Quantifying Polyolefin Oligomers in Food Contact Polyethylene Testing
Quantifying polyolefin oligomers relies on silver nitrate silica cleanup, epoxidation of olefins, and LC-GC-FID UCM hump integration against alkane markers.
Swiss Ordinance Food Contact
Meaning
Federal legislation in Switzerland establishes the legal requirements for materials and objects intended to come into contact with food. This swiss ordinance food contact mandate applies to polymers, additives, and printing inks used in packaging to ensure that chemical migration stays below defined toxicological limits. Authorities enforce these rules to prevent the transfer of harmful substances from plastic components into consumable goods.
Regulatory Compliance
Compliance with these requirements demands that manufacturers verify the identity of every monomer and additive against positive lists maintained by federal agencies. Documenting the formulation allows converters to issue a declaration of conformity for finished plastic parts. Validation of the finished product requires migration testing under simulated conditions that represent the intended usage duration and temperature of the contact application.
Polymer Sourcing
Suppliers define the grade of resin based on compliance with specific annexes of the swiss ordinance food contact regulation. Accurate selection of these polymers prevents the risk of toxicological failure during the extrusion or injection moulding process. Resin batches that lack the necessary certification documentation force processors to discard finished components because the audit trail for food safety remains incomplete.
Moulding Performance
Controlled processing variables like barrel temperature and cycle time affect the likelihood of additive leaching during the high pressure injection phase. Maintaining these parameters within the validated window prevents the thermal degradation of stabilisers that could otherwise lead to migration failures. Consistent thermal management during production ensures that the migration potential of the part matches the laboratory tested values from the material datasheet.