Meaning
Quantitative testing method used to measure volatile organic compounds released from a heated polymer sample into a gaseous environment. It measures the concentration of light hydrocarbons and stops applying when the volatiles have been fully extracted from the sample vial.
Vapour Analysis
Heating the resin in a sealed vial forces the volatile molecules into the air space above the material. A sample of this gas is then injected into the chromatograph to separate the different chemicals. The headspace gc-fid technique provides a clean reading without the interference of the solid plastic matrix.
This method is preferred for detecting residual solvents in flexible packaging films.
Purity Check
Detection of residual monomers or solvents reveals the quality of the polymerisation process. If the level of volatiles is too high, the resulting moulded parts may suffer from odour issues or bubbles. Recyclers use this test to ensure that decontamination stages have successfully removed odorous contaminants.
The results are compared against a baseline established for high quality virgin resin.
Emission Limit
Standards for automotive and food packaging materials set maximum allowable concentrations for specific gases. A flame ionization detector provides the sensitivity needed to count carbon atoms in the sample and verify compliance. This data confirms that the material is safe for use in enclosed environments.
