ASTM D5814-02

Standard Practice for Determination of Contamination in Recycled Poly(Ethylene Terephthalate) (PET) Flakes and Chips Using a Plaque Test

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
Presence of paper, metal, or incompatible polymer contamination in poly(ethylene terephthalate) renders the recycled polymer unfit for use in secondary product manufacturing operations. This procedure is useful for identifying different types of contamination in recycled PET flakes.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice covers an indication of the quality of recycled transparent poly(ethylene terephthalate) by examination of a wafer or plaque formed by melting a representative sample and quenching it to prevent crystallization.
1.2 Specific contaminants and impurities such as aluminum particles, dirt particles, paper, and fibers are identified in the transparent wafer.
1.3 The overall color of the plaque is indicative of oxidizable contaminants such as ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) glue residue and the number of bubbles present in the plaque gives an indication of the moisture content of the sample.
1.4 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. Specific precautionary statements are given in Section 8.
Note 1—There is no equivalent ISO standard.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 09-Mar-2002
• ICS: 55.040 - Packaging materials and accessories
• Technical Committee: D20 - Plastics
• Drafting Committee: D20.70 - Analytical Methods

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM D5814-95 - Standard Practice for Determination of Contamination in Recycled Poly(Ethylene Terephthalate) (PET) Flakes and Chips Using a Plaque Test
• Effective Date: 10-Mar-2002
• Replaced By: ASTM D5814-10 - Standard Practice for Determination of Contamination in Recycled Poly(Ethylene Terephthalate) (PET) Flakes and Chips Using a Plaque Test
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2010
• Referred By: ASTM D6288-23 - Standard Practice for Separation and Washing of Recycled Plastics Prior to Testing
• Effective Date: 10-Mar-2002

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation:D5814–02
Standard Practice for
Determination of Contamination in Recycled Poly(Ethylene
1
Terephthalate) (PET) Flakes and Chips Using a Plaque Test
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D5814; 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 3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.2.1 plaque—a transparent wafer resulting from melting
1.1 This practice covers an indication of the quality of
and rapid quenching of the polymer.
recycled transparent poly(ethylene terephthalate) by examina-
tion of a wafer or plaque formed by melting a representative
4. Summary of Test Method
sample and quenching it to prevent crystallization.
4.1 Transparent poly(ethylene terephthalate) flakes are
1.2 Specific contaminants and impurities such as aluminum
melted in an aluminum pan, then the molten sample is rapidly
particles, dirt particles, paper, and fibers are identified in the
quenched in ice water to prevent crystallization. The resulting
transparent wafer.
clear plaque is examined for color indicative of oxidizable
1.3 The overall color of the plaque is indicative of oxidiz-
contaminants, bubbles indicative of moisture, and solid con-
able contaminants such as ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) glue
taminant particles.
residue and the number of bubbles present in the plaque gives
an indication of the moisture content of the sample.
5. Significance and Use
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
5.1 Presence of paper, metal, or incompatible polymer
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
contamination in poly(ethylene terephthalate) renders the re-
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
cycled polymer unfit for use in secondary product manufactur-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
ing operations. This procedure is useful for identifying differ-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. Specific precau-
ent types of contamination in recycled PET flakes.
tionary statements are given in Section 8.
6. Apparatus
NOTE 1—There is no equivalent ISO standard.
6.1 Oven, forced convection type capable of heating
2. Referenced Documents
samples to 300°C.
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
6.2 Tongs, long arm.
D1600 Terminology for Abbreviated Terms Relating to
6.3 Stopwatch, 0.1-s accuracy.
Plastics
6.4 Bucket, 1 L, stainless steel.
D5033 Guide for Development of ASTM Standards Relat- 4
6.5 Aluminum Weighing Dishes.
3
ing to Recycling and Use of Recycled Plastics
6.6 Thermally Insulated Gloves.
IEEE/ASTM SI-10 Standard for Use of the International
7. Materials
System of Units (SI): The Modern Metric System
7.1 Virgin Poly(ethylene terephthalate).
3. Terminology
7.2 Ice.
3.1 Definitions: The terminology used in this practice is in
7.3 Paper Towels.
accordance with Terminology D1600 and Guide D5033. Units
8. Hazards
and symbols are in accordance with IEEE/ASTM SI-10.
8.1 Always wear thermally insulated gloves when introduc-
1
ThispracticeisunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeD20onPlasticsand ing or removing the polymer sample from the oven.
is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.70 on Analytical Methods.
Current edition approved March 10, 2002. Published May 2002. Originally
9. Procedure
published as D5814 – 95. Last previous edition D5814 – 95. DOI: 10.1520/D5814-
9.1 Preheat the oven to 275 6 5°C and equilibrate for 30
02.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
min.
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website.
3 4
Withdrawn. The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced Aluminum weighing dishes, available from Fisher Scientific, or exact equiva-
on www.astm.org. lents, have been found suitable for this purpose.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
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D5814–02
NOTE 2—Accuracy of both time and temperature is critical to valid
submergethemintotheicebath.Thisrapidquenchingprevents
sample-to-sample comparisons using this test.
crystallization of the PET.
9.2 Obtain three aluminum pans and label them “A,” “ B,” 9.8 Remove the pans from the ice bath and blot dry with
paper towels. Remove the hardened plastic disks formed in the
and “C.” Weigh 5.5 6 0.1 g of sample into each of the pans.
Tap each sample pan gently on a flat surface to evenly spread oven (plaques) from the aluminum pans by peeling the p
...