Solvent Swab Test for Acrylic

[evtuck93]

I am attempting to differentiate various polymeric materials and am most interested in identifying what material is or is not acrylic. Are there any common solvents that would help differentiate acrylic from other polymer families when applied to the surface? I am looking for something that would chemically damage the surface of the acrylic but not other materials.

Thanks for the help!

 

[CoryPad]

You will need to be more specific with "other materials" to get a good answer regarding a solvent.

Can you consider alkaline hydrolysis? Every PMMA cup/glass I have placed in a dishwasher comes out crazed, very easy to identify.

 

[btrueblood]

Cory, that test would also be positive for polycarbonates? Cellulosics and butyrates as well, but I don't have my compatibility chart to hand right now.

A burn test is a bit more specific, but only to the general family level.

http://www.boedeker.com/burntest.htm