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