This test method is intended to measure volatile organic compounds that are emitted from packaging materials under high-temperature conditions.

This test method may be useful in assisting in the development and manufacture of packaging materials having minimal retained packaging ink/adhesive solvents.

Modification of this procedure by utilizing appropriate qualitative GC detection devices such as a mass spectrometer in place of the flame ionization detector may provide identification of volatile organics of unknown identity.

1. Scope

1.1 This test method covers determination of the amount of residual solvents released from within a packaging material contained in a sealed vial under a given set of time and temperature conditions and is a recommended alternative for Test Method F151.

1.2 This test method covers a procedure for quantitating volatile compounds whose identity has been established and which are retained in packaging materials.

1.3 The analyst should determine the sensitivity and reproducibility of the method by carrying out appropriate studies on the solvents of interest. The analyst is referred to Practice E260 for guidance.

1.4 For purposes of verifying the identity of or identifying unknown volatile compounds the analyst is encouraged to incorporate techniques such as gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy, gas chromatography/infrared spectroscopy or other suitable techniques in conjunction with this test method.

1.5 Sensitivity of this test method in the determination of the concentration of a given retained solvent must be determined on a case by case basis due to the variation in the substrate/solvent interaction between different types of samples.

1.6 This test method does not address the determination of total retained solvents in a packaging material. Techniques such as multiple headspace extraction can be employed to this end. The analyst is referred to the manual supplied with the GC-Autosampling system for guidance.

1.7 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard.

1.8 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

2. Referenced Documents (purchase separately) The documents listed below are referenced within the subject standard but are not provided as part of the standard.

ASTM Standards

E177 Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in ASTM Test Methods

E260 Practice for Packed Column Gas Chromatography

E691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to Determine the Precision of a Test Method

F151 Test Method for Residual Solvents in Flexible Barrier Materials

Keywords

gas chromatography; head space analysis; packaging; residual solvents; retained solvent; volatile organic compounds; Gas chromatography (GC); Flame ionization detectors (FID); Headspace gas chromatography; Residual solvents; Volatile organic compounds (VOC) ;

ICS Code

ICS Number Code 55.040 (Packaging materials and accessories)

Citing ASTM Standards

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