An easy test for PVC
Barry
Posts: 10,100 ✭✭✭
I thought the following from my archives, originally posted to rec.collecting.coins about a year ago, would be of interest:
The following comes from the Canadian Numismatic Associations correspondence course.
http://www.canadian-numismatic.org/
The Beilstein test is a simple chemical test which is used to determine whether ~ a plastic contains PVC or polyvinylidene chloride. To carry out the test you will need a small propane torch and a copper wire (a ~ penny could also be used). Copper by itself burns cleanly but produces a green flame (copper chloride) when combined with a compound containing chlorine ( e.g., PVC)
Steps:
Heat the copper wire in the flame of the torch until it burns cleanly. This serves to bum off any unwanted residues that might be on the wire. Make sure that you hold the wire with pliers or an insulator to avoid injury. Touch the hot wire to the holder. Some of the holder will melt and be stuck to the wire. Be sure to hold the holder close to the air intake of the torch in order to draw away
the fumes from the burning plastic. Put the wire back into the flame. If the flame bums yellow or clear, no PVC present. If the flame burns bright green, then some PVC is present.
For the stretch test, pull on the plastic and determine how easy it is to stretch it. The tear test is similar. Try to tear the plastic film as you would a piece of paper.
Stretch and Tear
Polyester (MylarTM) hard to stretch hard to initiate a tear; once tear begins material tears easily; tear has a rough edge
Polypropylene easier to stretch than polyester hard to initiate a tear; once tear begins material tears easily; tear has a clean edge similar to cellophane
Polyethylene easier to stretch than polyester hard to tear tends to tear in directions
Polyvinylchloride easier to stretch than polyester moderately easy to initiate a tear ragged tear edge
Polystyrene hard to stretch easy to initiate a tear; clean tear, but not straight
Cellophane hard to stretch easy to tear
Cellulose Triacetate easier to stretch than polyester fairly easy to tear; tear has "smokey" edge
Burn Tests: Take a small sample of plastic and place it in a pair of tongs or tweezers. Ignite the sample and observe the resulting odor and rate of burn. Please be sure to carry out these tests in a well ventilated area while burning the plastic film over an ashtray. Avoid inhaling the fumes as they may be toxic.
Polyester (MylarTM) faintly sweet melts, burns slowly, beading back without dripping; leaves an ash residue.
Polypropylene burns slowly, beading back without dripping.
Polyethylene + odor like burning candle wax fairly rapid; melts and drips like wax
Polystyrene odor like marigolds melts into a clear liquid
Polyvinlidene Chloride pungent extinguishes itself when removed from the flame
Cellophane burned newspaper does not melt, drip or form beads; burns the same as paper; continues to burn when removed from flame
Cellulose Acetate mixture of burning paper and acetic acid burns slowly when removed from flame.
The following comes from the Canadian Numismatic Associations correspondence course.
http://www.canadian-numismatic.org/
The Beilstein test is a simple chemical test which is used to determine whether ~ a plastic contains PVC or polyvinylidene chloride. To carry out the test you will need a small propane torch and a copper wire (a ~ penny could also be used). Copper by itself burns cleanly but produces a green flame (copper chloride) when combined with a compound containing chlorine ( e.g., PVC)
Steps:
Heat the copper wire in the flame of the torch until it burns cleanly. This serves to bum off any unwanted residues that might be on the wire. Make sure that you hold the wire with pliers or an insulator to avoid injury. Touch the hot wire to the holder. Some of the holder will melt and be stuck to the wire. Be sure to hold the holder close to the air intake of the torch in order to draw away
the fumes from the burning plastic. Put the wire back into the flame. If the flame bums yellow or clear, no PVC present. If the flame burns bright green, then some PVC is present.
For the stretch test, pull on the plastic and determine how easy it is to stretch it. The tear test is similar. Try to tear the plastic film as you would a piece of paper.
Stretch and Tear
Polyester (MylarTM) hard to stretch hard to initiate a tear; once tear begins material tears easily; tear has a rough edge
Polypropylene easier to stretch than polyester hard to initiate a tear; once tear begins material tears easily; tear has a clean edge similar to cellophane
Polyethylene easier to stretch than polyester hard to tear tends to tear in directions
Polyvinylchloride easier to stretch than polyester moderately easy to initiate a tear ragged tear edge
Polystyrene hard to stretch easy to initiate a tear; clean tear, but not straight
Cellophane hard to stretch easy to tear
Cellulose Triacetate easier to stretch than polyester fairly easy to tear; tear has "smokey" edge
Burn Tests: Take a small sample of plastic and place it in a pair of tongs or tweezers. Ignite the sample and observe the resulting odor and rate of burn. Please be sure to carry out these tests in a well ventilated area while burning the plastic film over an ashtray. Avoid inhaling the fumes as they may be toxic.
Polyester (MylarTM) faintly sweet melts, burns slowly, beading back without dripping; leaves an ash residue.
Polypropylene burns slowly, beading back without dripping.
Polyethylene + odor like burning candle wax fairly rapid; melts and drips like wax
Polystyrene odor like marigolds melts into a clear liquid
Polyvinlidene Chloride pungent extinguishes itself when removed from the flame
Cellophane burned newspaper does not melt, drip or form beads; burns the same as paper; continues to burn when removed from flame
Cellulose Acetate mixture of burning paper and acetic acid burns slowly when removed from flame.
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Newkid- submit it and they'll tell ya
Jeremy