You are here Home Help and guides Work out if your polymer is a polymer of low concern (PLC) Print Work out if your polymer is a polymer of low concern (PLC) If you are unsure if your polymer is a polymer of low concern (PLC), use this decision tool to find out. What is your chemical's name or CAS number? (optional) Note: enter this information if you'd like to save a copy for your own records by using the print function in your browser. A completed decision tool is not sufficient to meet your record-keeping obligations. Enter the CAS number or chemical name We want to make these tools useful for you. Help us improve them by giving us your feedback. See the full list of decision tools to help you categorise your introduction Does your polymer contain as an integral part of its composition at least 2 of the elements on this list? Carbon Hydrogen Nitrogen Oxygen Silicon Sulfur Yes No Does your polymer contain as an integral part of its composition (except as impurities) an element not on this list? C, H, N, O, Si, S Na+, Mg2+, Al3+, K+, Ca2+, Cl‐, Br‐, I‐ F, Cl, Br or I covalently bound to carbon B, Cu, Fe, Li, Mn, Ni, P, Sn, Ti, Zn, Zr Yes No Does your polymer contain as an integral part of its composition (except as impurities), greater than or equal to 0.2% (by weight) of any combination of the elements on this list? B, Cu, Fe, Li, Mn, Ni, P, Sn, Ti, Zn, Zr Yes No Does your polymer contain any difluoromethylene or trifluoromethyl groups? Yes No Is your polymer a stable polymer, that is it does not substantially break down by any process during use? Yes No Is your polymer capable of absorbing its own weight in water and is the NAMW greater than or equal to 10,000 g/mol? Yes No Is your polymer a polyester made up only of allowable reactants? Yes No Is your polymer's NAMW greater than or equal to 1,000 g/mol? Yes No Is your polymer's NAMW greater than or equal to 10,000 g/mol? Yes No Does your polymer contain both of the following: less than 2% (by mass) molecules with MW less than 500 g/mol less than 5% (by mass) molecules with MW less than 1,000 g/mol Yes No Does your polymer contain both of the following: less than 10% (by mass) molecules with MW less than 500 g/mol less than 25% (by mass) molecules with MW less than 1,000 g/mol Yes No Does your polymer consist only of low concern reactive functional groups? Yes No Does your polymer consist only of low or moderate concern reactive functional groups? Yes No For your polymer, is the combined FGEW of the moderate concern reactive functional groups greater than or equal to 1,000 g/mol? Yes No For your polymer, is the combined FGEW of any moderate and high concern reactive functional groups greater than or equal to 5,000 g/mol? Yes No Is your polymer cationic or likely to become cationic in an aquatic environment that has a pH between 4 and 9? Yes No Is your polymer a solid that is not soluble (less than 0.1mg/L) or dispersible in water and is it to be used only in its solid phase? Yes No For your polymer, is the combined FGEW of any cationic groups or potentially cationic groups greater than or equal to 5,000 g/mol? Yes No Does your polymer have any known hazard classification? Yes No Does your polymer have any GHS classifications not on the following list: Flammable gases, Cat. 2 Acute toxicity ‐ oral, Cat. 5 Acute toxicity ‐ dermal, Cat. 5 Acute toxicity ‐ inhalation, Cat. 5 Skin corrosion/irritation, Cat. 3 Aspiration hazard, Cat. 2 Yes No OutcomeThe polymer meets PLC criteria. Outcome Your polymer is not a PLC. Leave this field blank Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email In this section Help and guides Top enquiries Guide to categorising your chemical introduction Decision tools to help you categorise your chemical importation or manufacture Guide to categorising internationally assessed introductions List of chemicals with high hazards for categorisation Product descriptions and examples Extra resources to help you categorise your introduction Validate your IUCLID dossier to meet Australian requirements Information waivers for assessment certificate applications Polymer of low concern (PLC) criteria Work out if your polymer is a polymer of low concern (PLC) Video guides — learn about AICIS and your obligations Labelling, SDS and packaging Working out your hazards using read-across information
