ASTM D5991-96

Designation: D 5991 – 96
AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TESTING AND MATERIALS
100 Barr Harbor Dr., West Conshohocken, PA 19428
Reprinted from the Annual Book of ASTM Standards. Copyright ASTM
Standard Practice for
Separation and Identification of Poly(Vinyl Chloride) (PVC)
1
Contamination in Poly(Ethylene Terephthalate) (PET) Flake
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 5991; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 3. Terminology
1.1 This practice covers four procedures for separation and 3.1 The terminology used in this practice is in accordance
qualitative identification of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) con- with Terminology D 1600 and Guide D 5033. Units and
tamination in poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) flakes. symbols are in accordance with Practice E 380.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
NOTE 1—Although not presented as a quantitative method, procedures
3.2.1 light material, n—paper, polymers such as polyethyl-
presented in this practice may be used to provide quantitative results at the
ene and polypropylene, and other materials with densities less
discretion of the user. The user assumes the responsibility to verify the
3
than 1.00 g/cm .
reproducibility of quantitative results. Data from an independent source
suggest a PVC detection level of 200 ppm (w/w) based on an original
4. Summary of Practice
sample weight of 454 g.
4.1 For the Beilstein Test, chlorine-containing materials
1.2 Procedure A is based on different fluorescence of PVC
heated in a flame in contact with a copper wire produce a
and PET when these polymers are exposed to ultraviolet (UV)
characteristic green flame.
light.
4.2 With Procedure A, a known amount of PET flakes is
1.3 Procedure B is an oven test based upon the charring of
exposed to ultraviolet radiation. PET normally fluoresces with
PVC when it is heated in air at 235°C.
a blue or violet color. Flakes fluorescing with different colors
1.4 Procedures C and D are dye tests based on differential
are removed, weighed, and identified as PVC if they burn with
staining of PVC and PET.
a bright green flame when heated on a copper wire.
NOTE 2—Other polymers (for example, PETG) also absorb the stain or
4.3 With Procedure B, PET flakes are heated in an oven
brightener. Such interferences will result in false positive identification of
maintained at 235 6 5°C. After 45 min, the flakes are visually
PVC as the contaminant.
examined with removal and subsequent weighing of black,
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
charred pieces. Pieces are confirmed as PVC using the same
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
flame test mentioned in 4.1.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
4.4 With Procedure C, PET flakes are soaked in a blue
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
acetone dye solution that preferentially stains any PVC flakes.
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific hazards
These flakes are visually identified and subsequently removed,
see Section 8.
and weighed. If desired, the identification of PVC flakes is
confirmed with the flame test.
NOTE 3—There is no equivalent ISO standard.
4.5 With Procedure D, PET flakes are heated with an
2. Referenced Documents
aqueous solution containing an optical brightener that also
2.1 ASTM Standards:
preferentially stains the PVC flakes. The flakes are sorted under
D 1600 Terminology for Abbreviated Terms Relating to UV light in a dark room with removal and subsequent
2
Plastics
weighing of any blue fluorescing PVC flakes.
D 5033 Guide for the Development of Standards Relating to
2 5. Significance and Use
the Proper Use of Recycled Plastics
E 380 Practice for Use of the International System of Units 5.1 Presence of even low concentrations of PVC in recycled
3
(SI) (the Modernized Metric System) PET flakes may result in equipment corrosion problems during
processing. The level of PVC contamination may also dictate
1
the market for use of the recycled polymer in secondary
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-20 on Plastics
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.70 on Analytical Methods.
products. Procedures presented in this practice are used to
Current edition approved July 10, 1996. Published September 1996.
identify and, if desired, estimate the concentration of PVC
2
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 08.03.
3
contamination in recycled PET flakes.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 14.02.
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D 5991
6. Apparatus 9.2 Procedure A:
9.2.1 Weigh 454 6 10 g of clean, dry PET flake sample and
6.1 Procedure A:
transfer the sample into a shallow aluminum tray.
6.1.1 Bright Aluminum Tray, shallow dept
...