Table 1.
Applications and specific density of different synthetic polymers found in the marine environment [9,18].
| Categories | Common Applications | Specific Density [g/cm3] |
|---|---|---|
| Polyethylene (PE-LDPE, LLDPE) | Plastic bags, six-pack rings, bottles | 0.91–0.93 |
| Polypropylene (PP) | Rope, bottle caps, netting | 0.90–0.92 |
| Foamed polystyrene (PS) | Cups, buoy | 0.01–1.05 |
| Polystyrene (PS) | Plastic utensils, food containers, packaging | 1.04–1.09 |
| Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) | Bags, tubes | 1.16–1.30 |
| Polyamide or nylon (PA) | Ropes | 1.13–1.15 |
| Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) | Beverage bottles | 1.34–1.39 |
| Polyester resin + fibreglass | Textiles | >1.35 |
| Polycarbonate (PC) | Electronic compounds | 1.20–1.22 |
| Cellulose acetate (CA) | Filter cigarettes | 1.22–1.24 |
| Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) | Teflon items, tubes | 2.10–2.30 |