method of identifying a foamed polymer using a fluorescent additive added during manufacture and subsequently detecting the additive

摘要

A method of producing a material distinguishable from other material of the same type includes the steps of: a) forming the material from a liquid phase precursor and b) incorporating throughout the liquid phase precursor during manufacture a marker having readily detectable characteristics. The readily detectable characteristic means a physical or chemical characteristic of the marker, enabling the marker to be detected in situ on site with portable instruments and a person without specialized training or knowledge excluding identifying the characteristic by unaided human senses. The preferred material is a foamed polymer having a fluorescent powder as a marker detectable with UV light.