Plastic identification code

Five groups of artificial polymers,32 anniversary with specific properties, are acclimated common for packaging applications (see table below). Anniversary accumulation of artificial polymer can be articular by its Artificial Identification cipher (PIC) – usually a amount or a letter abbreviation. For instance, Low-Density Polyethylene can be articular by the amount "4" or the belletrist "LDPE". The PIC appears central a three-chasing-arrow recycling symbol. The attribute is acclimated to announce whether the artificial can be recycled into new products.citation needed

The PIC was alien by the Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc., to accommodate a compatible arrangement for the identification of altered polymer types and to advice recycling companies abstracted altered plastics for reprocessing. Manufacturers of artificial articles are appropriate to use PIC labels in some countries/regions and can voluntarily mark their articles with the PIC area there are no requirements.33 Consumers can analyze the artificial types based on the codes usually begin at the abject or at the ancillary of the artificial products, including food/chemical packaging and containers. The PIC is usually not present on packaging films, as it is not applied to aggregate and recycle a lot of of this blazon of waste.clarification neededcitation needed

Plastic Identification Code Type of artificial polymer Properties Common Packaging Applications Glass Transition and Melting Temperatures (°C) Young's Modulus (GPa)

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET, PETE) Clarity, strength, toughness, barrier to gas and moisture. Soft drink, baptize and bloom bathrobe bottles; peanut adulate and jam jars Tm = 250;34 Tg = 7634 2-2.735

High-density polyethylene (HDPE) Stiffness, strength, toughness, attrition to moisture, permeability to gas. Water pipes, hula bandage rings, 5 gallon buckets, milk, abstract and baptize bottles; grocery bags, some absterge / toiletry bottles Tm = 130;36 Tg = -12537 0.835

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) Versatility, affluence of blending, strength, toughness. Blister packaging for non-food items; adhere films for non-food use. Not acclimated for aliment packaging as the plasticisers bare to accomplish natively adamant PVC adjustable are usually toxic. Non-packaging uses are electrical cable insulation; adamant piping; vinyl records. Tm = 240;38 Tg = 8538 2.4-4.139

Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) Ease of processing, strength, toughness, flexibility, affluence of sealing, barrier to moisture. Frozen aliment bags; squeezable bottles, e.g. honey, mustard; adhere films; adjustable alembic lids. Tm = 120;40 Tg = -12541 0.17-0.2839

Polypropylene (PP) Strength, toughness, attrition to heat, chemicals, grease and oil, versatile, barrier to moisture. Reusable microwaveable ware; kitchenware; yogurt containers; margarine tubs; microwaveable disposable take-away containers; disposable cups; plates. Tm = 173;42 Tg = -1042 1.5-235

Polystyrene (PS) Versatility, clarity, calmly formed Egg cartons; packing peanuts; disposable cups, plates, trays and cutlery; disposable take-away containers; Tm = 240 (only isotactic);37 Tg = 100 (atactic and isotactic)37 3-3.535

Other (often polycarbonate or ABS) Dependent on polymers or aggregate of polymers Beverage bottles; babyish milk bottles. Non-packaging uses for polycarbonate: bunched discs; "unbreakable" glazing; cyberbanking accoutrement housings; lenses including sunglasses, decree glasses, automotive headlamps, anarchism shields, apparatus panels;43 Polycarbonate: Tg = 145;44 Tm = 22545 Polycarbonate: 2.6;35 ABS plastics: 2.3