Significance and Use

Dirt, paper and mixtures of polymeric materials complicate the interpretation of data from procedures used to identify and, if desired, quantify the contaminants in recycled plastics.

1. Scope

1.1 The practice describes a procedure for separating recycled plastics based on their color (for example, green versus colorless) and a procedure for washing dirty, ground plastic which results in separation of light materials (density < 1.00 g/cm ³ ). This practice is not intended to represent generic washing procedures used in the plastics recycling industry. The described procedures are solely for preparation of plastic samples for use in other analytical tests. The procedure includes a room temperature wash step to facilitate separation of paper (for example, labels) followed by washing at an elevated temperature.

Note 1Although not presented as a quantitative method, the procedure presented in this practice may be used to provide quantitative results. The user assumes the responsibility to verify the reproducibility of quantitative results.

1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard.

1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

Note 2There is no known ISO equivalent to this practice.

2. Referenced Documents (purchase separately) The documents listed below are referenced within the subject standard but are not provided as part of the standard.

ASTM Standards

D1600 Terminology for Abbreviated Terms Relating to Plastics

D5814 Practice for Determination of Contamination in Recycled Poly(Ethylene Terephthalate) (PET) Flakes and Chips Using a Plaque Test

D5991 Practice for Separation and Identification of Poly(Vinyl Chloride) (PVC) Contamination in Poly(Ethylene Terephthalate) (PET) Flake

D7209 Guide for Waste Reduction, Resource Recovery, and Use of Recycled Polymeric Materials and Products

Keywords

contamination; poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET); poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC); recycled plastics; washing; Contamination--plastics; PET (poly(ethylene terephthalate)); Poly(vinyl chloride)(PVC); Recycled plastics; Separating recycled plastics; Washing; Water analysis--plastics processing;

ICS Code

ICS Number Code 83.080.01 (Plastics in general)

DOI: 10.1520/D6288-09

ASTM International is a member of CrossRef.

ASTM D6288