Recycled Polyolefin Oligomer Identification and Toxicological Screening Basics
Verify recycled polyolefin food contact clearance by combining LC-GC-FID quantification of C10-C50 oligomers with toxicological screening under Cramer Class thresholds.
Iso-Octane Simulant
Meaning
Non-polar liquid medium used to mimic the extraction behavior of fatty foods during migration testing of plastic packaging. This iso-octane simulant provides an accelerated test method because its extraction rate is much faster than that of actual fatty food substances. It is specified in global food contact regulations for testing polyolefin films and containers.
Testing Speed
Fatty foods require long testing times at high temperatures to measure chemical migration. Using iso-octane simulant reduces these test times to a few hours, allowing rapid batch release in plastic manufacturing. Temperature control is critical to prevent the volatile solvent from evaporating.
Molding Validation
Over-molded parts and thin-walled packaging are highly sensitive to swelling when exposed to solvents. Exposing these parts to iso-octane simulant helps molders evaluate whether residual stress in the plastic will cause cracking or deformation during use. This test exposes weak weld lines and high-stress areas.
Material Comparison
Different grades of polyethylene can release varying amounts of low-molecular-weight waxes into fat-containing products. This iso-octane simulant test distinguishes between low-density and high-density grades by measuring the total mass of extractable oligomers after a standardized exposure time, providing a reliable benchtop metric that allows converters to select the most stable resin for high-fat food applications without running long and expensive food-contact trial runs.