Urethane Supply Company
Plastic Repair and Refinishing
Products since 1981
Plastic Identification
This table shows the plastic most often used in automotive applications. Do you have a symbol that is not on this table? Click here for a more complete listing.
| Symbol & Type | How to identify | Typical Usage | Suggested Repair Method | Repair Tips |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PUR, RIM, RRIM Thermoset polyurethane | Usually flexible, maybe yellow or gray, bubbles and smokes when attempting to melt. | Flexible bumper covers (esp. on domestics), filler panels, rocker panel covers, snowmobile cowls. | Method A w/ urethane rod or Method C with Uni-Weld FiberFlex | Don't try to melt the base material! Just melt the rod into the v-groove like a hot melt glue. |
| SMC, UP, FRP Fiberglass | Rigid, polyester matrix reinforced with glass fibers, sands finely | Rigid body panels, fenders, hoods, deck lids, header panels, spoilers | Method E - two-part epoxy repair with fiberglass reinforcement. | Use backing plate over holes, layer in fiberglass cloth for extra strength and to approximate thermal expansion |
| ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) | Rigid, often white but may be molded in any color, sands finely. Very pungent odor when heated. | Instrument panels, grilles, trim moldings, consoles, armrest supports, street bike fairings. | Method B w/ ABS rod (5003R3), or Method D Insta-Weld adhesive repair, or Method E Two-Part epoxy repair | Weld repairs may be backed with epoxy for extra strength. |
| EEBC (Ether Ester Block Copolymer) | Flexible, off-white in color, similar in appearance to PUR (Lomod by GE) | Rocker cover moldings, bumper extensions (91-96 DeVille) | Method C with Uni-Weld FiberFlex (5003R10) | |
| EMA (Ethylene Meth- acrylic Acid) | Semirigid, molded in a variety of colors, unpainted (Bexloy W by DuPont) | Bumper covers (Dodge Neon 1st generation base model) | Method C with Uni-Weld FiberFlex (5003R10) or Method B with slivers cut from scrap. | Sand entire bumper for refinishing, restore texture with Flex Tex (3800). |
| PA Polyamide (Nylon) | Semirigid or rigid, sands finely | Radiator tanks, headlamp bezels, exterior trim finish parts | Method B with nylon rod (5003R6) | Preheat plastic with heat gun before welding, mix rod completely with base material. |
| PC + ABS Pulse (Polycarbonate & ABS) | Rigid, sands finely, usually dark in color | Door skins (Saturn), instrument panels, street bike fairings | Method B with Polycarbonate rod (5003R7), or Methods D or E adhesive repairs | Preheat plastic with heat gun before welding with Method B. |
| PC + PBT Xenoy (Polycarbonate blend) | Rigid, sands finely, usually dark in color | Bumper covers (primarily Ford products, 84-95 Taurus, Aerostar, some Mercedes and Hyundai's) | Method B with polycarbonate rod (5003R7), Method C, or Method E adhesive repairs. | Preheat plastic with heat gun before welding with Method B. |
| PE Polyethylene | Semiflexible, melts & smears when grinding, usually semi-translucent. | Overflow tanks, inner fender panels, valences, interior trim panels, RV water storage tanks, gas tanks | Method B with polyethylene rod (5003R4) or Method C with FiberFlex (5003R10) | Applying filler or painting is nearly impossible. |
| PP Polypropylene | Semiflexible, usually black in color, melts & smears when grinding | Bumper covers (usually blended with EPDM), inner fenders, radiator shrouds, interior panels, gas tanks | Method C with Uni-Weld FiberFlex (5003R10) or Method B with polypropylene rod (5003R2) | Use 1060FP Filler Prep adhesion promoter when applying two-part epoxy filler |
| PPO + PA Noryl GTX (Nylon blend) | Semi-rigid, sands finely, usually off-white in color. | Fenders (Saturn & GM), exterior trim | Method B w/ nylon rod (5003R6), or Methods D or E adhesive repairs | Preheat plastic with heat gun before welding with Method B. |
| TEEE (Thermoplastic Ether Ester Elastomer) | Flexible or Semiflexible (Bexloy V by duPont) | Bumper covers (especially on domestics, filler panels, rocker panel covers.) | Method C with Uni-Weld Fiberflex (5003R10) or Method B w/ slivers cut from scrap. | |
| TPE Thermoplastic Elastomer | Semi-flexible, usually black or gray, melts & smears when grinding. | Bumper covers, filler panels, underhood parts. | Method C with Uni-Weld FiberFlex (5003R10) | Use 1060FP Filler Prep adhesion promoter before applying two-part epoxy filler. |
| TPO, EPM, TEO Thermoplastic Olefin | Semiflexible, usually black or gray in color, melts & smears when grinding | Bumper covers, air dams, grilles, interior parts, instrument panels, snowmobile cowls. | Method C with Uni-Weld FiberFlex (5003R10) or Method B with PP or TPO rod. | Use 1060FP Filler Prep adhesion promoter when applying two-part epoxy filler |
| TPU, TPU - Thermoplastic Polyurethane | Flexible, sands finely | Bumper covers, soft filler panels, gravel deflectors, rocker panel covers | Method B with urethane rod (5003R1) or Method C with Uni-Weld FiberFlex (5003R10) |
![[Symbol]](images_old/recycle1.gif){kind=small} |
PETE |
![[Symbol]](images_old/recycle2.gif){kind=small} |
HDPE - high density polyethylene |
![[Symbol]](images_old/recycle3.gif){kind=small} |
PVC - polyvinyl chloride |
![[Symbol]](images_old/recycle4.gif){kind=small} |
LDPE - low density polyethylene |
![[Symbol]](images_old/recycle5.gif){kind=small} |
PP - polypropylene |
![[Symbol]](images_old/recycle6.gif){kind=small} |
PS - polystyrene |
![[Symbol]](images_old/recycle7.gif){kind=small} |
Resins not mentioned above, or a combination of plastics. |
![[ID process]](images_old/idprocess.gif)