IdentifyingPlasticsToolkitflowchartMuseumofDesigninPlastics.www.modip.ac.

uk

Thisdocumenthasbeendesignedtosignpostyoutowardsidentifyingthe Key:
materialsofwhichobjectsinyourcollectionmightbemade.Itismadefor
peoplewithlittleornoknowledgeofplasticsorthemanufacturingprocesses
Thisboxindicateswhichmaterialshaveyettobe
associatedwiththem. eliminated.

Thefollowingmaterialsareincluded:
AcrylonitrilebutadienestyreneABS

Boisdurci
CaseinformaldehydeCF
CelluloseacetateCA

CellulosenitrateCN Thisshapeindicatesaquestiontobeanswered.
Hardvulcanisedrubber
HighdensitypolyethyleneHDPE
LowdensitypolyethyleneLDPE

MelamineformaldehydeMF
PhenolformaldehydePF Arrowsshowthedirectionyoushouldfollow.
PolyamidePA
PolycarbonatePC
PolyethyleneterephthalatePET Thisshapeindicateswhenthechartflowsontoanother
PolymethylmethacrylatePMMA page.
PolypropylenePP

PolystyrenePS
Polyvinylchloride(plasticisedandunplasticised)PVC
UreaformaldehydeUF
Thisshapeindicatesthepossiblematerialofwhichyou

Thisisbynomeansanexhaustivelistofplasticsbutincludesthematerials objectismade.Itwilloftensuggestthatyouconsult
youarelikelytocomeacrossinyourcollections.Youcanfindoutmore thewebsite:
informationaboutthematerialslistedbyvisiting: www.modip.ac.uk/resources/curators_guide/AZ_plastics
www.modip.ac.uk/resources/curators_guide/AZ_plastics
Onpages10&11youwillfindsomeshortcutsandtradenameswhich
mayhelpyouidentifythematerial.

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 IdentifyingPlasticsToolkitflowchartMuseumofDesigninPlastics.www.modip.ac.uk

Boisdurci
PF PF(nofiller)
CF CN PC
UF CA PS
Isit Yes,Icansee PF(nofiller) Isit Yes,ithasno PA
Hardvulcanised
rubber
transparent? rightthroughit.It PC rigid? flexatall. PMMA
PP couldhavecolour PS PET
HDPE orbecompletely PA
LDPE colourless. PP
PVC PMMA
MF PET No.Ithassome
No.Goto
PMMA point4on flex.Gotopoint1
Yes,itistranslucentwhenIholdituptothe
ABS page4. onpage3.
light.Gotopoint2onpage3.
PS
CN
CA
PC
PA
PET

PC
PA PC Doesitsmell
Doesitsound
PS PS ofcarbolic
No tinnywhen No
PMMA PA acidwhen
PET tapped?
PMMA rubbed?
PF(nofiller) PET
Consultthewebsitefor PF(nofiller)
commonuses,manufacturing
processesanddegradation
notes
Yes
Yes

PS
PF(nofiller)

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 IdentifyingPlasticsToolkitflowchartMuseumofDesigninPlastics.www.modip.ac.uk

PP
PA
CN(onlyintheformofa
LDPE
Point1 Doesitdate tabletennisball)
HDPE
No,ithasabitof fromafter Yes PA
Consultthewebsitefor
flex.
the1950s? PET
Consultthewebsitefor commonuses,manufacturing
commonuses,manufacturing processesanddegradation
processesanddegradation notes
CN notes
CA
PA
PP CA PC Yes
PET CN HDPE
No
PA LDPE
PET CF
Consultthewebsitefor PMMA
commonuses,manufacturing PP Doesitfeel
processesanddegradation PA waxy?
notes PS
CA
CN
PET
CN
CA No.Gotopoint3on
PC Doesitsmell page4.
Point2 Doesitsound
HDPE ofcamphor No
Yes,itistranslucent tinnywhen No
whenIholdituptothe tapped? LDPE whenrubbed?
light. CF
PMMA
PP
PA
CN
PS
CA
PET
PC Yes Yes
PS
HDPE
LDPE
CF
CN
PMMA PS
PP
PA
PET

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 IdentifyingPlasticsToolkitflowchartMuseumofDesigninPlastics.www.modip.ac.uk
CF
PP
PA
Doesithave PET
Point3
Yes Consultthewebsitefor

No,itdoesnot
anyflexto
commonuses,manufacturing PA
feelwaxy. thematerial?
processesanddegradation LDPE
notes HDPE
Consultthewebsitefor
PC
CF commonuses,manufacturing
PC
PMMA processesanddegradation
PMMA
PP PA notes
PA CA
CA No CN
PS PS
PET PET
Consultthewebsitefor Yes
commonuses,manufacturing
processesanddegradation
notes PVC
PP
Isitdarkin PVC PC
Point4 Doesitfeel
colour?eg PP No MF
No,itisnot Yes waxy?
transparent. black,brown, PC ABS
green,red MF Hardvulcanised
ABS rubber
Hardvulcanised PF
Boisdurci Boisdurci
rubber
PF
PF PMMA
CF
Boisdurci PS
UF
PMMA PA
Hardvulcanised No.Goto
PS PET
rubber point5on
No.Goto PA
PP page5.
point7on HDPE
HDPE
page7. LDPE
LDPE
PET
PVC
MF Hardvulcanised Doesithavea
Hardvulcanised Yes
PMMA rubber mottledfinish?
ABS rubber
PS PF
CN
CA Doesitsmell
PC Yes sulphurousor No PF
PA
rubbery?
PET

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 IdentifyingPlasticsToolkitflowchartMuseumofDesigninPlastics.www.modip.ac.uk

Doesthe
Point5 Hardvulcanised Doesitsmell
objectdate rubber Yes Hardvulcanised
No,itdoesnot Yes sulphurousor
frombefore PF rubber
havea rubbery?
mottled the1930s? Boisdurci

PVC No.Goto
PP point6on
PC page6.
MF No
No
ABS
Hardvulcanised
rubber
PF PVC PF
Boisdurci PP Boisdurci
Doesitsound
PMMA PC
tinnywhen
PS MF
tapped?
PA ABS
PET PF
PMMA Doesitsmellof
PS carbolicacid Yes PF
PA whenrubbed?
PET Yes

PS
No

Boisdurci
PF

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IdentifyingPlasticsToolkitflowchartMuseumofDesigninPlastics.www.modip.ac.uk

PP
PVC(plasticised)
Point6 Doesithave PA
No,itdoesnot anyflexinthe Yes PS
soundtinny material? PET
whentapped. Consultthewebsitefor
commonuses,manufacturing
processesanddegradation
PVC notes
PP
PC
MF No
ABS PVC(unplasticised)
PF PP
PMMA PC
PA Doesitsmellof MF
PVC
PS carbolicacid No ABS
PP
PET whenrubbed? PMMA
PC
PA
MF
PS
ABS
PET
PF
PF
PMMA
Consultthewebsitefor
PA
commonuses,manufacturing
PS
Yes PF processesanddegradation
PET
notes

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 IdentifyingPlasticsToolkitflowchartMuseumofDesigninPlastics.www.modip.ac.uk

PA
LDPE
Point7 Doesitfeel HDPE
No,itispaleor Yes
waxy? Consultthewebsitefor
brightincolour commonuses,manufacturing
processesanddegradation
notes
CF
UF
PP
No
HDPE
LDPE
PVC
MF Doesitsound
PMMA CF tinnywhen Yes PS
ABS UF tapped?
PS PP
CN PVC
CA MF
PC PMMA
PA ABS
PET PS
CN No
CA
PC CN
PA Doesithave CA No.Goto
PET CF anyflexinthe Yes CF point8on
UF material? PVC page8.
PP PP
PVC PA
MF PET
PMMA
ABS
CN
CA No
PC
PA
PS
PET PA
MF No.Goto
PMMA point9on
ABS page9.
PVC
PP
PC
UF
PET

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 IdentifyingPlasticsToolkitflowchartMuseumofDesigninPlastics.www.modip.ac.uk

CA
Doesitimitatetortoiseshell, CN
Point8
Yes,ithassomeflex ivoryoramberordoesit Yes Consultthewebsitefor
tothematerial. haveapearlisedfinish? commonuses,manufacturing
processesanddegradation
notes
CN
CA
CF
PVC
PP No
PA
PET CN(aspingpongballs)
CF
CN Doesitdate PP
CA fromafterthe Yes PVC
CF 1950s? PA
PVC PET
PP Consultthewebsitefor
PA commonuses,manufacturing
PET processesanddegradation
notes

No

CN Doesitsmellof
CA camphorwhen Yes
CF rubbed?
PVC
PA
PET

CN
Consultthewebsitefor
PVC
commonuses,manufacturing
PP No
processesanddegradation
PA
PET notes
CA
CN
CF
Consultthewebsitefor
commonuses,manufacturing
processesanddegradation
notes

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IdentifyingPlasticsToolkitflowchartMuseumofDesigninPlastics.www.modip.ac.uk

MF
Doesitdate PVC
Point9
fromafterthe
Yes ABS
No,itisrigid.
1950s? PP
PC
PMMA
PA
PA
MF
PET
PMMA
Consultthewebsitefor
ABS
commonuses,manufacturing
PVC
No processesanddegradation
PP
PC notes
UF
PET
PMMA
PVC
UF
PA
PET
Consultthewebsitefor
commonuses,manufacturing
processesanddegradation
notes

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IdentifyingPlasticsToolkitflowchartMuseumofDesigninPlastics.www.modip.ac.uk

Shortcutnotes Catalin=phenolformaldehyde(unfilled)
Celanese=celluloseacetate
Doesithavealivinghinge?itisalmostcertainlypolypropylene
Celluloid=cellulosenitrate
Boisdurcioftenhasasmallmouldedbirdswingand/orthe
Clarifoil=celluloseacetate
wordsboisdurci
Corian=polymethylmethacrylate
Polystyrenesoundstinnywhentapped
Cycolac=acrylonitrilebutadienestyrene
Phenolformaldehydecansmellorcarbolicacid
Darvic=unplasticisedpolyvinylchloride
Polymethylmethacrylatehasadullsoundwhentapped
Ebena=Boisdurci
Cellulosenitratecanhaveasmellofcamphorespeciallynoticeable
Ebonite=Hardvulcanisedrubber
insideliddedcontainers
Erinoid=caseinformaldehyde
Celluloseacetatecanhaveasmellofvinegar
Estron=celluloseacetate
Vulcanisedrubberhasasulphurousrubberysmell
Galatith=caseinformaldehyde
Acrylonitrilebutadienestyreneyellowsasitdegrades
Gaydon=melamineformaldehyde
Polyethylenehasawaxyfeel
Hostalen=highdensitypolyethylene
Recyclingtrianglesandnumberswereintroducedin1988andthe
Lacqrene=polystyrene
numbersmeanthefollowing:
Lactoid=caseinformaldehyde
1=PETorPETE,2=HDPE,3=PVC,4=LDPE,5=PP,6=PS,
Lexan=polycarbonate
7=other
LingaLonga=ureaformaldehyde
Tradenames Lucite=polymethylmethacrylate
Makrolon=polycarbonate
Alkathene=lowdensitypolyethyleneorhighdensitypolyethylene
Melaware=melamineformaldehyde
Argosy=melamineformaldehyde
Melinex=polyethyleneterephthalate
Bakelite=phenolformaldehyde(filledorunfilled)
Melmac=melamineformaldehyde
Bandalasta=ureaformaldehyde
Melmex=melamineformaldehyde
Beatl=ureaformaldehyde
Mouldrite=phenolformaldehyde(filled)
Beetle=ureaformaldehyde
Mylar=polyethyleneterephthalate
Bexoid=celluloseacetate
Nestorite=phenolformaldehyde(filled)
Carvacraft=phenolformaldehyde(unfilled)
Novodur=acrylonitrilebutadienestyrene

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IdentifyingPlasticsToolkitflowchartMuseumofDesigninPlastics.www.modip.ac.uk

Nylon=polyamide Rigidex=highdensitypolyethylene
Oroglas=polymethylmethacrylate Roanoid=phenolformaldehyde(filled)
Parkesine=cellulosenitrate Scarab=ureaformaldehyde
Perspex=polymethylmethacrylate Styron=polystyrene
Plaskon=ureaformaldehyde Tenite=celluloseacetate
Plastacele=celluloseacetate Tyvek=lowdensitypolyethylene
Plexiglass=polymethylmethacrylate Vulcanite=hardvulcanisedrubber
Polystyrol=polystyrene Welvic=unplasticisedpolyvinylchloride
Polythene=lowdensitypolyethyleneorhighdensitypolyethylene Xylonite=cellulosenitrate
Propathene=polypropylene

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