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Plastics Identification Guide - Table 1			Go To - Plastics Identification Guide - Table 2
Category Symbol
Full Name	PET Polyethelene terephthalate	HDPE Natural (without color) High density polyethelene	HDPE Colored High density polyethelene	PVC Polyvinyl chloride
Typical products	Bottles: soft drink, Pepto-Bismol, Ocean Spray, honey, liquor, Palmolive dish detergent, liquid Spic & Span, other cleaner bottles with nubs; toiletries; recording tape; pharmaceuticals; heatable food trays; boil-in-the-bag bags	Jugs: milk, cider,distilled water and spring water; bottles: juice (not Clear), rubbing alcohol, large vinegar, single-serving punch-drink or juice, eye drops; grocery bags; base cups	Bottles: laundry and dish detergent, fabric softener, saline solution, bleach, lotion, motor oil and antifreeze; dispensers: dental floss, baby wipes	Bottles: imported mineral water, salad dressing, salad and vegetable oil, floor polish, mouthwash, liquor, some translucent pharmaceutical bottles; bottle liners and cap coatings; blister pack "bubble" pack for batteries, hardware supplies etc.
Features	High strength, high resistance	Chemical and moisture resistant; tough	Chemical and moisture resistant; tough	Hardy; chemical resistant
Appearance	Transparent with high gloss; clear or colored; no seams; injection molding nub on bottom	Translucent matte finish (not shiny)	Opaque matte finish (not shiny)	Can be transparent, translucent, or opaque (colored high gloss); bottles have seams; clear bottles sometimes have faint blue tint; bottom has blow-molding "smile"
Physical Properties	Tough, slick surface; high resilience; semi-rigid; hard to scratch; sinks in water; sweetly aromatic, irritating smell when burned	Slightly waxy to the touch; semi-rigid to flexible; does not crack when bent; scratches to some degree; floats in water; smells like candle when burned	Slightly waxy to the touch; semi-rigid to flexible; does not crack when bent; scratches to some degree; floats in water; smells like candle when burned	Tough very smooth surface; forms opaque white line when bent; semi-rigid, scratches easily, sinks in water; acrid, hydorchloric acid smell when burned
SPI Code (1)	1 (PETE)	2 (HDPE)	2 (HDPE)	3 (V)
(1)	Refers to the imprint on the bottom or side of a plastic container voluntarily used by many bottle producers and promoted by the Society of Plastics Industry.
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Plastics Identification Guide - Table 2			Go To - Plastics Identification Guide - Table 1
Category Symbol
Full Name	LDPE LOW density polyethelene	PP Polyproplolene	PS Polystyrene	EPS Expanded (or foamed) polystyrene	OTHER VARIES
Typical products	Usuall apears in flexible film bags for trash, dry cleaning, bread, produce, etc., also some rigid items such as food storage containers and flexible lids; coating	Battery cases, medical containers; oil additive tubs; cereal box liners; bottle labels and caps; rope and strapping; combs; snack wraps/bags; tropicana frozen orange juice cans; some yogurt cups and lids (those that do not crack easily when bent)	Some yogurt cups and tubs; cookie and muffin containers; vitamin bottles; most fast food cutlery	Carry-out containers(clamshells, etc.); meat trays; egg cartons	Products made of plastics other than the six most common or made of multiple resins in layers, blends, or different parts (examples: microvaveable serving ware; "brick pack" juice boxes; water cooler bottles; most snack bags, e.g., potato chips; squeezable bottles for ketchup, condiments, jellies, syrups)
Features	Good optics; tough; lightweight; flexible	Good tensile strength; chemical resistant; hard	Good optics; stiff; flexible	Lightweight; heat resistant; bouyant	Varies
Appearance	Can be nearly transparent(e.g. dry cleaning bags) or opaque; can be colored; low to high gloss	Transparent, translecent or opaque; clear or colored; can have shiny or low gloss finish	Transparent or opaque; clear or colored; high gloss; only wide mouthed containers (no bottles)	Opaque only; smooth to grainy finish; foamed, thick-walled	Varies
Physical Properties	Sllightly waxy to touch; flexible; stretches before tearing when pulled; scratches easily; floats in water; smells like candle when burned	Smooth surface; semi-rigid; tough cannot scratch; floats in water; when burned, has a "chemical" smell and sticks and stretches into filament	Slick smooth surface cracks easily when bent; brittle to semi-rigid; hard to scratch; sinks in water	Smooth surface; cracks easily when bent; light weight and fluffy; easily scratched; floats in water	Varies
SPI Code (1)	4 (LDPE)	5 (PP)	6 (PS)	6 (PS)	7 (OTHER)
(1)	Refers to the imprint on the bottom or side of a plastic container voluntarily used by many bottle producers and promoted by the Society of Plastics Industry.
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