Plastic and polymer identification determines which polymer a part or raw material is made of. It is used to check incoming raw material against the order, for comparison after a supplier change, for competitor product review and in failure analysis. Analysis is performed on an FTIR (Fourier transform infrared) spectrometer using the ATR (attenuated total reflection) technique; solid, liquid, paste and film samples are usually measured without preparation. The spectrum is compared with reference libraries to identify the material.
Identified
- Polymer type: PE, PP, PVC, PA (nylon), PC, ABS, POM, PET, PBT, PMMA, PS, PTFE, PU and others
- Main components of copolymers and blends
- Presence of fillers and reinforcements such as glass fibre, talc, calcite (CaCO₃)
- Spectral comparison with a reference sample
Reference Standard
- ASTM E1252 – General techniques for obtaining infrared spectra for qualitative analysis
Reporting
The report includes the sample spectrum, the closest library matches with match quality, and an evaluation. Where a comparison is required, a reference (approved) sample should also be sent.