Understand Plastics and Recognizing Types

PLASTIC IDENTIFICATION

This table shows the plastic most often used in automotive applications. Don’t see the symbol on this table? The plastics with the yellow background are thermoset plastics.

Symbol & Type	How to identify	Typical Usage
DCPD, PDCPD, Metton (Polydicyclopentadiene)	Rigid Material, no fibers, dark gray in color.	Large truck and tractor panels and hoods
PUR, RIM, RRIM Thermoset polyurethane	Usually flexible, maybe yellow or gray, bubbles and smokes when attempting to melt.	Flexible bumper covers (especially on domestics), filler panels, rocker panel covers, snowmobile cowls.
SMC, UP, FRP, Fiberglass	Rigid, polyester matrix reinforced with glass fibers, sands finely	Rigid body panels, fenders, hoods, deck lids, header panels, spoilers
XPE, XLPE, PE-Xb, PEX, Crosslinked Polyethylene	Semi-Flexible, waxy or greasy feel, softens when heated but does not melt	Gas tanks, kayaks, canoes, trash cans, use is declining
ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene)	Rigid, often white but may be molded in any color, sands finely. Very pungent odor when heated.	Instrument panels, grilles, trim moldings, consoles, armrest supports, street bike fairings.
HDPE Polyethylene	Semi-flexible, melts & smears when grinding, usually semi-translucent, waxy or greasy feel.	Overflow tanks, inner fender panels, water storage tanks, gas tanks, kayaks, canoes, playground equipment.
PA, PA-6, PA Polyamide (Nylon)	Semirigid or rigid, sands finely	Radiator tanks, headlamp bezels, exterior trim finish parts, mirrors, plastic engine parts
PBT Polybutylene terphthalate	Semi-rigid or rigid, sands finely.	Automotive panels, electrical connectors, under-hood parts.
PC + ABS Pulse (Polycarbonate & ABS)	Rigid, sands finely, usually dark in color	Door skins (Saturn), instrument panels, street bike fairings
PC + PBT, Xenoy (Polycarbonate blend), SLX	Rigid, sands finely, usually dark in color	Bumper covers (primarily Ford products, 84-95 Taurus, Aerostar, some Mercedes and Hyundai’s)
PE / LDPE Polyethylene	Semi-flexible, melts & smears when grinding, usually semi-translucent, waxy or greasy feel. Smells like a candle when melting.	Overflow tanks, inner fender panels, water storage tanks, gas tanks, kayaks, canoes, playground equipment, trash cans.
PETE, PET Polyethylene Terephthalate	Flexible, strong	Soda bottles, various yarn fibers, headliners, fuse boxes, door panels
PP Polypropylene	Semi-flexible, melts & smears when grinding, waxy or greasy feel, usually a bit stiffer than PE’s	Bumper covers (usually blended with EPDM), inner fenders, radiator shrouds, gas tanks, battery cases, interior panels
PPE, PPE+PS Polyphenylene Ether	Semi-rigid, sands finely, usually off-white or black in color	Fenders, exterior trim, rear hatch panels
PPO + PA Noryl GTX (Nylon blend)	Semi-rigid, sands finely, usually off-white in color.	Fenders (Saturn & GM), exterior trim
PVC Polyvinyl Chloride	Rigid, sands finely, usually white or gray but can be made any color	Pipe, siding, window frames, decking, gutters, speed bumps
TPE Thermoplastic Elastomer	Semi-flexible, usually black or gray, melts & smears when grinding.	Bumper covers, filler panels, under hood parts.
TPO, EPM, TEO Thermoplastic Olefin	Semiflexible, usually black or gray in color, melts & smears when grinding	Bumper covers, air dams, grilles, interior parts, instrument panels, snowmobile cowls.
TPU, TPUR – Thermoplastic Polyurethane	Flexible, sands finely	Bumper covers, soft filler panels, gravel deflectors, rocker panel covers

  PETE

  HDPE – high density polyethylene

  PVC – polyvinyl chloride

  LDPE – low density polyethylene

  PP – polypropylene

  PS – polystyrene

  Resins not mentioned above, or a combination of plastics.

PLASTIC IDENTIFICATION – FLOAT TEST BURN TEST

S(SINK) F(FLOAT)  &   Y(BURN) N(NO BURN) 

TPU – Thermoplastic Urethane S/N

PP – Polypropylene F/Y

ABS – Acrylonitile Butadiene Styrene S/Y

LDPE – Low Density Polyethylene F/Y

TPO – Thermoplastic Olefin F/Y

PA – Polyamide (Nylon) S/Y

PC – Polycarbonate S/N

PPE+PS – Polyphenylene Ether+Polystyrene S/N

PVC – Polyvinyl Chloride S/N

PBT – Polybutylene Terephthalate S/N

HDPE – High Density Polyethylene S/Y

PET – Polyethylene Terephthalate S/N

ASA – Acrylotirile Styrene Acrylate S/Y

PA+PPE – Polyamide + Polyphenylene Ether S/Y

POM – Polyoxymethylene S/Y

Acrylic/PVC – Kydex® S/Y

PP+GF15 – Polypropylen+15% Glass Fibers F/Y

HDPE+GF15 – High Density Polyethylene + 15% Glass Fibers F/Y

PC+ABS – Polycarbonate + Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene S/N

PA+GF15 – Polyamide (Nylon) + 15%          S/Y Glass Fibers