Work Item
ASTM WK90403
New Practice for Standard Practice for Quantitative Exudation Measurement of Flexible Poly(Vinyl Chloride) Plastics
1. Scope
1.1 This test method covers the determination of exudation observed in final compounds of flexible Poly(Vinyl Chloride) Plastics (PVC) in various conditions. The method is recommended for comparison of different formulations under the same conditions at the same time. The method can cover a wide range of plasticized PVC formulations, considering all possible ingredients.
1.2 This method uses the International System of Units (SI), according to IEEE/ASTM SI 10 American National Standard for Metric Practice.
1.3 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.
1.4 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides, and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Keywords
flexible pvc; exudation; PVC; Plasticizer
Rationale
Exudation is the accumulation of liquid materials (plasticizer, stabilizers, lubricants, etc.) on the surface of the flexible PVC article. This is a serious problem that may result in recall and all the costs associated with that.
The existing ASTM test method - known as the "loop test" (D3291) provides some insights, but the results are limited, not quantitative and do not allow an easy assessment of exudation over time. Because of that, many formulators created their own exudation methodology, making it hard to allow productive discussions between different labs and companies. Moreover, some tests, with the objective of accelerating exudation, created unrealistic conditions, that are not reproducible in real life or measure different types of phenomena, such as migration into polymers or other substrates.
This method proposes an improvement that aims at bringing more objectiveness to the evaluation of exudation. It intends to be quantitative, evaluating exudation over time in a comparative basis, sensitive enough to allow the formulator to choose the test conditions to best mimic the expected actual use of the final article. The users of this method would be all formulators of flexible PVC to evaluate their compositions and producers of various additives, to evaluate the effect of the use of their materials in final applications.
The title and scope are in draft form and are under development within this ASTM Committee.
Work Item Status
Date Initiated: 04-22-2024
Technical Contact: Jacyr Vianna de Quadros Jr
Item: 000
Ballot:
Status: