPE is difficult to process. POLYPROPYLENE (PP): Polypropylene has excellent chemical resistance, is strong and has the lowest density of the plastics used in packaging. It has a high melting point, making it ideal for hot-fill liquids. In film form it may or may not be oriented (stretched). PP is found in everything from flexible and rigid packaging to fibres and large molded parts for automotive and consumer products. POLYSTYRENE (PS): Polystyrene is a very versatile plastic that can be rigid or foamed. General purpose polystyrene is clear, hard and brittle. It has a relatively low melting point. Typical applications include protective packaging, containers, lids, cups, bottles, trays and tumblers. COMMON TYPES OF PLASTICS Symbol Type of Plastic Properties Common Uses Recycled In PET Clear, tough solvent Soft drink and water Pillow and sleeping resistant, barrier to gas bottles, salad domes, bag filling, clothing, Polyethylene and moisture, softens biscuit trays, salad soft drink bottles Terephthalate at around 80°C dressing and peanut carpet butter containers PE-HD Hard to semi-flexible, Crinkly shopping bags, Recycling bins, resistant to chemicals freezer bags, milk compost bins, High Density Polyethylene and moisture, waxy bottles, ice cream buckets, detergent surface, opaque, containers, juice bottles, containers, posts, (HDPE) softens at around 75°C, shampoo, chemical and fencing, pipes easily colored, detergent bottles, processed and formed buckets, rigid agricultural pipe, milk crates PVC Strong, tough, can be Cosmetic containers, Flooring, film and clear, can be solvent electrical conduit, sheets, cables, Unplasticised Polyvinyl welded, softens at plumbing pipes and speed bumps, around 80°C fittings, blister packs, packaging, binders, Chloride PVC-U wall cladding, roof mud flaps and mats sheeting, bottles Flexible, clear, elastic, Plasticised Polyvinyl garden hose, shoe soles, can be solvent welded Chloride PCV-P cable sheathing, blood bags and tubing, watch straps PE-LD Soft, flexible, waxy Plastic Food wrap, Rubbish bin liners, surface, translucent, garbage bags, squeeze pallet sheets Low density softens at 70°C, bottles, black irrigation Polyethylene (LDPE) scratches easily tube, garbage bins PP Hard but still flexible, Dip bottles and ice cream Pegs, bins, pipes, waxy surface, softens tubs, potato chip bags, pallet sheets, oil Polypropylene at around 140°C, straws, microwave funnels, car battery translucent, withstands dishes, kettles, garden cases, trays solvents, versatile furniture, lunch boxes, blue packing tape PS Clear, glassy, rigid, CD cases, plastic cutlery, Coat hangers, brittle, opaque, semi- imitation 'crystal coasters, white ware Polystyrene tough, softens at 95°C. glassware', low cost components, Affected by fats and brittle toys, video cases stationery trays and solvents accessories PS-E Foamed polystyrene hot Expanded Polystyrene Foamed, light weight, drink cups, hamburger energy absorbing, heat takeaway clamshells, insulating foamed meat trays, protective packaging for fragile items OTHER Includes all other resins Car parts, appliance Car parts, concrete and multi materials parts, electronics, water aggregate, plastic Letters below indicate ISO (e.g. laminates). cooler bottles, packaging timber code for plastic type e.g. Properties depend on SAN, ABS, PC, Nylon plastic or combination of plastics Types of Plastics Recycling Resources Recycling Facts Recycling Pictures In an attempt to bring order to plastics classification for recycling purposes, the Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI) devised some voluntary codes in 1988. They are commonly called SPI codes, and the numbers within the recycling arrows refer to different types of plastic resins. There is no federal regulation governing the types of symbols you see stamped to plastic, so you can not be certain of consistency from state to state. However, with SPI codes, it is generally safe to assume some consistency. • PET (polyethylene terephthalate): plastic soft drink bottles, water bottles, beer bottles, mouthwash bottles and many more • HDPE (high density polyethylene): milk bottles, detergent bottles, oil bottles, toys, plastic bags • PVC (polyvinyl chloride): food wrap, vegetable oil bottles, blister packaging • LDPE (low density polyethylene): bread bags, frozen food bags, squeezable bottles, fiber, tote bags, bottles, clothing, furniture, carpet, shrink-wrap, garment bags • PP (polypropylene): margarine and yogurt containers, caps for containers, wrapping to replace cellophane • PS (polystyrene): egg cartons, fast food trays, disposable plastic silverware • Other: This code indicates that the item is made with a resin other than the six listed above, or a combination of different resins. © 2002. Patricia A. Michaels. Material Properties Recommended application Noryl Extremely good mechanical, thermal and electrical properties. Good ageing stability and weathering resistance. High stability against chemicals. Dimensionally stable, heat-resistant, self-extinguishing parts, mainly when exchanged with metal. Component parts and cases for entertainment industry and data processing units. Polyamide Thermoplastic with high temperature stability, extremely solid and tenacious. Good sliding properties and high capacity of resistance to wear. Contact with humidity may result in a change of properties. Ideally suited for technical application, especially for machine elements with complicated geometry. Polycarbonate Thermoplastic with high temperature stability with excellent resistance to all kinds of temperature. On the whole, good resistance against chemicals and UV-light. Recommended for cases housing instruments and general indoor and outdoor application. Not recommended for use with strong alkalis or for direct exposure to sunlight. PC-ABS Blend Good stability in case of high temperature combined with enormous impact strength as well as toughness at subzero temperature. On the whole, good resistance against chemicals. UV-light may have a negative effect. Ideally suited for indoor use with moderate corrosive conditions. Limited outdoor suitablility. Special materials comply with ball-thrust hardness test according to VDE 700 at 125°C. ABS Good resistance against medium temperature combined with good impact strength (only certain types) and antistatic adjustment. On the whole, good resistance against chemicals. UV-light may have a negative effect. Cases and operating elements of all kinds. Indoor use, also suitable for low temperature. Limited outdoor application. Suitable for galvanic coating. Polystyrene Normally brittle and resistant to fairly low temperature. SB-types are impact resistant and less sensitive to tearing under pressure. Glossy surface. Metal-cutting is possible. For cases and operating elements with working temperature of less than 65°C. Suitable for indoor use. Exposure to UV-light should be avoided. PMMA (plexiglass® ) Good mechanical properties, slightly brittle. Superior from optical point of view. Permeable to light up to 92% for certain types. Cases and front panels for infrared transmitters and receivers as well as transparent