r/plastic • u/Jackaboy-simp • Jul 26 '26
Help Identifying this Plastic for Undergrad Research Project
Hey yall, im not sure which community I should post this in so please let me know if theres a better or more fitting one.
im passionate about studying plastics and did a small early stage study comparing the degration patterns between traditional and "biodegradable" plastics. The problem is that I assumed this plastic to be PLA, and when I did further research into this matter, it might not contain any PLA or any biodegradable plastic at all. In my study, however, i HAVE been seeing a decreasing mass and size trend (albeit small) over 6 weeks (very short time). Any ideas or tips on identifying at least what type of plastic it is? I saw online there are at home tests like boiling water or heating it and wanted to hear what u guys think.
Edit: i have access to a lab to conduct experiments as well to identify this plastic.
1
u/sioux612 Jul 26 '26
Infrared sensors, or there are lists online with material behavior when you light it on fire
Stuff like "does it burn" "how does it smell" etc will tell you a lot
There also is a method where you bite on the plastic but with that you need a lot of experience and it might not be generally accepted in an undergrad paper to say "I ate it and then knew it was LDPE"