feature | Materials testing Right: The
identiPol OIT measures the oxidative induction time and
temperature of polymers. Unit is shown with a camera that
allows viewing of samples during
operation
unit can be used to certify that a polymer is good for production, as well as to identify it or to compare it with materials from different suppliers. Lacerta also offers the IdentiPol OIT, which
determines oxidative stability of a polymer by measuring oxidative induction time and temperature. Oxidative induction is determined by heating 20 to 30mg samples to a specific temperature in an inert nitrogen atmosphere for a length of time based on polymer type. Once the temperature has stabilised, the gas transitions to air and the time taken for the polymer to oxidize and decompose the oxidative induction time – is recorded. Oxidative induction temperature is determined by heating up the air in the unit at a constant rate until the onset of oxidation and decomposition is seen.
Meeting complex needs Compounders are also making use of a much broader range of specialty additives and fillers, many tailored for specific applications, and this is another area where higher standards of materials identification and evaluation are required to ensure optimal performance of products. Add to this the increased use of high- performance resins to enhance such properties as heat resistance, or the use of polymers based on unconventional feedstocks such as biomass, and certification issues can emerge that transcend the testing and analysis capabilities of most compounders. Intertek’s Vratsanos notes that as a consequence of
increased formulation complexity, compounders are requesting multiple tests for a variety of materials, ranging from base polymers to additives, fillers and performance-enhancing agents such as nanoparticles. Their concerns, he says, are straightforward: they want to be certain that every part of a formulation is exactly
as specified. There are also global regulatory considerations to take into account. “Regulatory drivers such as RoHS, Reach, OSHA, [California’s] Prop 65 and others require increasingly stringent detection standards,” he says. As compounds increase in complexity, Vratsanos says the ability to separate, purify or concentrate samples prior to analysis has become critical. Intertek deals with this by investing in such capabilities as fraction collection for gel permeation chromatography, prep chromatography for identification and quantification procedures, and advanced extraction methods. “Coupling these with an array of analytical tools including infrared spectroscopy, gas and liquid chromatography, multiple mass spectrometry techniques, nuclear magnetic resonance and gel permeation chromatography can make an intractable problem more manageable,” he says. Since most compounders do not have this type of equipment or expertise, testing services meet an important need in the analysis and certification of materials. Intertek’s capabilities, Vratsanos points out, include spectroscopy, microscopy, trace and structural organic and inorganic analysis, thermal testing, rheology, surface and sorption science, and chemical and mechan- ical testing. The company also customizes and modifies procedures for broader measurements and detection of lower levels of species. “We readily perform testing outside the scope of industry standards,” he says. Other testing services cite equally impressive
Testing services have access to equipment and expertise that most compounders do not. Their role in materials analysis is growing as compounders deal with increasingly complex formulations
64 COMPOUNDING WORLD | September 2015
capabilities. Chemir, a division of Evans Analytical Group, or EAG, does a lot of custom work, especially in reverse engineering, failure analysis and other processes that do not adhere to standard analytical methods, according to Christopher Andren a senior
www.compoundingworld.com
PHOTO: CHEMIR
PHOTO: LACERTA TECHNOLOGY
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