ASTM D5991-09

This document is not anASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of anASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation:D5991–96 (Reapproved 2002) Designation: D 5991 – 09
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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope*
1.1 This practice covers four procedures for separation and qualitative identification of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC)
contamination in poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) flakes.
NOTE 1—Although not presented as a quantitative method, procedures presented in this practice may be used to provide quantitative results at the
discretion of the user. The user assumes the responsibility to verify the reproducibility of quantitative results. Data from an independent source suggest
a PVC detection level of 200 ppm (w/w) based on an original sample weight of 454 g.
1.2 ProcedureA isbasedondifferentfluorescenceofPVCandPETwhenthesepolymersareexposedtoultraviolet(UV)light.
1.3 Procedure B is an oven test based upon the charring of PVC when it is heated in air at 235°C.
1.4 Procedures C and D are dye tests based on differential staining of PVC and PET.
NOTE 2—Other polymers (for example, PETG) also absorb the stain or brightener. Such interferences will result in false positive identification of PVC
as the contaminant.
1.5 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. For specific hazards see Section 8.
NOTE3—There is no equivalent ISO standard. 3—There is no known ISO equivalent to this practice.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D 1600 Terminology for Abbreviated Terms Relating to Plastics
2
D5033Guide for the Development of Standards Relating to the Proper Use of Recycled Plastics 7209 Guide for Waste
Reduction, Resource Recovery, and Use of Recycled Polymeric Materials and Products
E380Practice for Use of the International System of Units (SI) (the Modernized Metric System) IEEE/ASTM SI-10 American
National Standard for Use
of the International System
of Units (SI): The Modern
Metric System
3. Terminology
3.1 The terminology used in this practice is in accordance with Terminology D 1600 and Guide D5033D 7209. Units and
symbols are in accordance with Practice E380IEEE/ASTM SI-10.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.2.1 light material, n—paper, polymers such as polyethylene and polypropylene, and other materials with densities less than
3
1.00 g/cm .
4. Summary of Practice
4.1 For the BeilsteinTest, chlorine-containing materials heated in a flame in contact with a copper wire produce a characteristic
green flame.
4.2 With ProcedureA, a known amount of PET flakes is exposed to ultraviolet radiation. PET normally fluoresces with a blue
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D20 on Plastics and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.95 on Recycled Plastics .
Current edition approved July 10, 1996. Published September 1996.
Current edition approved Feb. 1, 2009. Published February 2009. Originally approved in 1996. Last previous edition approved in 2002 as D 5991 - 96(2002).
2
For referencedASTM standards, visit theASTM website, www.astm.org, or contactASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
, Vol 08.03.volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1

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D5991–09
or violet color. Flakes fluorescing with different colors are removed, weighed, and identified as PVC if they burn with a bright
green flame when heated on a copper wire.
4.3 WithProcedureB,PETflakesareheatedinanovenmaintainedat235 65°C.After45min,theflakesarevisuallyexamined
with removal and subsequent weighing of black, charred pieces. Pieces are confirmed as PVC using the same flame test mentioned
in 4.1.
4.4 With Procedure C, PET flakes are soaked in a blue acetone dye solution tha
...

This document is not anASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of anASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation:D5991–96 (Reapproved 2002) Designation: D 5991 – 09
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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope*
1.1 This practice covers four procedures for separation and qualitative identification of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC)
contamination in poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) flakes.
NOTE 1—Although not presented as a quantitative method, procedures presented in this practice may be used to provide quantitative results at the
discretion of the user. The user assumes the responsibility to verify the reproducibility of quantitative results. Data from an independent source suggest
a PVC detection level of 200 ppm (w/w) based on an original sample weight of 454 g.
1.2 ProcedureA isbasedondifferentfluorescenceofPVCandPETwhenthesepolymersareexposedtoultraviolet(UV)light.
1.3 Procedure B is an oven test based upon the charring of PVC when it is heated in air at 235°C.
1.4 Procedures C and D are dye tests based on differential staining of PVC and PET.
NOTE 2—Other polymers (for example, PETG) also absorb the stain or brightener. Such interferences will result in false positive identification of PVC
as the contaminant.
1.5 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. For specific hazards see Section 8.
NOTE3—There is no equivalent ISO standard. 3—There is no known ISO equivalent to this practice.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D 1600 Terminology for Abbreviated Terms Relating to Plastics
2
D5033Guide for the Development of Standards Relating to the Proper Use of Recycled Plastics 7209 Guide for Waste
Reduction, Resource Recovery, and Use of Recycled Polymeric Materials and Products
E380Practice for Use of the International System of Units (SI) (the Modernized Metric System) IEEE/ASTM SI-10 American
National Standard for Use
of the International System
of Units (SI): The Modern
Metric System
3. Terminology
3.1 The terminology used in this practice is in accordance with Terminology D 1600 and Guide D5033D 7209. Units and
symbols are in accordance with Practice E380IEEE/ASTM SI-10.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.2.1 light material, n—paper, polymers such as polyethylene and polypropylene, and other materials with densities less than
3
1.00 g/cm .
4. Summary of Practice
4.1 For the BeilsteinTest, chlorine-containing materials heated in a flame in contact with a copper wire produce a characteristic
green flame.
4.2 With ProcedureA, a known amount of PET flakes is exposed to ultraviolet radiation. PET normally fluoresces with a blue
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D20 on Plastics and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.95 on Recycled Plastics.
Current edition approved July 10, 1996. Published September 1996.
Current edition approved Feb. 1, 2009. Published February 2009. Originally approved in 1996. Last previous edition approved in 2002 as D 5991 - 96(2002).
2
For referencedASTM standards, visit theASTM website, www.astm.org, or contactASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
, Vol 08.03.volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D5991–09
or violet color. Flakes fluorescing with different colors are removed, weighed, and identified as PVC if they burn with a bright
green flame when heated on a copper wire.
4.3 WithProcedureB,PETflakesareheatedinanovenmaintainedat235 65°C.After45min,theflakesarevisuallyexamined
with removal and subsequent weighing of black, charred pieces. Pieces are confirmed as PVC using the same flame test mentioned
in 4.1.
4.4 With Procedure C, PET flakes are soaked in a blue acetone dye solution that
...