Identification of plastics by burning

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Item Abbreviation Combustibility Burn test
Flame colour
Odour of smoke Change in material
Polyethylene PE Continues to burn Light yellow,
blue in the centre
Styrene or paraffin swells and drips
Polyamide PA Partly self-extinguishing Blue, yellow edges Burning bone or wool Melts and drips
strongly
Polyacetal POM Continues to burn Blueish, almost invisible Acrid ammonia Swells, may drip
Polyethylene terephthalate PET Self-extinguishing Yellow, smoky Sweet Black ash
Polypropylene PP Continues to burn Light yellow,
blue in the centre
Burned oil Swells and drips easily
Polyvinylidene fluoride PVDF Difficult to ignite Yellow Dangerous to
breathe
Chars
polytetrafluoroethylene PTFE Difficult to ignite Yellow Dangerous to
breathe
Swells and chars
Polycarbonate PC Self-extinguishing Clear with smoke Very sweet Bubbles and chars
Polyvinyl chloride PVC Self-extinguishing Yellowish green Acrid
hydrochloric acid
Swells and drips easily
Acrylic
(extruded)
PMMA Self-igniting Yellow, blue stripe Sweet Bubbles, may drip
Acrylic
(cast)
PMMA Self-igniting Yellow, blue stripe,
crackles
Sweet Bubbles, may drip
Polystyrene PS Self-igniting Bright, yellowish red,
Smoke and soot
Sweet Swells and drips
Acrylonitrile
butadiene styrene
ABS Burns poorly Yellow, blue in the centre
smoke and soot
Slightly sweet Swells and chars a little
Polyurethane PUR Self-igniting Bright yellow Acrid, unpleasant May drip