Physical and Chemical Properties of Plastics
Some physical properties: transparency, flexibility, elasticity, permeability, water resistant, electrical resistance, Specific Gravity, soft when hot.
Some chemical properties: solubility, chemical resistance, thermal stability, reactivity with water, flammability, heat of combustion.
Resin refers to the basic chemical composition of each type of plastic. Each resin has unique properties and is used (often mixed with additional chemicals and materials) in the manufacture of a variety of plastic products.
Sometimes there are letters beneath the resin codes. These are abbreviations for the name of the plastic resin that the code represents. These abbreviations are not always included, though the number always represents the same resin.
Resin Codes
Properties
Uses
Tough, rigid, shatter- resistant softens when heated
1 = PETE (or PET)
Polyethylene Terephthalate
Commonly used to package soft drinks, water, beer, juice, sports drinks and other beverages, as well as edible oils, salad dressing, peanut butter, various condiments and sauces, and non-food products like household cleaners and personal products.
Semi-rigid, tough, and flexible
2 = HDPE
High-Density Polyethylene
Commonly used for milk, cider and water jugs, as well as detergent, fabric softener and bleach.
Strong, semirigid, glossy
3 = V
Vinyl/Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
Often used for salad dressing bottles, vegetable oil bottles and mouthwash.
Flexible, not crinkly, moisture proof
4 = LDPE
Low-Density Polyethylene
Used for flexible bags for dry cleaning, trash, produce, bread and shrink wrap. Recycled LDPE is often used to make grocery bags.
Non-glossy, semirigid
5 = PP
Polypropylene
Usually found in drinking straws, battery cases, some dairy tubs, bottle labels and caps.
Often brittle, sometimes glossy, often has strong chemical reactions
6 = PS
Polystyrene
Commonly used for materials like packaging peanuts, plastic utensils, meat and egg trays.
Multilayer
Some chemical properties: solubility, chemical resistance, thermal stability, reactivity with water, flammability, heat of combustion.
Resin refers to the basic chemical composition of each type of plastic. Each resin has unique properties and is used (often mixed with additional chemicals and materials) in the manufacture of a variety of plastic products.
Sometimes there are letters beneath the resin codes. These are abbreviations for the name of the plastic resin that the code represents. These abbreviations are not always included, though the number always represents the same resin.
Resin Codes
Properties
Uses
Tough, rigid, shatter- resistant softens when heated
1 = PETE (or PET)
Polyethylene Terephthalate
Commonly used to package soft drinks, water, beer, juice, sports drinks and other beverages, as well as edible oils, salad dressing, peanut butter, various condiments and sauces, and non-food products like household cleaners and personal products.
Semi-rigid, tough, and flexible
2 = HDPE
High-Density Polyethylene
Commonly used for milk, cider and water jugs, as well as detergent, fabric softener and bleach.
Strong, semirigid, glossy
3 = V
Vinyl/Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
Often used for salad dressing bottles, vegetable oil bottles and mouthwash.
Flexible, not crinkly, moisture proof
4 = LDPE
Low-Density Polyethylene
Used for flexible bags for dry cleaning, trash, produce, bread and shrink wrap. Recycled LDPE is often used to make grocery bags.
Non-glossy, semirigid
5 = PP
Polypropylene
Usually found in drinking straws, battery cases, some dairy tubs, bottle labels and caps.
Often brittle, sometimes glossy, often has strong chemical reactions
6 = PS
Polystyrene
Commonly used for materials like packaging peanuts, plastic utensils, meat and egg trays.
Multilayer