Plastics Burn & Smell Test – Brief with Technical Support

(Identification of each plastic based on burn behavior and smell)

This blog provides a concise reference for identifying common plastic materials based on their burn characteristics, flame color, smell, and behaviour during combustion. These sensory tests, often called the Burn & Smell Test, are useful for quick, low-cost identification of plastic types, especially in recycling, material sorting, and quality control environments. While not a substitute for instrumental analysis, these observations—when combined with technical tests like FTIR, MFI, and density checks—can provide a strong preliminary identification of polymers. This guide also lists the typical applications and testing tools used in plastic identification and recycling workflows.

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